Official Freewing T-33 Shooting Star 80mm EDF Thread

[Husafreak]

I was happy to get the back in stock notice for the USAF scheme and flew it for the first time this morning. I had been pretty excited about this one since my dad was an RIO in the 57th flying F-89 Scorpions out of Keflavic AFB, Iceland in 59-60. I'm not sure where this T-33 falls in the scheme of things but it is possible that the squadron had these available for training, or just running errands. I have his "Black Knights" Squadron Mug on the mantlepiece. Spent the first year of my life there ;)
I am thoroughly impressed with this model. FW just seems to get better and better at this and no doubt Motion RC has a lot to do with that. I ended up with my 1lb 12oz 5000 mAh packs back against the Blue Box, so CG about 1/4" behind the mark, it is still slightly nose heavy but I like my jets that way. I don't think I need to try and remove the nose weights. I need a bit more down inverted than with an Extra or something. This is easily the most powerful FW EDF I have stock. Great power and I flew easily to a 5 min timer with 35% remaining. Climbs like it will never stop! Looks terrific.

[Beeg]

T-33 - It can really scoot if you want it too but with that straight wing and tip tanks has very good slow speed stability.

As for looks and ease of landings, hard to choose. Both are classics and easy to land!

[theoldALFER]

I know this is the T-33 site, but I’ll ask anyway.

Freewing F-86 verses T-33 - if you had a choice, which would you choose as your first (and only) jet?

[F106DeltaDart]

A few photos from flying the 87th FIS T-33 this evening

[Phantom]

Here's a video from today's FPV flight with an E-flite F-16 and T-33. Sorry for such poor video quality. Going to get an improved recording system. The T-33 on FPV is Sweet! Super smooth. It's best not to watch it in Fullscreen.

I love your FPV videos, well done!

[vduniec]

Here's a video from today's FPV flight with an E-flite F-16 and T-33. Sorry for such poor video quality. Going to get an improved recording system. The T-33 on FPV is Sweet! Super smooth. It's best not to watch it in Fullscreen.

[e4dragongunner]

Ok ... 1st good weather in I don't know how long. Got the maiden in.....The T-33 is AWESOME 10 out of 10 .... Just push the 5000 Gens ace or Admiral pack against the BB.... ignore that 70 mm gap in the manual... Just Perfect and FAST, Great site picture, Lands like *****cat! Well Done Freewing and MOTION

[vduniec]

My latest passion du jor. FPV. I put a system in my Carbon Z T-28 this weekend and loved it so I decided to move up to the next level of trainer. This is a head tracking system with Pan and Tilt on the camera. The kit canopy is not very clear so I designed and 3D printed a canopy frame. The camera's focus is on infinity so the instrument panel is slightly blurry but the kit decal of the instrument panel looks great! If the weather permits, I hope to try it out this weekend.

[MikeT]

Almost finished repainting my T-33 into the 87th FIS scheme. Just needs a few more touches, and it will be complete! Today I also completed the swap over the Venom struts to give it the tail down stance of the real thing. Paint was all airbrushed with Real Color Acrylic Laquer ADC Grey. My dad actually flew in this aircraft, so it’s definitely an extra special model to me.

Nice job on a great scheme.

Mike

[F106DeltaDart]

Thank guys! Can’t wait to get it finished and in the air again! I’ve been dealing with a flooding issue that reduced my apartment from 2 rooms down to one dry room, so I’ve been outside painting as much as I can manage.

F106DeltaDart Superb, DD, Superb! The ADC Grey looks sharp! I didn't know your father was a USAF aviator. Salute!

Thanks Alpha! He was not a pilot, but a radar and weapons tech on the F-106. At one point, he earned Airmen of the Month and was awarded a ride in the six. He completed all the qualifications (high alt chambers, emergency procedures, etc) and was ready to have his supersonic ride. However, at the last minute a 106 pilot needed the 2 seater for some extra hours, so he was bumped off to flying the squadron’s T-33. The pilot knew how disappointed he was, so he decided to put him through the full aerobatic routine of loops, rolls, and low fast passes. I’ve heard him tell the story many times now and had always been looking to model the plane! Now I just need the 106 to keep it some company 😎.

