Stikpusher Posted June 9, 2022 Report Share Posted June 9, 2022 (edited) Another day, and another new project starts. This time it’s an ICM 1/48 MiG-3, the first combat aircraft of the MiG dynasty. I’m adding some Kits World 3-D decal seat harness belts and a Cutting Edge IP to this project, and will be making it in the markings of one of the top Soviet aces, Aleksandr Pokryskhin. Flying first the MiG-3 then later the P-39 Airacobra, he amassed more kills than any western Allied ace. last night at IPMS, I started construction and built up the gem of the engine that this kit has I still have a few more projects to wrap up before I go full bore into this one, but I’m really liking it so far. Edited January 3, 2023 by Stikpusher 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Deliduka Posted June 9, 2022 Report Share Posted June 9, 2022 Nice! That almost looks like it would run! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted June 9, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2022 36 minutes ago, Mark Deliduka said: Nice! That almost looks like it would run! If Dave Fredericks was building this kit, it would run 😉 But not mine… 😆 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted July 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2022 Now that my last project is all wrapped up, I’m resuming work on this one, plus working on my Yellow Wing F2A as well. I’ll bounce back and forth between the two while glue or paint dries. Today I built the cockpit and added some interior parts on the cowling area. More to come soon as paint goes on… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted July 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2022 The rest of todays bench session was spent on my Mig-3. First up I drilled out and added the exhaust pipes to the engine Then I began all the base color painting. The two different colors on the fuselage interior are due to the materials used. The rear of the fuselage is wooden while the front is metal. According to what I’ve read, the Soviets used different color lacquers on each material I also prepped the Cutting Edge IP for assembly and installation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted November 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2022 After sidelining this one to concentrate on a different build, I have resumed work as of today. Finished up the cockpit, including adding a 3-D decal harness I’m not wowed by the Cutting Edge IP, but it is better than the kit decal IP. and I closed up the fuselage with the cockpit and engine in place This will be my primary project for the next bit so more progress in a few days… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted November 16, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2022 (edited) Today was adding the wings. Normally that would be no big thing, but as you can see from this photo, ICM took a complex multi part approach to get the dihedral correct. The best sequence for assembly, or really any for that matter, is not specified on the instructions sheet. So, after test fitting, I went in this order: add the upper wing rear filets, add the leading edge/forward upper filets, add the center bottom panel, assemble the outer wing panels, then install them. Everything fit really snug, but…. in hindsight, I should have held off installing the upper forward filets until after the outer wing portions were installed. Edited November 18, 2022 by Stikpusher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted November 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2022 Substantial progress on this Mig today! I was able to get most of the basic airframe done, adding the horizontal stabilizers, rudder, ailerons, and slats. I also got the seam clean up taken care of I also prepped the armament for installation, adding the blast tubes and hollowing out the muzzles. Lastly I added some brass screen to the radiator, as I do NOT like a smooth face on those parts. They need some form of texture. Nearing the finish line with assembly soon on this bird… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted November 18, 2022 Report Share Posted November 18, 2022 Wow! That wing assembly really looked daunting! Glad to see the instructions helped instead of hindering. I also agree about radiator faces..... some sort of scribing or screening needs to be present if it's visible to any extent. Nice progress! Gil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted November 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2022 Thanks Gil. Actually the instructions were not very helpful on assembling the wing and leaves it up to the builder. I forgot to add the word not, as in the instructions did not specify any sequence for assembly of those wings. It was daunting to look at, and again for anyone building this kit in the future I’d say leave off the smallest pats until last. But yeah, they do fit really snug, and I am impressed with the kit engineering there. All of the parts meet at actual panel lines, so if you get it to fit right, there is almost zero seam clean up to do afterwards. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted November 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2022 Yesterday’s progress update: First up, I assembled the main landing gear struts. ICM must have brought in someone from AFV Club, or Bronco, or one of the other Chinese model companies to design this kit, as they sure went intricate. Each strut is four separate parts, including some a pair of tiny side rods. Then you add the wheel well cover door. I’m not quite sure why each strut wasn’t molded as a single piece Then I painted and installed the radiator on the belly. I couldn’t get a good view in the camera of the added screening, but it is quite visible in real life. After that I installed the armament. After they had dried a bit I did a test fit of the cowling top, which fit with no problems over the guns. So I’ll paint them up and close it up. They won’t be visible, but I know that they’re in there. Also I cleaned up the prop and did a test fit. Man did they mold everything to fit snug. I could literally use no glue on those parts and they’ll be sitting in place just fine Lastly I had to get an underside view I’m on the home stretch for assembly now. Hopefully I can get the basic paint on next week… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted