Wow, your engine looks terrific! Does the kit offer any way to display the cowling open so you can see all the work you put into it?

The instructions in my Pe-2 said light tan for the belts. I'm no expert so I'm not sure if that's right or not.

Bonehead question time, nothing I have shows the seat harness so I dont have any idea what color to paint them. Can anyone help me out with this question ? Was hoping to finish the cockpit today

Well guys its time to jump in here if I want to even have a prayer of making the end date. As a reminder I am building the 1/48 ICM MiG-3. I cant call this kit an easy one to build but I have been having an enjoyable time working on it, lots of fiddly detail parts with no locating pins to speak of. Oh and I had to make it a bit tougher by adding interior PE to the kit. So on with the WIP pictures.

A reminder of the kit box art and sprues.

This model of the Mikulin AM-35A engine is a little gem and a kit all by itself. I added plug wires and a couple of oil lines. Once I get it into the fuse I will add some coolant lines, I may add fuel lines also.

Here are the cockpit goodies I just started adding the PE and have been working on the IP as well. I will post more when I have the cockpit together, this truss is gonna be a fun one me thinks.

Hi Randy,

Thanks for the heads-up on the plastic -- I had that experience with Hobbycraft's plastic and Testor liquid cement, it was very frustrating. The large wing parts of the MiG went together fine, but the small stuff may well be a different matter. I must make some headway soon, I've been working on the F-84 and a Phantom in my last few session, and just got home from a weekend with friends. More sanding on the Fujimi F-4 before bed tonight...

Cheers, M/TB379

Konigwolf13 I thought your T-34 looked great the first time around and now you go and redo it and it really looks great. Very very well done both times.

Stikpusher my hat goes off to you sir cant wait to see your figures as I cant paint them to save my life.

Casteluovo your Ivan is looking good so far I like your addition of the PE grill. I need to try a tank one day.

Gamera Those figures are stunning beautiful work.

Thunderbolt I started work on the MiG 3 the other day got the engine finished and started on the cockpit yesterday. A word of warning the plastic is very soft and brittle and the truss is a nightmare just to get off the sprue, I broke one side but got lucky an was able to save it. Also I use Tamiya liquid glue and found I had best use it sparingly and not get sloppy with it at all, as it really seems to readly melt the plastic. I will be posting WIP pictures in a day or two. Hopefully I can make the end date

Casttelnuovo: Sorry I somehow missed your post. Fine looking T34. Depending on how you weather it you could lighten the green then. Or just fade her with a couple of coats of lighter green.

The Pe-2 is nearing completion, just cleaning up some over-spray now. Apologies for the lack of photos but other than her having decals and landing gear there's not much change.

I did get bored and dig out  ICM's VVS Flight Crew. I'm not sure about using them in a diorama with the Pe-2 or anything but they were a nice change in painting something by hand and not fidgeting with the airbrush.

Finaly, some work done on this Ivan...

I normaly avoid PE parts as I don't have the fine tools, skills or a microscope to work with them, but the plastic part looked really plasticky and, after all, I am happy the way it turned out.

BTW, I used Tamiya's Nato green but I think it is a bit too dark. Any suggestion which other coulour to use? Or maybe just add a bit of white to it?

Cheers...

PS

Why are the pictures sometimes HUGE and sometimes kinda normal size?

Today I primed the figures. Tomorrow I can begin painting.

Hi again all, lots been happening since I was last in for a look see. I've had my T-34/76 Sitting on to my comp for a few months now and as time went on I was less and less happy with it, mostley the thickness in someplaces and the whiteness, was just to white. Anyway after doing my first salt weathering effect on a A6M2-N Floatplane and being happy with the result I thought I'd redo this beastie. First up are a couple of shots of what it was like

And now resubmitted, with some shots of what she's like now. Not sure if I should go any further or not, some mud would prolly look great, but I dont know if I want to go there without a small base for it.

Thanks again

Andrew

Ok, Stik.

       Added your figures to the main post.

See ya

Scott

OK, I'd like to add another entry for me to this GB. as far as my Akula goes, it is sitting in my paint area (garage) with anew gloss coat and ready for decals to be applied.

Today I started a figure set I picked up a couple weeks ago at a LHS: Soviet WW2 Tank Hunters with Dogs. I built them up today and really like  this set. Probably the best Zvezda figures I have built so far. Fit was great, the faces are nicely detailed, nearly on par with Dragons latest, and it is a most unusual subject. Anyways here are a few pics. If the weather co operates, I can get the painting started tomorrow.

Box with the cover art. The figures are not quite as depicted here.

All three pairs of dogs and handlers built up.

Walking handler with his dog

Crouching handler commanding his dog to a target.

Prone handler giving cover while dog approaches target.

castelnuovo

M1 A1 A2, Can I join this GB? I have Dragon's T34/76 model 1941 in 1:35.

Cheers...

Yep. Added you to the main post. Looking forward to the T-34.

Thanks!  It was a really neat build!  No real problems came to mind!

I'll probably do another one one of these days...

RESlusher – nice job on the PT; we forget how good that vehicle was.

Bondoman – nice job on your builds’ shame the couple of floating tires. I like the ICM kit build.

great subject!

M1 A1 A2, Can I join this GB? I have Dragon's T34/76 model 1941 in 1:35.

Cheers...

FINALLY!!

I cut sprue on the Airacobra, and started on the cockpit. Been a little busy lately. Until this Missouri March-April weather gets settled down, I cant do much painting except by brush, as I have to spray outside. It's either too cold, too windy, raining, sleeting, snowing, or all of the above.

Just letting you know I was still alive.

Bondoman Oh I like them very well done sir. I especially like the last picture with the plane in the background.

