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-   -   T-33 Shopping. Suggestions Please! (https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-jets-120/11701235-t-33-shopping-suggestions-please.html)

highhorse 08-07-2022 05:57 PM

T-33 Shopping. Suggestions Please!
 
I’m in the mood for a T-33 and hoping to benefit from others’ experiences. I’m open, size-wise for anything in the range from 90N-180N.

I don’t mind paying more for quality and wish to avoid whatever may be out there which requires customer QC and/or engineering to make safe and reliable.

Which brands do you think I should run away from? Which should I run toward?

Thanks gentlemen for your inputs!

Don.

Springbok Flyer 08-08-2022 04:06 AM

Skymaster 1/5 scale T-33
 
12 Attachment(s)
Don,

For me, that is a very easy suggestion to make - the Skymaster 1/5th Scale T-33. Originally built mine in 2011 and fitted it with an AMT Pegasus HPe (17kg thrust). The only change since then has been my change-over to a PowerBox Core, from my original Futaba 18MZ.

Here is what drew me to it and has proven to pay off:

1. I trusted Anton and his team implicitly to give me the most fantastic after sales service and support - they have never disappointed.
2. The scale undercarriage including the scale oleos and wheels are so far ahead of the rest, it is amazing.
3. The scale surface detail is fantastic.
4. The airbrakes work perfectly.
5. The scale, opening canopy looks and works great.
6. SM was prepared to custom paint the T-33 for me, charging only the standard painted price.
7. The initial setup was a touch tail heavy, but easy to fine-tune quickly.with some excellent help from the late-great Bob Violet (I will be happy to share all my settings)..
8. The build quality is awesome and no stress cracking or undercarrige issues at all, since all my flying has been off grass, except for the occasional event on a hard surface.

After 11 years, she is still one of my favourites and performing and looking mint. There is not a single time that I take it for a fly and don't receive compliments and the usual question - what kit is that?

Regards,

JanR

sysiek 08-08-2022 05:45 AM

For me the feibao t-33 I have it for more than 10 years with the propane start k-170 and still flying strong

FlyJ 08-08-2022 07:59 AM

Neither of those airplanes scream "high quality" to me, and I've owned them both. Both require a bit of re-engineering to make them daily flyers. The SM was probably great for its day, but it's apparent that the kit hasn't received any updates since it's release 23 years ago. Both have 2nd rate pneumatic retracts with heavy wheels. On my SM I always had to fly inverted to retract the gear, even with 100lbs of pressure. The FB has a very hacky door setup that requires bolting a scissor link to the wing skin with 4x M2.5 screws on each side. Both have low quality paint work with paint streaks throughout. We had many thumb prints, orange peel, and chips on both of my FB and SM kits.

The one area where these airplanes shine however is their flight characteristics, both fly very well once properly setup. If you wanted high quality, I'd order one in white and paint it yourself and expect to rebuild several of the systems. The only alternative to the FB and SM is the Scale-Jets T-33. I think this is probably the highest quality T-33 you can get, but it's built very light and may not be a good choice for a daily flyer.

acw 08-09-2022 05:52 AM

Have you considered a BVM kit?

F-80 & T-33

highhorse 08-09-2022 07:54 AM


Originally Posted by acw (Post 12739119)
Have you considered a BVM kit?

F-80 & T-33

I have seen their ad and of course will consider BVM, but the aim of this thread is to go beyond ads and dive into personal experiences. If you’ve assembled/flown the BVM unit then please do share your thoughts!

highhorse 08-09-2022 11:56 AM


Originally Posted by sysiek (Post 12738951)
For me the feibao t-33 I have it for more than 10 years with the propane start k-170 and still flying strong

Do you recall the dry weight? Thanks.

tp777fo 08-09-2022 12:47 PM

My FB T33 was 63# at takeoff. Empty was about 55#.

highhorse 08-09-2022 01:21 PM

WOW that’s heavy!

tp777fo 08-09-2022 01:57 PM

That's why I sold it. Too big/heavy for one guy to move around.

Dansy 08-10-2022 10:08 AM


Originally Posted by highhorse (Post 12739185)
WOW that’s heavy!

The one I build was also 63 lbs with fuel and smoke…..

Springbok Flyer 08-10-2022 02:12 PM

My SM T-33 is 46lbs empty and 55lbs at take-off. Bear in mind that my AMT Pegasus is heavier than most other equivalent size turbines, so building it lighter will be easy.

JanR

Aquilon 08-10-2022 10:41 PM

Hello,

My SM T-33 is 44 lbs empty (gen 1, without Airex).

Powered by K210G4, tuned at 190N, with 4,6 l fuel.

Flies perfectly, no issues with stock gear @ 8 bars.

Stéphane


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...128133ec14.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...6eb7542987.jpg

Halcyon66 08-10-2022 11:38 PM

Fantastic looking airframe.

Regards,

jvaliensi 08-11-2022 06:24 AM

I saw a BVM F-80 at the field a month or so ago. It was Apollo Field. The owner told me he had not flown it or any other RC in five years.
The F-80 was the most beautiful jet I ever seen. He told me he bought it off the fellow that built it and it was a Top Gun model. I think it had an older P60 in it.
Anyways, he took off and put on one heck of a flight, I was impressed. That jet really screamed along and it was pretty heavy (22lbs+).
That would be my choice for a T-33 or F-80. However, the BVM kits are so expensive and need so much work to complete. I wish they made it available as a Gold Fly series.


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