T-33A Shooting Star USMC, El Toro, Calif.
Italeri has issued a number
of finely crafted model kits, but not nearly as many modelers take notice of
this fact. I found this kit, a 1/72 model of the classic Lockheed T-33
trainer, to be one of them. The plastic parts are crisply molded, many with
more than enough detail for the scale, and there’s minimal to no flash to
remove.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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The cockpit, although on the Spartan side, is adequate for the smaller
scale and has raised consoles: one can either paint the consoles, or file off
the raised plastic and use after market decals. I prefer to employ the raised
option, as it gives more of a 3D look. The parts fit was exceptional, with
little to no putty required; I only used a little where the full length wing
mated with the fuselage.
The above positive aspects mentioned, there are some drawbacks to the kit,
mainly with optional part location: for one, there are no landing flaps to
attach in deployed (i.e. "down") position; for another, the
one-piece canopy can only be assembled in "closed" position. If one
is determined to leave the canopy open, one will have to microsaw the front
canopy portion from the whole piece, then fashion a riser rod to hold the
larger rear piece raised, . . . but the console to where the normal riser rod
would be attached in the cockpit tub is not included in the part mix; one will
have to fashion that part, too. For the kit price and scale, I left my canopy
closed. I added some detail to the plain seats, namely seatbelts from masking
tape. As a last example, the fine antennae molded on the fuselage part failed
to withstand my sanding after gluing the fuselage halves; I had to re-create
the antennae from scrap sprue and fine wire (for pitot tube).
Finally, I used an after market decal sheet from Iliad Design.
The decals with the kit are the same that come with the 1/48 scale model, and
I already used them on the larger models. The Iliad decals allowed me to
depict a more rare Marine version of the trainer aircraft (ca. 1961), which to
me is very appealing. The decals are hard to beat: they have a thin film,
which promotes perfect blending with the plastic part. But on the down side,
don’t walk away with the decal setting in the water container, for it’ll
separate from the backing and float in the water. Not good! Be sure to use a
mild strength decal setting solution, if any is desired. I used Testor’s
brand and it worked perfectly.
I lightly weathered the model with Black Detailer, then wiped
excess to achieve final desired look. A coat of spray dullcoat – masking
canopy first! – was the last addition to the build.
Carl
Jarosz
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