Dave,
Just started following this thread, been so long since I built my T-33 I know I forgot how I did it. Started as a ducted fan in 1995 then converted a few years ago to a Wren 54 Mk III. Love the small turbine in this airframe, weighs 20 pounds and lands just as well as it did with the ducted fan.
If I built it again, and yes I to have a T-33 kit sitting here waiting for the build day, I would definitely spend more time sealing the formers and the inside of the f/g with paint. My bird is so oil and kerosene soaked the glue on the coverite presto just along the bottom softens right up, can't get it to stick anymore.
2nd change, more attention to the locating dowels for the tip tanks, I just drilled in to the balsa tips, well those holes are worn out, time for me to sleeve them with something a bit more substantial.
All of BV's improvements over the years, they really have made this airplane more durable and enjoyable to fly. His latest landing gear, well, that has been on of the best improvements I ever made to this plane.

Jim Hiller