SPA Modeler

I think large castings shrink some, so it is necessary to compensate for that either in the making of the master or the building process. Perhaps some resins are less susceptible to shrinkage.

Looking good, Borg.

jeaton01 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 10, 2024 1:53 pm I think large castings shrink some, so it is necessary to compensate for that either in the making of the master or the building process. Perhaps some resins are less susceptible to shrinkage.

Yes, that is true. I recently learned that the RTV silicon rubber comes in two varieties, depending on the catalyst. The Dutch terms where addition or condensation silicon. I don’t know I those direct translations work…
The variant I am using is condensation. It is cheaper, easier to use but apparently it shrinks about 0,5%. That just might be why the fit is a tiny bit off. So the resin is probably not the problem but the mould is.

One of the details that Hobbyboss missed: the flaps under the wings. Using a paper cut out as a guide I am scribing them. I have also started a second MiG-3, I couldn’t choose between white 40 and 42. So I am building both.

I primed both MiG’s with Mr. Resin surface primer. It looks a lot like normal mr surfacer 1200 but apparently it should be especially formulated for resin. Primer revealed a few flaws so those are touched up with mr surfacer 500.

That looks great! Well done.

Almost ready for paint!

I filled the slats and moved the pitot tube to the front of the wing. I also added the intakes. Left hand side is from the kit but right hand side is modified and cast in resin. The Hobbyboss has symmetrical intakes but they should be asymmetrical.
I also added a grid in the ventral intake with styrene strips. Eight pieces to make the grid.
A modification that I considered but didn’t do was to swap the navigation lights with clear plastic. I am going to practice that first.

Well done!