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updated on December 20, 2003                                                            file name: external.html
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This drawing shows an unpainted view of an early MiG-3. The external (wooden) part of the wing, the tail horizontal surfaces, the undercarriage and the propeller blades were omitted.
The colors of the drawing show the parts made with alluminium alloy (external panels of the front and mid fuselage, wing central part, tail surfaces and many details).
The internal fuselage strut is made by welded chromo-molibdenum steel; external panels are fixed on it, and are easily removable too.
The central part of the wing is built solidal to the fuselage, while external wooden parts are removable.
The rear part of the fuselage is made by wood.

On this left view we recognize some details:

  1. propeller spinner (the forward cone is easily removable);
  2. lower cooling intakes (both sides);
  3. Venturi intake;
  4. oil coolers ducts (one on each side; their limb is asymmetrical to allow a better air flow, in consideration of air rotation due to the propeller);
  5. spark plugs cooling intakes (both sides); the small panel under the stacks is removable for spark plugs access;
  6. engine oil discharge stopper fairing;
  7. electric generator fairing, with ventilation hole;
  8. supercharger intakes (both sides);
  9. oil cooler outlet flap; it is movable, hinged on the front side and moved by an internal lever (both sides);
  10. ventilation slots (on early version only, on both sides);
  11. exhaust stacks (1 for each 2 cilynders); early MiG-3s had not the large fairing of the first stack, introduced in late version;
  12. 12,7 mm UBS firing slot (slightly moved on the left side);
  13. 7,62 ShKAS firing slots (both sides);
  14. guns cooling intakes (both sides);
  15. guns cooling outlets (both sides);
  16. side reinforcing plate, made by steel; this part was solicited by exhaust hot fumes (both sides);
  17. hand grip, closed by a spring door;
  18. one-piece unarmoured windshield, taken in place by two internal metal frames;
  19. gunsight;
  20. openable sliding canopy; an handle is visible; note the trasparent stripes behind the rear strut to cover the slot between sliding and fixed parts;
  21. metal cover for bolts connecting the metal frame to the rear wooden part of the fuselage (both sides);
  22. rear fixed part of canopy, divided by a central structure with a central longitudinal slot as sliding guide;
  23. ventilation hole (both sides);
  24. water cooler and rear fuel tank fairing;
  25. shells discharging slot (left side only);
  26. cooling air outlet flap (movable by a lever);
  27. rear fuel tank stopper;
  28. footstep, closed by inwards foldable spring door; on the internal side, a tissue sack prevented the mud and wind inlet in the cockpit (left side only);
  29. tail undercarriage leverism access (left side only);
  30. rudder actuating levers access (left side only);
  31. elevators actuating shaft;
  32. tail wheel doors; on early MiG-3s, the wheel protrudes from a slot on the doors;
  33. rudder (metallic frame, partially covered by fabric);
  34. tail position light (white);
  35. trimmer.

This right profile refers to a late production example, with late style engine cowling with fast locks, the radio and the slats. The pitot probe is located under the right wing surface when slats are installed. The ammo panel on the wings was deleted on very late MiG-3s.

Below, the upper view, lower view and front view of a mid production example, with early cowling, radio and slats.
All the drawings evidence the allumimium alloy parts (light grey), the wooden parts covered with tissue (brown), the fabric covered surfaces, the steel side plates.