Subject: Re: Singapore National Day update
From: "Steve Bamford" <[email-masked]>
To: "Mike Yeo" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2003 11:03:01 -0700

Gallery Template  05Hi Mike,
Your 2 e-mails for your T-33 article arrived safe and sound.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you have never been hurt; and
Dance like no one is watching!

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mike Yeo 
  To: Steve Bamford 
  Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 7:57 AM
  Subject: Re: Singapore National Day update

  Steve,

  heres Part 1 of my RSAF T-33 article. Unfortunately
  the Skyvan couldn't get completed in time.

  Mike

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  1/48 Academy T-33 Republic of Singapore Air Force

  by Mike Yeo
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        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  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 yin0yang roundel in camouglaged aircraft.

        Click on images below to see larger images
       
        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg 

       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg 

  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 mismtach 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. 

  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. 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 to all Singaporeans!

  Mike Yeo

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here 

  Photos and text © 2003 by Mike Yeo