1/48 Academy T-33

Gallery Article by Mike Yeo on Aug 9 2003

  Singapore National Day 

 

T-33 Republic of Singapore Air Force

During the late 1970s the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) underwent a rapid expansion in aircraft, particularly in fast jets. To facilitate this expansion, the RSAF needed a new trainer aircraft to train the aircrew required for the expansion. As a result, a total of 20 (in separate batches of 12 and 8) ex-Armee de l'Air Lockheed T-33A trainers were acquired from France, these being delivered in 1979/80 and 1982 respectively. A new squadron, No 131 (Harrier) was formed in Tengah AB to operate these aircraft. With the consolidation of the RSAF FTS (Flying Training School) to Paya Lebar AB in 1983, 131 Sqn moved to its new home that year. Beginning in 1984, the newly acquired SIAI-Marchetti (now Agusta) S.211 trainer started operating with the RSAF, and by 1987 the last T-33s were retired.

In RSAF service, the T-33 appeared in a mix of NMF and 3-tone SE Asia camouflage. Markings and camouflage patterns were distinctly non-standardised, with the SE Asia camouflage pattern varying slightly between individual aircraft. Even among NMF aircraft, markings varied, and some aircraft carried just the 5-digit serial number on the tail while some had a 131 Sqn insignia painted on with the serial number. All aircraft carried 3xx RSAF serial numbers, on the nose for NMF aircraft and behind the yin-yang roundel in camouflaged aircraft.

 

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The kit I used is the 1/48 Academy/HobbyCraft kit in its Academy boxing. The kit, though simple, had some fiddly bits in its construction sequence. The fuselage panel lines didn't line up properly, and I opted to cut off some of the locating pins to help the panel lines line up rather than having to rescribe any mismatch in the panel lines later. But the worst part was the wing, I ended up with a huge step at the front of the wing-fuselage joint at the bottom wing part, as well as smaller steps at the top left wing half. Beware. a generous amount of putty, sanding and rescribing (and in my case, cursing and teeth-gnashing) is required here. The wheel wells also require some sanding at the top part to ensure a better wing-fuselage fit. I also had the Airwaves T-33 PE set, but other than the side consoles and ejection seat belts and handles, nothing else was really worth using from this set.

The model was painted using Gunze Acrylics, masked using plain paper cut to shape held down by Blu-Tack to get a slightly feathered look. The Dayglo tanks and fuselage trainer band were weathered using Flat White mixed with a drop of Yellow. Decals are a mixture of kit stencils, Superscale numbers and Horizon ModelTech ying-yang roundels and rescue arrow from the Singapore Scooters decal sheet.

Happy National Day 2003 to all Singaporeans!

Mike Yeo   Wingnuts Singapore

      

Photos and text © by Mike Yeo