November 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2022 Well here is the latest progress. Not much by the past few updates standards, but… First up, armament painted. Seems something of a waste of effort since I’m not leaving the cowling open. This kit really should be done in a dio or vignette with the cowl opened and the engine exposed. Say goodnite to the guns… all closed up now And how this little Mig looks now. I have the canopy drying after its’ dip in Future. So tomorrow I can start to get it masked up then installed for painting. Also, due to the intricate method of landing gear installation, I’ll be getting those glued in place before I start painting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted November 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2022 Well, the last few days I’ve been able to get in little bits of work in while prepping for yesterdays holiday and a house full of visitors… First I got the canopy masked and installed. Once again a superb fit of the parts Then I glued the landing gear in place, since doing it after painting did not look like it would be a wise choice due to its configuration. and lastly I was able to get it primed, trying out some rattle can True Color dark primer Since I’m going to be using different light colors on the prop and spinner, I’ll be priming those in light colors to work best there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted December 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2022 So over the past several days I’ve started painting. I used Gunze Aqueos RLM 78 for the undersides. Which turned out ok over the dark primer Then Gunze Aqueous FA 34102 for the topside base green… which had minimal tonal contrast over the dark gray primer in the lighting of my work area. It really doesn’t show up in the photos The speckling is there in sunlight to the Mk.I eyeball, but not so visible here. And in the meantime, research turned up that the kit markings for Pokryshkin’s mount, White 5, was an early production Mig-3, while this kit is a late production Mig-3. So a bit more research turned up another Mig-3 that he flew, White 67, which was a late production model. And it was also in a two tone Green & Black scheme, so I used Tamiya Semi Gloss Black, masked with Silly Putty for the hard edge pattern. Not too much farther to go now… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted December 1, 2022 Report Share Posted December 1, 2022 Good looking camo scheme! Gil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted December 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2022 Thanks Gil. I’m still working on this,one, but the Micro Gloss that I used over the paint is giving me some problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted December 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2022 Well this one has been fighting me a bit, so I had to overcome some problems. Everything was going smooth until it was time to put on the gloss coat. I decided to try out the Micro Gloss. Not a good idea. Yes, I had used the stuff back in the 90’s, but that was over different paints. Long story short, the Micro Gloss started to crack as it dried over the Gunze paint. Which had been doing for a day or two. I emailed Micro Scale, but they weren’t too helpful in suggestions, telling me to try mineral spirits or sanding to get the cracked stuff off. Mineral spirits had zero effect (as did Windex and Simple Green), and sanding with fine sand paper started to remove paint quickly before smoothing out the cracks. As a last resort I tried 91% isopropyl alcohol. That stuff removed the Micro Gloss double quick, but it also attacked the Gunze Paint underneath. I tried 75% isopropyl alcohol and had less drastic results. Notice the two wings after clean up After the holiday interruptions, I resumed work, repainting the affected areas, and decided to go with Tamiya Gloss for my clear gloss prior to decals. Zero problems now… All ready for decals now. Lesson learned in that I need a new paint mule. I’m using paints and thinners now that I did not use back in the 90’s… Next update will be markings. I’m trying to get this one finished before the end of New Years Eve… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted December 31, 2022 Report Share Posted December 31, 2022 Very nice recovery! I used some Tamiya rattle can gloss on my latest build and was very impressed with it. It may move to my "go-to" gloss. Gil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2023 Yeah, the times they are a changing. Too bad I’m not much for change at this point in life. And here is my second final completion of 2022, also with a few hours to spare in the local time zone. This was a build that fought me a bit on the finishing stage for paint and decals, but overall, I think that it turned out pretty well. Sharp looking little fighter me thinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted January 1, 2023 Report Share Posted January 1, 2023 Congrats on bringing in one more for the year, especially with the frustrations that could have made it easy to shelve instead of persevering. I really like you choice of the black and green scheme. Thanks for letting us ride along! Gil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2023 Thanks Gil. The kit itself was great, it was just the finishing process that was so bothersome. And I agree about the black and green scheme. I think that it’s more attractive than the solid green scheme, or later war dark gray with medium gray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2023 (edited) This is ICM’s 1/48 Mig-3 kit that I built in the markings of one of the top scoring Soviet aces, Alexander Pokryshkin. He flew several Mig-3s in 1941-1942, before transitioning to the P-39 Airacobra. Between the two ill reputed types, he scored more confirmed kills (59) than any Western Allied ace. I built this with only the addition of a Kits World 3-D decal seat harness and a Cutting Edge instrument panel. Paints were Gunze Aqueous and Tamiya acrylic. The kit decals were translucent, especially over the topside dark colors, so aside from the underwing stars, I cobbled together the rest from my spares. and with the rest of my 1/48 Red Air Force Edited January 3, 2023 by Stikpusher 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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