Your paint and masking skills are perfect, Michael (@michaelt). The masks you created worked out extremely well and allows you to replace the old decals that might have spoiled your paint-work. I think the red band on the tail marks where the turbine section of the engine is. Just like the red band on multiengine propeller planes, the red band shows where you don't want to be standing when the when the prop (or turbine, in this case) starts shedding blades. Looking forward to the big finish.

This kit is actually older than 1964, @michaelt. I recall building one around 1959-60 or thereabouts. Definitely not 1964 because I was in Vietnam then with the Navy. But I did one before I got out of school, so 59-60 is probably right.

I created masks and painted the serial number on the fin - 5mm high numbers is about as small as I think the cutter can reasonably go, particularly for closed characters like “6” and “9”.

I also cut masks for the “stars and bars”.

Here they are ready to paint the white.

Once that is done I will mask the white and spray the red stripes.

Then I remove the blue mask and spray the blue.

At least that is the plan.

The fuselage markings fit awkwardly and I hope they are “square”.

That is one area where decals are better.

Those are wonderful masks, Michael @michaelt
The results will be great.

And red…

And the result…

They need a touch-up here and there.
Plus, although the vinyl is “low tack” it has affected the silver paint in a couple of places. The masks were too fragile to de-tack.
Live and learn.

Michael(@michaelt) the Hawk T-33 was one of my first kits and I built several T-birds and the Navy version TV-2 during my misspent youth, but none of them looked anywhere near as beautiful as yours. Outstanding work, look forward to the finish, and I hope you can use the bicycle built for two nose art.