SPA Modeler

Jeeves wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2024 5:30 am I was thinking the box art was reminiscent of ICMs...you could always display the engine next to the finished model if you don't want to hide it.

That is an intriguing idea... something to think about.

keavdog wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 4:54 pm 59 kills. Man that Mig-3 looks like a hotrod. Article said he got most of his kills in the P-39.

Yeah, it does look like a hot rod. I just love the streamline look of the Mig-3.

According to Pokryshkin, the Mig-3 was indeed a hot rod, requiring the right set of flying skills to fly it to best advantage. Considering that he outscored western aces flying two of the most maligned Allied fighter types of the war, the Mig-3 & P-39, he must have been quite the fighter pilot indeed.

Ok... here's the cockpit parts layout. Yeah, it's gonna be a fiddly one....




Now on to dry test fitting the wing halves. Oh boy.... not what I was expecting to see....



Not sure what happened. Looks like a bad sprue molding job from Ark Models.

Not sure how to move forward from there. I'm guessing some serious putty work. Even the wingtip light markers doesn't line up correctly. Perhaps a bit of surgery to match it up. I don't know...

I'm seriously thinking of dropping the flak hammer on this one if the putty work doesn't work for me or find an ICM kit replacement kit.

Wow, that is amazing. Get some vey thin sheet styrene. Over glue some trim out and sand???

See if they will send you a replacement: info@ark-models.org

Here's there site: https://www.ark-models.org/

Looks like your upper wing halves were short shots…

Stikpusher wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2024 8:23 pm Looks like your upper wing halves were short shots…

I think it’s the lower wing halves. Look how the flap areas are curved as if they didn’t pour the styrene through.

keavdog wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:53 pm See if they will send you a replacement: info@ark-models.org

Here's there site: https://www.ark-models.org/

I can try. Not sure how reliable they are to get replacement parts. If no response, it’s getting binned or tossed.

Ah that's a shame Tom - the engine looked good!

I've been thinking on how to move forward with this. Cutting out a small section where wingtip lights on lower wing and reposition to correct spot to upper wingtips Using scrap sheet styrene to fill in the areas is one possibility to correct this as opposed to putty work.

It's doable but will I be satisfied with the outcome? Only time will tell.