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This is my first
post on ARC. I have recently gotten back into modelling after several years off
to do little things like pursue a military pilot career and get married and
bring up a couple kids. I built this kit out of the box, with Leading Edge
Decals and Bare Metal Foil. I used the foil everywhere except on the tip
tank leading edges, which are painted Humbrol silver with an airbrush that I
just bought. I experimented with Tamiya acrylic paints on the tip tanks for the red and black, but found that they
didn't cover well. I then repainted them with Humbrol oil-based paint with
the airbrush. The particular aircraft represented is one I flew regularly
when I was stationed in Cold Lake, Alberta. I flew T-33s for 6 months
while holding over for the CF-5 and CF-18 courses there.
The only problem I had with the kit was the weight in the nose. It had
been over a decade since I built a T-33, and I'd forgotten that it needed
ballast. The pictogram showing 8 grams of weight in the nose was easy to
miss, and I discovered my error after I had the fuselage together and the wings
attached. If you look closely, you'll see the black plasticene that I
stuffed into the nose wheel well, into the intakes, and into the seat pans.
Not exactly a showpiece, but this aircraft brings back many fond memories for
me. I also learned that Bare Metal Foil works best when cut along panel
lines, otherwise it shows the seams where they shouldn't be. Trying to
save on foil by using scraps to fill small areas was not good - it made for
extra seam lines and a distractingly unrealistic look.
I intend to buy another one of the same kit, and finish it with the latter-day
overall grey and Leading Edge decals for the Bagotville, Quebec Base Flight (I
flew in the back of those occasionally, being ferried between Bagotville and
Goose Bay to man the CF-18 Alert detachment in Goose). While flying from
the back seat, after 6 years of Hornet flying, I recall doing a rapid descent
from 33,000 feet to low level. The pilot in front said "hey, watch
your mach" as we accelerated in the dive toward Mach 0.80. I thought
nothing of it (no houses anywhere to break windows, and nowhere near supersonic
- what was his problem?). Then I felt the controls stiffen up and the nose
tuck - classic symptoms of a supersonic shock wave over the wing for this class
of early jet fighter/trainer. I sheepishly extended the speed brakes,
sucked the throttle to idle, and pulled back firmly to keep us from crashing. This aircraft is a classic, and I enjoy gazing at the model
in its realistic-looking natural metal finish.
Dan
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