1/48 Great Wall Hobby T-33A

Gallery Article by Carl Jarosz on Feb 9 2021

 

      

T-33A 5th FIS “Spittin Kittens
Over a year and a half ago, I submitted another Great Wall Hobby (G.W.H.) T-33A build, which one can find in the Gallery section. Since then, G.W.H. issued a “late version” T-33A kit, with wing tanks that, sadly didn’t look like normal extra fuel tanks to me. I built this kit, sans wing tanks, because it had such flashy decals, one of which I used to show the 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron livery in the late 1950s.

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One can read my past praises for how well G.W.H. made the T-33A kit; this was no different. I must again point out the extras one will get with this kit, for example: one can pitch the rudder to add more natural look; the flaps can be assembled in the retracted (down) position, reflecting a recent landing; the kit comes with a boarding ladder that was fabricated especially for this type of aircraft; the cockpit seats that are accurate for the aircraft and time period. And one can add the unusual looking wing tanks if desired.

I added minimal weathering, in the form of pre-shading in the recessed panel lines, as these aircraft were well maintained. I barely had to use any putty, but go heavier than stated on the instruction sheet for nose weight to ensure this model stands on its tricycle gear unaided.

Carl Jarosz

Photos and text © by Carl Jarosz