Well, it’s finally finished and ready for all of you to tell me how I did on this build. If you read the other posts on the WIP, you know all the firsts I used on this build. I think it’s not 1/2 bad. All comments are welcome, both + and -, and appreciated. I’ve learned a lot thanks to a lot of you and thank you very much for all your help. OK, here come the pics (I hope).
I hope they all came out OK.
Jim[cptn]
Nice clean Build. Could have improved the fit of the windscreen with a little filler, but that’s tricky with a clear part. Thanks for sharing.
Regards, Rick
I think it looks great. The only suggestion I have (and it’s a suggestion only), would be to put some paint chipping on the prop. It appears as though you’ve used some chipping on the wing walk area and the leading edge of the wings, to keep consistency perhaps a bit more chipping?
In any event, still looks great.
Chris.
WOW Jim, that build looks good.
The pit and the belts are Great to say the lest.
And the build is well done !
Can’t wait to see it up close.
Bud
Thanks Rick. I should have planned it out a little better. After I had the photo reduced IP glued in place, I didn’t want to take a chance on messing it up. Should have made it a little smaller on the top end and then the windscreen would have fit OK. I’ll keep that in mind for the next one. Lesson learned (I hope). Trial fit, trial fit, trial fit.
Jim[cptn]
Chris - Thanks for the suggestion. The photos don’t show it too well but I did put chipping on the leading edges of the prop… I probably didn’t put it on heavy enough to show up in the pics. Would there be a lot of chipping on the rest of the prop too? I’ll get it right next time.
Bud - Thanks. Not bad for my first set of scratchbuilt belts. They’ll get better. Haven’t heard from you in a while. Glad you’re still around.
Jim[cptn]
Yea, I am still here got my new computer up now so y’ll can come down now,
Hmmmmmmm when it’s NOT Snowing 
Bud
Nice and clean.
I love the old Migs, great looking planes.
Looks great, Jim!
I see the Arthroscopic surgery was a complete success!!
matt
Nice job. Looks great.
Spiralcity + jetmodeler - Thanks for the compliments. The next one will be better thanks to all the great help I got here.
Watchmann - Took my old feeble mind a few seconds to catch on. LMAO The operation wasn’t a 100% success, but I can live with it. The joint on one is a little weak but it should hold the weight. Working on the Hannover today. Will take some pics and post. Thanks for the compliment.
Jim[cptn]
Great looking Mig. I built “Red 02” last year. It was mostly filler but damn if the Mig 3 hasn’t become one of my favorite WWII aircraft.
As far as I know the russians only painted the back sides of the props black, front sides were left bare metal (saves on paint!) no yellow tips either. Easy enough rectify if it bothers you, nice build tho!
As far as I know the russians only painted the back sides of the props black, front sides were left bare metal (saves on paint!) no yellow tips either. Easy enough rectify if it bothers you, nice build tho!
Great Work!
Great looking build Jim. I generally build Luftwaffe a/c, but I’d forgotten how nice the early Migs & Yaks were to look at. My only suggestion, and it’s tricky in 1/72, would be a thinner/tighter radio wire… that being said, I have yet to try one myself, so you’re already one up on me! Did you scratch-build the harnesses? If so, how did you do it?
There, you’ve inspired me - my next kit needs wires and harnesses!! 
Thanks for sharing your pics,
Vance
Thanks for the kind words guys. It seems like I’m getting better with age (like a good bottle of Scotch).[whstl]
Dirkpitt 289 - I didn’t have to use a lot of filler. Just used a little at the wing/fuselage joint. Was yours a Hobbyboss kit?
Alfaspud - Thanks for the tip on the prop. All the photos I saw were old B/W ones and it looked like they were painted on both sides. If you have a photo that shows plain metal on the front, could you send it to me? It would make my research complete and I can change it easily. Also couldn’t tell about the tips from the photos, so just took a shot in the dark.[blndfld]
Raptordriver - Thanks for the compliment.
VanceCrozier - Thanks for the tip on the antenna wire. It really does look thick in the photos. Wow, these old eyes are in bad shape. I’ll take it off and use some smaller diameter wire. Should be an easy fix. I did scratchbuild the harnesses. I doubled over a piece of masking tape then cut the strips as wide as I needed. The upper adjusters are squares of foil from a coffee can cut slightly wider than the strap. I glued them to the straps and then cut a thin piece of the masking tape and glued it on top of the foil. From a few inches away, it looks like the straps go through the adjusters. The buckles are just different shapes of the foil glued to the ends of the tape. Hope you can understand my explanations. If I can be of any help, just drop me a PM Conversation.
Jim[cptn]
Jim
Mine was an encore and it was horrible. At the time I bought two and its a good thing because I had to harvest parts from the second one, Then as the build came to a close I found myself really liking this little plane. So I went out and bought a third one to do a summer paint scheme. The third kit is a Revell and wouldn’t you know it is the same mold at the Encore. [:@]
I will second Alfaspud about the prop color. White on the front and black from the bottom up to mid prop on the back. Some were also bear metal. Again easy to fix if you so choose.
Thanks for the info Dirk. I really didn’t like the MIG when I first saw it either. I kept seeing it in the Squadron flyer and thought it was a cheap kit so why not. It was a simple paint scheme too. Now, I think I’m going to look for a larger one that has some AM parts to go with it (if there are any). I’ll start looking in the catalogs I have tomorrow. I saw a couple of simple paint jobs during my research that would give me some practice with my AB. This was my first paint job with an AB and was easy to do because of the top/bottom split with no camo.
I have a couple of guys I want to see the plane in person the way it is before I make any changes to it. After that I will change the prop color and the size of the antenna wire. Thanks again for the comments and the info.
Jim[cptn]
Thanks for the description Fox, I’ll have to give it a shot on my next small build. (Don’t think I dare try it on the Storch I’m working on right now!). The instructions are fine, if I can’t follow those I shouldn’t be trusted with an exacto knife!!