**** DONE: GB-46 1:48 MiG-3 - WW2 Eastern Front / Twin Engine A/C, Transports and Gliders

[fubar57]

Weathering complete

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Not going to do anymore to the IP other than the grey I dry-brushed on. I just looked at my other build and its invisible. I'll get this together and then comes the fun parts, installing this without issue into the fuselage, gluing the fuselage together and installing all the inserts that were an issue with the last build. I was hoping that this was the original issue and the early MiG was the second issue; that would explain the poor fit of the inserts but that isn't the case. The early version came out first

 

[Crimea_River]

You're gonna be done in no time at this rate.

 

[Airframes]

I was thinking the same.

 

[fubar57]

.....and we stall out if only slightly. Knowing the issues with the floor I clipped off the two stops at the back of the floor. The gap at the bottom of the fuselage was still there but now minimal. I could get away with it and putty later but I tried one more thing, I clipped open the mounting lugs at the ends and now we have a good fit

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Happy with this I taped everything together and test fit the top insert. I wanted to see if the alterations affected the fit which wasn't great with the first kit. Keep in mind that its only press fit but much better than the first kit

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The wing fit is better than the first as well but will require some fine tuning; I see a bit of mud in the future

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[Wurger]

 

[rochie]

Seem to have this one sorted Geo

 

[le_steph40]

Nice choice and nice start Geo

 

[fubar57]

Thanks guys. The MiG site believes this aircraft didn't carry a radio set as with the majority of other aircraft and it may or may not have carried the antenna mask. Time to snip off the radio gear and fill in the mast hole. I'm including this shot for others who have the kit and may look in. The instructions are vague as to how to mount the radio deck to the fuselage and it takes a bit of pondering. It is possible to mount after the fuselage it together but the seat back will have to be left off until it is installed

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Waiting for the seatbelts. I painted them a silvery grey colour and then I read Massimo's MiG-3 book and find out they were a leather colour

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

So now you have a primer on the belts.

 

[fubar57]

Yep and I spent the rest of the day screaming at them. Metal parts aren't painted yet. A bit over size

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These bad boys are back for another round. I'll tackle them after I take dawg for a walk. Might be a quick one; a Grizzly was sighted two days ago a block from my house

 

[Crimea_River]

Hope the bear didn't get you. The belts look terrific. Scratch built?

 

[fubar57]

Thanks Andy. Tamiya tape, some Gunze sandy brown colour from another build covered in error by Tamiya aluminum and finally Vallejo Model Color Leather and the circle locking mechanism was punch from some plastic card. I was going for this look that Wojtek posted on my other build

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A work in progress. A bit more here and I can flip them over and do the other sides

 

[rochie]

Good stuff Geo

 

[Wurger]

 

[le_steph40]

 

[nsmekanik]

Lookin good Geo

 

[Crimea_River]

Nice. What are you using to fill the elevator cavities?

 

[fubar57]

Still using 3M Bondo, $10ish at Princess Auto for a 128g tube. While looking for a price comparison between this and Squadron Green Stuff I found out that the Green Stuff is actually Bondo and Squadron re-tubed it. Checking further I find that 3M makes the stuff in green, red and white. The colours are drying/working times with green being the fastest and by fastest I mean the difference between green and white is about 1 minute. I just checked my A-4 from a GB done 8 years ago and no shrinkage. For whatever reason I've found that this doesn't dry out in the tube as fast as Squadron. I had a 16oz tube that I had for years and it was almost empty before it hardened. My two squadron tubes barely made it a year.

 

[Crimea_River]

Thanks Geo. I went to our local store a few months back to get some Squadron Green and they don't sell it any more. The guy sold me some Tamiya putty instead but I'm not sure I like it. It's very "hot" and seems to dissolve the plastic quite a bit.