I worked on this very C-133A (and all the others too, as well as many of the Travis Bs) when I was stationed at Dover AFB, Del From Jan 64 to Feb 66. Dover had all the 35 A Models and Travis AFB, Cal had the 16 B Models. Today, the Dover Museum has a B Model on display, and the Travis Museum has an A Model. I also worked on Acft 2008 which is at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio. The red stripes are to indicate the "plane" of the Starter Turbine (lower half of the engine cowl), and the engine HP Turbine (all the way around the cowl) as a reminder to not stand/loiter with those two high speed turbines that may explode and come thru the cowl. It was not an issue on C-133s, but was common USAF practice on all jet engine powered aircraft. Dover painted the outline of the cockpit windows and windshields in black, while Travis left them unpainted aluminum. Many have never really seen a C-133 and mistake them for C-130s. We would remind others that the C-133 is the Box that a C-130 comes in. I recommend - Taylor, Cal (2005). Remembering an unsung giant : the Douglas C-133 Cargomaster and its people. Olympia, WA: Firstfleet Publishers. ISBN 978-0977676200. Lou in Aridzona
Nice review. My Dad was a Flight Engineer on the C-133, before transitioning to the C-5 at Dover AFB, Delaware. He spent a lot of time away from home while I was growing up; he flew to VietNam, SEA, Germany and the Middle East. Toward the end of the C-133 lifespan, they began to lose them periodically. The red lines you mentioned are most likely danger/warning indicators for turbine parts that may fail during engine start. I plan on building the C-133 kit now. Once again, great review.
The box art seems to show the C-133 flying over Chicago's lakefront (Lake Michigan) as it turns base for a long approach into O'Hare Field about fifteen miles west.
The ribs on the outside were strengtheners added near the end of their service lives. Masking and painting a slightly different shade of aluminum would be the best way to do that as you suggest because of how small the kit is. Was curious how this kit looks, yet to get one. I have the vacform 1/72 waiting to be made. There's an actual one that needs a home in Chanute Illinois and three in Mojave desert.
Sad to say, the one at Chanute was scrapped in 2019. It was one of the last aircraft to be broken up there. I was able to take some photos of it in January of that year.
Building this model right now and I must say, it is NOT an easy one. lt requires a lot of filling, sanding, rescribing and other adjustments in order to place everything correctly. The biggest problem is the wing root section and wings joining area. A step forms there that needs to be sanded down in order to form a smooth transition betweenthose those areas.
I worked on this very C-133A (and all the others too, as well as many of the Travis Bs) when I was stationed at Dover AFB, Del From Jan 64 to Feb 66. Dover had all the 35 A Models and Travis AFB, Cal had the 16 B Models. Today, the Dover Museum has a B Model on display, and the Travis Museum has an A Model. I also worked on Acft 2008 which is at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio.
The red stripes are to indicate the "plane" of the Starter Turbine (lower half of the engine cowl), and the engine HP Turbine (all the way around the cowl) as a reminder to not stand/loiter with those two high speed turbines that may explode and come thru the cowl. It was not an issue on C-133s, but was common USAF practice on all jet engine powered aircraft.
Dover painted the outline of the cockpit windows and windshields in black, while Travis left them unpainted aluminum. Many have never really seen a C-133 and mistake them for C-130s.
We would remind others that the C-133 is the Box that a C-130 comes in.
I recommend - Taylor, Cal (2005). Remembering an unsung giant : the Douglas C-133 Cargomaster and its people. Olympia, WA: Firstfleet Publishers. ISBN 978-0977676200.
Lou in Aridzona
Nice review. My Dad was a Flight Engineer on the C-133, before transitioning to the C-5 at Dover AFB, Delaware. He spent a lot of time away from home while I was growing up; he flew to VietNam, SEA, Germany and the Middle East. Toward the end of the C-133 lifespan, they began to lose them periodically. The red lines you mentioned are most likely danger/warning indicators for turbine parts that may fail during engine start. I plan on building the C-133 kit now. Once again, great review.
The box art seems to show the C-133 flying over Chicago's lakefront (Lake Michigan) as it turns base for a long approach into O'Hare Field about fifteen miles west.
Great Review n the Old Weenie Wagon I Have The 1/72 Vacu form kit Of the Cargo Master. Even At 1/144 Scale Still A big kitFrankie Day
Nice kit of the Douglas, thanks for the review!....Bill
The Red lines on the engines are for reverse thrust for jets and reverse throttles for piston engined planes like the 133
The ribs on the outside were strengtheners added near the end of their service lives. Masking and painting a slightly different shade of aluminum would be the best way to do that as you suggest because of how small the kit is. Was curious how this kit looks, yet to get one. I have the vacform 1/72 waiting to be made. There's an actual one that needs a home in Chanute Illinois and three in Mojave desert.
Sad to say, the one at Chanute was scrapped in 2019. It was one of the last aircraft to be broken up there. I was able to take some photos of it in January of that year.
Building this model right now and I must say, it is NOT an easy one. lt requires a lot of filling, sanding, rescribing and other adjustments in order to place everything correctly. The biggest problem is the wing root section and wings joining area. A step forms there that needs to be sanded down in order to form a smooth transition betweenthose those areas.