Looks Awesome Bondoman!!!

     Ok, guys I have updated the main post with who is finished and added the second 2 star badge for those who have done at least 2 kits. So far that is Bondoman, Satch_IP and Kermit.

Give these guys and yourselves a big round of applause this GB is doing great!!!

See ya

Scott

I have two little buggers done. This has been fun!

ICM's 1/72 Zil-157 command post. I added the antennas and stuff working from a few photos and such.

And, Trumpeter's 1/72 BTR-80 pretty much stock.

"Bagram Airforce Base, Fall 1988"

Both are great little kits, although in different ways. The ICM has about a zillion parts and is easy to modify. And the Trumpeter has one big hull casting that is amazingly detailed.

Oh, and I also built an ICM BTR-152 but it ended up in Israeli colors, captured in 1967. It's currently providing base security for a little 6 Day War project...

Mike wow ! good luck getting your PhD  that's impressive I have to say I am sure your thesis will be great.

I am braking new ground on the MiG-3 with this engine detailing so no worries, you have plenty of time to get back to your build. I am still messing with the plug wires and a bit of the plumbing. I hope to have some pictures up soon but at this point I cant say when that will happen.

T-bolt- good luck to you sir!

RESlusher- Great looking PT-76. It's not a very big model is it? I think the actual vehicle was fairly small. I suppose some of the threadheads would tell you to throw some dirt on her but she looks good to me.

Hi Randy, no rush -- I'm having logon difficulties and need to access FSM through another terminal, which is very frustrating. Also, I'm in the final thoes of my PhD and haven't been able to touch plastic since last week, which is even more frustrating. I'm hoping to have the thesis submission draft ready in a matter of days, then I'll be able to take a deep breath and get back to the bench, and get some more done on the MiG-3 and my entry for my own Phantom GB, which has so far not happened!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

We cant have this Group Build on the second page thats just no good ya know ?

I got the engine block together and painted black a few days ago and today drilled it for plug wires, fuel injection lines and, a few coolant lines. This engine just screams for a bit of extra work. I will see if I can get the wires on tonight and get some pictures posted. Oh at this point it seems the lack of locating pins is working well for me, but we will see as the build progresses.

Thunderbolt I gotta warn ya this is going to be a slow build for me lots of new things to try to do on it.

OK Guys!  Here's the Trumpeter PT-76!  It wasn't a pretty tank; but Russian jarheads liked it a lot!

All things considered it wasn't a bad kit.  I'll probably build another one later on.  Maybe an Iraqi one.

I welcome your comments!  That's the only way we get better!  I'm gonna finish up the old Tamiya "Gepard" flakpanzer from the 80s that I've been working on for the Anti-Aircraft GB.

See ya 'round, guys!! 

WOW!!! I just lurk around for a couple of weeks and look what happens. Stuff gets started and finished!!!

Dzhonbaker: Love the cockpit. The painting gives it a very Russian crude basic look. But in a good way.

REslusher: Congrats, on finishing the PT-76. Now make with the pics!

Randy and Mike: Happy the MiG-3's are getting airborne. Cannot wait to see some WIP pics.

Just to say guys, the thing I love about this GB is it has taken on a life of its own. I think you guys would work on it with or without me at this point.  But I'm not going anywhere, school and family just kind of take over once and a while.

See y'all on the flip side.....................

Scott

Dzhonbaker – Nice pit.. I have that one in my stash, look forward to your build.

Mike/TB – Nice tips and info about the ICM kit.

I am still a “lurker” with a few WIPs/GBs to complete before tackling my little sub flotilla.

WooHoo!!!  The Trumpeter PT-76 is DONE!!

I'll shoot a pic or two of it over the weekend and get 'em posted! 

I feel so special!  My first group build badge! 

Thanks Richard I too spent last night googling like a madman and didn't come up with this site. Just what I was looking for.

Well I did some clean up today on the MiG-3, didn't need much cleaning up really, the ICM kit is almost flash free. I did start on the engine, which is a model in and of itself, and messed around with a bit of dry fitting. I think this build is gonna take me some time just so much detail one can play with. Might have a couple of WIP pictures the first of the week.

If anyone has pictures of the MiG under the cowl I would like to take a look at them

Sure buddy

The majority of the Mig 3 variants were powered by the Mikulin AM-35A engine. A quick google just now reveiled this for starters:

http://images.google.nl/imgres?imgurl=http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/mig3/museumam35.JPG&imgrefurl=http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/mig3/engineam35a.html&usg=__4YEQcyJViDF-VJdb2lEiqVUNxbU=&h=444&w=683&sz=98&hl=nl&start=1&itbs=1&tbnid=xBjqMwRJP-8UjM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=139&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dam-35A%2Bengine%26hl%3Dnl%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1

Some Migs were modified in the field in attempts to convert this high altitude interceptor into a low altitude fighter by installing the IL2' s AM38 engine which was slighty more powerful while retaining overall size and weight.

Hope this helps you out my friend

Richard

Thunderbolt I cant wait to see WIP pictures I found a few links you might be interested in on the MiG-3, was doing a bit of research last night looking for engine detail. I have found there arent many pictures of the MiG-3 out there. I guess the Russians didnt like cameras very much. Here are the links if you wish to take a peek.

http://www.fluggeraet.de/e_am38.html

http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/mig3/rusavia.html

http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/mig3/kuybyshev.html

I found the second link interesting seems someone is restoring a MiG-3. If anyone has pictures of the MiG under the cowl I would like to take a look at them. Oh I saw a review of the ICM kit that says the engine does in fact fit under the cowl quite well. There were 2 different versions of this kit done at ICM and the earlier one had the engine fit trouble.