Home | What's
New | Features
| Gallery |
Reviews | Reference
| Forum
| Search
|
|
|
Mig-3 Soviet Fighter ICM
Reviewed by Dale Smith
The Mig-3 was developed by the A. Mikoyan Design Bureau in 1941 as a high altitude fighter with a service ceiling of over 39,000 ft. It was powered by a 1,350hp AM-35A engine. Due to its design, low altitude handling and performance was poor but it was able to attain 398 mph at medium altitude. The Mig-3 was armed with 2 x 7.62mm and 1 x 12.7mm machine guns, as well as being able to carry an additional 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in underwing pods or 6 x RS-82 air to ground rockets. In all, 3,322 aircraft were built between 1941-42, however its low altitude performance relegated it to rear area defence duties and it remained in service till 1944. The kit comes packaged in a flattish box, with the clear parts packaged in with the main parts. Canopy parts are acceptably clear with the main windscreen and fuselage fairing parts being thicker than the main canopy.
There are some sink marks on the rear faces of the propeller blades that will require filling with putty.
Dry fitting showed that the kit has been engineered well, with the shape and look of the aircraft being captured well. The kit features a beautifully detailed engine with nicely moulded exhaust stacks that are crying out for some additional pipework/wiring to be displayed with the cowl removed.( Hmm... methinks a diorama may be in the making. Now where are those ICM Soviet pilots and Ground Personnel?). Cockpit detail appears acceptable with the only omission being the harness. Decals are provided for some of the instruments. Be careful when separating the fuselage halves from the sprues. Do not trim off the rib that runs under the engine. It is right next to the sprue connector.
You can not go past ICM's Mig-3 for value. This is a pleasing little kit that I cannot wait to build. Accuracy appears good, fit of parts is exceptional, and with ten aircraft decal choices this kit should be in every modeller's list of wants. Major model manufacturers should look out! If you can't tell already, I was very pleasantly surprised. Check out the ICM website as they also do a range of Yaks and in the pipeline there is a Spit VIII and IX and also a PE-2 in 1/48 scale. I'll talk to Brett about a full build and diorama feature in the near future. Thanks to my friend Mikhail in Moscow for supplying the kit.
Review Copyright © 2000 by Dale
Smith
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
The
instructions explain construction clearly in 10 steps, with paint colours being
called out in the build sequence. Paint colours are shown in Testors and Humbrol
reference numbers. Colour schemes are given with 5 winter and 5 summer . Decals
were nicely printed and in register for the 10 aircraft supplied.