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Lockheed T-33 Thunderbird colours & markings

By Matt Bittner

Author: Michal Ovcácík and Karel Susa
Publisher: MARK I Ltd
ISBN: 978-80-86637-25-9
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 28

The Lockheed T-33 is one of the "classic jets" of the early, jet era.  Not only was it flown by the United States, but it was flown by a large number of countries.  In addition, it was on "active duty" up to rather recently.  There are plenty of colorful schemes in the world for the T-33, and this book/decal release covers some of them.  You can purchase this book with either 1/72, 1/48 or 1/32 decals.  There are 12 aircraft catered for in the book/on the decal sheet:

1. T-33A-1-LO, Black 34900, 5021st Tactical Operations Sq., Alaskan Air Command, US Air Force, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, January 1983.  Finished in aircraft grey overall with Internation Orange trimming, black wingtip tank inner sections and anti-glare panel.
2. T-33A-1-LO, Black 35854, 136th Fighter Interceptor Sq., 107th Fighter Interceptor Wing, New York Air National Guard, US Air Foce, Niagara Falls Air Base, the 1980s.  Finished in aircraft grey overall with black wingtip tank inner sections and a black anti-glare panel, and the fin-top finished in dark blue.
3. T-33B-LO, Black 3032/XF-11, VX-4, Naval Air Facility Washington, D.C., US Navy, Andrews Air Force Base, May 1969.  Light Gull Grey overall with black wingtip tank inner sections and a black anti-glare panel.  There are also blue-background stripes with white stars and red edging along the fuselage and on the outer sections of the wingtip tanks.
4. T-33B-LO, Black 7993/MG-11, VMF-321, US Marine Corps, Andrews Air Foce Base, 1972.  Light Gull Grey overall with black wingtip tank inner sections and anti-glare panel.
5. Canadair T-33AN. Black 637, Flying Instructors School, Central Flying School, Royal Canadian Air Force, RCAF Station Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada, spring 1967.  Glossy natural metal finish overall.  Day-Glo Red-Orange trimming, black wingtip tank inner sections and anti-glare panel.  Top of the fin is finished in Light Grey.
6. Canadair CE-133, Grey 483, No. 414 Sq. No. 19 Wing. Canadian Armed Forces, CFB Comox, BC, Canada, mid-1990s.  Standard two-tone camouflage consisting of Dark Grey on upper surfaces and Light Grey on the lowers.  Wingtip tank front end in polished natural metal.
7. Kawasaki T-33A, Black 230, No.33 Sq., No.1 Air Wing, Japanese Air Self Defence Force, Hamamatsu Air Base, mid-1970s.  Off-white finish overall with Light Grey upperwing leading edge panels and lower surfaces of the aircraft painted in aluminum.  Top of the fin is finished in a Dark Maroon.  This one has a checkerboard on the fin/rudder.
8. T-33A-5-LO, Black EB-396, AG 52 Luftwaffe, Leck Air Base, mid-1960s.  Finished in Dark Green/Olive Green and Dark Grey on the upper surfaces while the lower surfaces were painted in a silver-grey.  Yellow trimming, while the outer tank portions and fuselage band were in orange.  Fin top was finished in Dark Grey.
9. T-33A-1-LO, Black M-59, TVO (Transitional Flying Training School) Sq., Royal Netherlands Air Force, Twenthe Air Base, late 1960s.  Natural metal finish overall with faded Day-Glo Red-Orange trimming.  Black wingtip tank inner sections and a black anti-glare panel.  The fin-top was light grey.
10. T-33A-1-LO, Black/White FT-10, VSV/VZZ Blind Flying Flt., Advanced Pilot School, Belgian Air Force, Brustem Air Base, 1968.  Dark Green, Medium Green and Tan upper surfaces while the lower surfaces were finished in Light Grey.  Upper, outer wingtip tank sections, nose and upper tail surfaces in red-orange.
11. T-33S-US (T-33A-1-LO), 10/KY, EEVSV Blind Flying Training Flt., 10th Fighter Sq., French Air Force, Creil Air Base, mid-1970s.  Natural metal finish overall with a faded appearance.  Day-Glo Red-Orange trimming, with worn-out colors in some places.  Black wingtip tank inner section and anti-glare panel.
12. E.15 (T-33A-1-LO), Black 41-1, No. 41 Group, Spanish Air Force, Valenzuela Air Base (Zaragoza), May 1982.  Aluminum finish on upper surfaces while the lower surfaces were finished in medium blue.  Typical black wingtip tank inner surface and anti-glare panel.

Not only does the book contain a color photo (or more) of the aircraft in question, but also scattered throughout the book are color detail shots, culminating in the last three pages of color cockpit photos (front and rear) as well as undercarriage and wheel well detail shots.

Even if you don't like the markings that come in this book (and I don't know how you couldn't), this book should be picked up for the color, detail photos.  Lots and lots of help when modeling the T-33 in any scale.

Our thanks to both UMM-USA and Mark I Ltd. for the review copies.