Contact-Résine 1/32
MiG-3 Super Detail Set

It never ceases to amaze me when a hobby company springs up out of a combination of good modeling, good research, good engineering, and good business skills. In this case, we have Contact-Résine out of France who has a growing line of details and super detail sets in their stable. I've seen some of their offerings in the past, but until now haven't found a way to get a closer look at these aftermarket products.

Houston-based Design & Marketing International has become the exclusive importer for all of North America of a number of interesting product lines, including Contact-Résine. At last, we can take a closer look at these detail sets!

The MiG-3 Super Detail Set is designed for the Trumpeter 1/32 MiG-3 kit. You can see the Trumpeter MiG-3 review here.

The Contact-Resin super detail set is packaged better than virtually any aftermarket set I've seen to date. The box is a simple sturdy cardboard type. That's where the simplicity ends. Each photo-etched fret is individually sealed in its own bag. The resin details are similarly sealed up, and any remaining volume in the box is occupied by bubble wrap. Then the OUTSIDE of the box is sealed in bubble wrap! This is the first hobby product I've seen that could likely survive as checked airline baggage. Maybe not. It will survive the mail service!

Once you've penetrated the outer defenses, you'll find three frets of photo-etch that dress up the interior and exterior of the aircraft. These details include new landing flaps, instrument panel (with decal instruments!), landing gear oleo scissors, gear door details, radiator details, and even rocket fuses and fins.

Not stopping there, the set includes 16 very nicely cast resin parts that provide a whole new cockpit interior (look at that pilot's seat!), new propeller and spinner, a radio deck behind the pilot, and new tail feathers. These elevators and rudder replace the kit parts and provide a very authentic-looking fabric-covered surface.

Rounding out this detail set, you're not going to go to all of the trouble of detailing out your aircraft and then painting only the exterior of the canopy. This set includes a complete set of masks for the canopy and windscreen exterior, and another identical set for the interior. Now you can paint the canopy as it should be - inside and out!

I must say that this super detail set is extremely well done and addresses a kit subject that has been ignored by the rest of the aftermarket industry (so far). While you might pause at the price, had the MiG-3 been released with this level of detail as we've seen in other Trumpeter releases, the MSRP of the kit would likely be equal (if not higher) than the combined price of the kit and this great detail set. What's more, since the MiG-3 has been on the market for a while now, you're likely to find one on sale.

This detail set is highly recommended! You can purchase this set online from Design & Marketing International.

My sincere thanks to Design & Marketing International for this review sample!