[AceMigKiller]

Niiiice!

[Alpha]

F106DeltaDart Superb, DD, Superb! The ADC Grey looks sharp! I didn't know your father was a USAF aviator. Salute!

[Beeg]

Almost finished repainting my T-33 into the 87th FIS scheme. Just needs a few more touches, and it will be complete! Today I also completed the swap over the Venom struts to give it the tail down stance of the real thing. Paint was all airbrushed with Real Color Acrylic Laquer ADC Grey. My dad actually flew in this aircraft, so it’s definitely an extra special model to me.

Good job DD. I was thinking of doing mine in 48th FIS in honor of my father.

[flyinhigh042]

Almost finished repainting my T-33 into the 87th FIS scheme. Just needs a few more touches, and it will be complete! Today I also completed the swap over the Venom struts to give it the tail down stance of the real thing. Paint was all airbrushed with Real Color Acrylic Laquer ADC Grey. My dad actually flew in this aircraft, so it’s definitely an extra special model to me.

Very well done! Your T-33 really does look great. And I love a sentimental project.

[F106DeltaDart]

Almost finished repainting my T-33 into the 87th FIS scheme. Just needs a few more touches, and it will be complete! Today I also completed the swap over the Venom struts to give it the tail down stance of the real thing. Paint was all airbrushed with Real Color Acrylic Laquer ADC Grey. My dad actually flew in this aircraft, so it’s definitely an extra special model to me.

[sam51401]

Look back a couple of pages and someone posted the mix labels from th epaint they had got from Home Depot. I just showed the assistant the picture on my phone and off he went.

[TomPatton]

Pilot Ryan did an informative video on how to install the JP brakes on the Freewing F-4. I assume the process is similar to the T-33. Let me know if you or anyone else does it. Thinking about it for mine as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQHb8WSGhRo

Side note: anyone have a paint recommendation for the green camo on the German scheme? need to do some touch-ups. Thanks!

I have taken a part of a plane with the color I wanted to Lowes. For $4 they will mix up a perfect match...

[Skosh25]

This may have come up somewhere in the over 50 pages of discussion on the T-33, but if it hasn't, I wanted to ask if anyone has used wheel brakes on their planes to limit the ground roll on landing. The field I fly from has paved runways, but short and rough. Plus, it is at 5000 feet altitude, so approach speeds are a little faster than at sea level. My problem is that my plane, with no headwind has a tendency to roll through the end of the runway and into some pretty serious weeds and rough terrain when it occasionally departs the end of the runway at low speed. Even at these low speeds, I've had damage to the nose gear servo when the gear collapsed into a small hole. I strive to put the airplane at minimum speed, landing flaps, etc., but this plane just rolls forever, it seems. I don't have this problem with other planes I have that fly from this field.

So, if anyone has any tips for wheel brakes, what kind you use, how you hook them up, etc., that would be very much appreciated. I haven't ever installed wheel brakes before, but in this case for me, they're definitely warranted. Thanks!

Pilot Ryan did an informative video on how to install the JP brakes on the Freewing F-4. I assume the process is similar to the T-33. Let me know if you or anyone else does it. Thinking about it for mine as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQHb8WSGhRo

Side note: anyone have a paint recommendation for the green camo on the German scheme? need to do some touch-ups. Thanks!

[Spinny Testaverde]

Here's mine in a Belgian livery, decals are from Callie.
Re-maiden was done already last week ,all went well

That looks great Icarus!

[TomPatton]

Mine balanced with the same battery with the back edge right at the back of the wood battery tray. That put balance slightly behind factory CG mark which is where guys have been recommending to set the CG for better landings...
Waiting on rain to go away in Ohio to test fly.

Think I will take a salvaged set of lights and make landing lights for the nose gear while we wait...