MiG-3
Late Production "Bloody 1941"

Armory Models Group, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

A new name to me, I was intrigued to learn that it is manufactured in the Ukraine by T.V.Karabyn, ‘Individual Entrepreneur’ . A quick dig around their substantial web-page (537 items!) revealed that Armory Models is primarily a manufacturer of 1/144 aircraft and accessories but also produce a lot of 1/72 wheel sets and weapons as well as a couple of 1/48 and 1/72 kits.

The MiG-3 was developed from the MiG-1 and was not a great aeroplane, but still some 3400 were still produced. Its inferiority was demonstrated by the fact that over 1400 of these were shot down!

Production ran from late 1940 until 1942. A number of other roles were tried for it but it was still no success and it was withdrawn from use well before the end of WWII. It was best above 5000m but most battles took place below this height where it was slower and less manoeuvrable than its main opponent, the Bf 109 F, hence its high attrition rate.

The "Bloody 1941" indicates Operation Barbarossa in which it took part.

The kit comes in a very sturdy box inside a thinner colour cover top which contains a folded-over 8-page A4 instruction booklet and a separate parts sheet that shows that only five parts will not be required for this build.

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Thumbnail panels:

The three grey-green sprues are packed in a zip-lock bag and the transparencies, masks, PE fret and decals are in another one.

More than 120 parts are finely moulded with only fine seams and no flash that I could see.

Many fine detailed parts make up the interior and the wheel wells and undercarriage. Being short-run, there are no locating pins/holes so care will be needed in aligning some major components. Sprue gates are quite fine but some impinge onto the outside of wings and fuselage so will need some care and cleaning up. Surface detail is good with smooth surfaces as per the original. Rivets are extremely finely reproduced on the inner wings and fuselage halves and may disappear under paint. There are two different upper cowlings but no indication as to which version they go on.

The instructions are generally clearly illustrated and ten steps are required for the cockpit interior, three for the wells and undercarriage. A number of optional parts are included for some intakes, the canopy, tail-wheels, and spinners, but again there are no explanations of what goes with what version.

Optional open and closed canopies are provided and masks are provided for the transparent parts.

The small PE fret provides some finer detail for the cockpit, including seat belts, and the wheel wells.

Marking Options

The decal sheet appears to be well-printed with a mass of stars in various sizes, along with a variety of numbers and logos beloved of Russian pilots. Unfortunately they are printed on a very pale sheet that makes finding some of the many white markings a bit difficult.

Decals are provided to cover fourteen airframes, rather too numerous to list here but in a variety of colour schemes based around the standard very dark grey (almost black) and green uppers with the bright blue AMT-7 undersides. Some of these are modified with larger green or light brown patches or squiggles and one has the greeny-brown squiggles all over a pale grey base.

There are reference numbers to Humbrol, Hataka, AMMO Acrylics, AK Real Colours, MrColor/Mr Hobby and Tamiya paints where applicable and available.

Each scheme is illustrated with a colour side profile and there are six upper plan views to show the main camouflage patterns.

Successful or not in action, this kit will allow the modeller to produce a very nice replica, especially as it appeared in a number of interesting schemes.

If this theatre and nation is your thing then this kit comes recommended to you.

Review Text Copyright © 2024 by Graham Carter
Images Copyright © 2024 by Brett Green
Page Created 27 September, 2024
Last updated 27 September, 2024

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