TeeELLs T-33 - Cuban Revolutianary Airforce

[TeeELL]

It is done! That is to say, my T-33 is now in NMF. The finish isn't as 'polished aluminium' as I had expected but it is quite satisfactory, photos when I am certain all is well and truly dry. Task now is to apply decals and assemble the U/C, airbrakes, canopy, fit wing tanks and sundry aerials. Unless I accidentally knock the thing over I might just finish in time.

[TeeELL]

Here then is a photo of the silver T-bird.



Bits to touch up on the main part of the aircraft but, other than that it all seems to be OK. I hope to make some more progress this evening.

[iggie]

That looks very smart; what have you used for the NMF?

[fredk]

That looks well.
The proverbial fingers crossed that it all goes to plan now

[TeeELL]

I cannot win!!! So dear friends the tail of the double edged Sword continues. I started to apply the decals hmmmm, the carried is not confined to the decal so I was having to cut around the first decal as it was sliding off the backing! OK, that lesson learnt the remainder were prepared and applied. Of course all was going rather well until the rudder markings. Carefully cut out I affixed the port side, not a bad fit, so on with the starboard ........ There was no starboard, the draughtsman had simply copied and rotated his previous effort and NOT mirrored it. My T-33 is now short of one decal, to be honest the decals are not the best quality and the smaller lettering is losing bits.
I have e-mailed the manufacturer in Czechoslovakia so we will see if I get any reply, otherwise I shall have to try and make my own and match the colours - that'll be fun. Don't think I will have that sorted before the 16th though so the finished photos will lack starboard side images.

[TeeELL]

Iggie the NMF is Alclad II 'polished Aluminium'. Took nearly half a bottle, so no doubt I was doing something wrong.

[TeeELL]

Mostly stepping forward this evening which makes a very pleasant change :-). Although there has been a hiccup with the LF decals Ladislav at LF has been in touch and is sending me corrected decals. The essential decals from the kit itself caused me grief as they wanted to stick to anything but the aircraft, but with cussing and perseverance I got somewhere close in the end. It was the 'NO STEP' markings that were really troublesome, I was beginning to wish I hadn't bothered.



This is the culprit from the decal sheet (sorry the camera decided to focus on the wrong bit.





I must sort out the open canopy, it needs PE and the resin inside 'bit' attached and then the whole thing painted. I am not going through all the faff with Alclad, I shall use some trusty Humbrol silver.

That's it for now folks.

[DavidWomby]

Cubans have a reputation for being pretty tenacious fighters. This one is just maintaining their reputation!!

David

[TeeELL]

FINISHED THE BEGGAR!!!!!

[fredk]

[TeeELL]

The kit certainly proved challenging and fought me right up to the end. It has given me an insight into limited run kits. I thought my Sea Fury was difficult but it was a breeze compared to this.

[DavidWomby]

Well done wrestling that one to the ground.

David

[TeeELL]

When I say 'finished', I still have one decal outstanding for the starboard side of the rudder.

[Old_Tonto]

Lets see it then.

[TeeELL]

It is in the 'Completed' section.