MiG 3 Colors

I-200 prototypes colors and painting updated on August 16, 2005

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I-200 no.01 (march 1940)

I-200 no.01 (may 1940)

I-200 no. 02

I-200 no.03

I-200 no.04, the prototype of MiG-3

MiG-3 AM-38F

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I-200 no.01 File updated on August 16, 2005

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file name: i200-01.html

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These profiles represent the I-200 no.01, the first prototype of the MiG family, in different times.

in March 1940

in May 1940

The aircraft differs from early type MiG3 for:  

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This was the first configuration of No.01 in March 1940. We see the silver overall finish. On the other side, the oil cooler was slightly smaller than the later configuration. The canopy was removed for easier bailing out.

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The no.01 in its configuration after May 1940 with grey finish, a red lightning and the canopy, that was openable

the length was still 8,15 m; the canopy conformation was different; an one-piece windshield, a rightward opening shield, a short clear rear part; bulges and intakes over the nose were absent; only the lower bulge under the nose, containing the cooler and lubrification pumps, was present; there was a predisposition for guns installations with recessed outlets (instead than partially protruding as on MiG-1 and 3); the small inlets for ignitors and the one on the low-left part of the nose were absent, as the cooling slots in front of the windshield; the central one under the nose was particularly small; the small intake in right-low position was present; there are some minor differences in panels division, particularly the exhaust shields and the panels with 6 slots; the tail wheel door had not any bulge nor window; the underwing removable panels for guns pods ammo were absent; the supercharger intakes at the wingroots were different than those of MiG-3, particularly for having a shorter upper lip;

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from outside only.

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the water radiator fairing was different to those of MiG-3, and apparently smaller than those of no.02 and 03; the main landing gear were different from MiG-3; they had smaller wheels, different doors shape, and foldable wheel flaps as on I-16, instead of the wheel doors as on MiG-3; the oil cooler was installed only on the left side of nose, and the shutter is on his air inlet rather than on the outlet; it was the only I-200 with this configuration; the aircraft was painted silver, and it had a red lightning painted on both his sides (not for his whole life, in fact it doesn't appear on one photo); the prop blades were unpainted alumimium.

A detail of the nose. This configuration of the oil cooler on the left side only has already been enlarged, but it was replaced by a cooler on each side in August 1940..

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I-200 no.02 File updated on March 25, 2005


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This profile represents the I-200 no.02, the second prototype of the MiG family.


The aircraft differs from early type MiG-3 for:  

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The no.01 in its standard configuration with a red lightning and the canopy, that was openable from outside only.

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the length was still 8,15 m; the canopy conformation was different; an one-piece windshield, a rightward opening shield, a short clear rear part; bulges and intakes over the nose were absent; only the lower bulge under the nose, containing the cooler and lubrification pumps, was present; there was a predisposition for guns installations with recessed outlets (instead than partially protruding as on MiG-1 and 3); the central air inlet under the nose was smaller than on MiG3; there were some minor differences in panels division, particularly the exhaust shields and the panels with 7 slots; the tail wheel door had not any bulge nor window; the underwing removable panels for guns pods ammo were absent; the supercharger intakes at the wingroots were different than those of MiG-3, particularly for having a shorter upper lip; the water radiator fairing was

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A detail of the nose. This configuration of the oil cooler was on both sides as on all series aircraft, but with sharper shape. Note the asymmetrical inlet shapes, chosen to optimize the access of air moved by the propeller.

different to those of MiG-3; the main landing gear were different from MiG-3; they had smaller wheels, different doors shape, and foldable wheel flaps as on I-16, instead of the wheel doors as on MiG3; the oil cooler was installed on both sides, but its inlet lip was shorter and sharper than on MiG-3; the aircraft looks painted light grey overall; the prop blades were unpainted alumimium.

The 01 after the spinning tests; the lightning was deleted; the canopy was removed for easy bailing out.

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I-200 no.03 File updated on August 7, 2005

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This profile represents the I-200 no.03.



The aircraft differs from early type MiG-3 for: 

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the length was still 8,15 m (as one can deduct from the fact that the last exhaust stack is overposed to the rear side plate); the canopy conformation was different; an one-piece windshield, the predisposition for a rightward rotating shield, a short rear part; there are 7 ventilation slots on each side (as on I-200 No. 02 and 04, instead than 6 as on early series MiG-3); some bulges and intakes over the nose were absent, and a small air intake under the nose was smaller; the radio device, absent in photos, was installed later, as the radio mast; they were identical to that of MiG-3; the underwing removable panels for guns pods ammo were absent; the aircraft was unmarked, and painted with a dark gloss color (possibly the same green as the I-15bis); the water radiator fairing and main landing gear were different from MiG-3; they had smaller wheels, different doors shape, and foldable wheel flaps as on I-16, instead of the wheel doors as on MiG-3; the intakes for side oil cooler tunnels had a different shape than those of MiG-3; they were identical to those of I-200 No.02; the supercharger intakes at the wingroots had shorter lips, particularly the upper ones; metallic outer wing panels (it is the only member of the family to have this); the aircraft was unmarked, and painted with a dark gloss color (possibly the same green

as the I-15bis) with silver undersurfaces.

Images from "Mikoyan's piston-engined fighters" of Gordon and Dexter

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I-200 no.04 (MiG-3 prototype) File updated on August 16, 2005

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This profile represents the I-200 no.04, the MiG-3 prototype.



The aircraft differs from early type MiG-3 for: 

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the length was still 8,15 m (as one can deduct from the fact that the last exhaust stack is overposed to the rear side plate); there are 7 ventilation slots on each side (as on I-200 No. 02 and 03, instead than 6 as on early series MiG-3); some bulges over the nose were absent, and small air intakes over and under the nose were smaller; the tail wheel door had no bulge nor window; probably the wheel was slightly smaller, as on series MiG-1s. there were not radio devices; the underwing removable panels for guns pods ammo were absent; the aircraft was unmarked, and painted with a dark gloss color (possibly the same green as the I-15bis).

The main undercarriage and ventral water cooler/tank fairing were as on standard MiG-3s; apart for this the aircraft was similar to a series MiG-1.

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MiG-3 AM-38 updated on April 10, 2005

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This aircraft is the only MiG-3 fitted with the AM-38 engine in factory in August 1941. This engine gave higher power but less altitude capability than the AM-35A. The aircraft had a significant improvement in its low-altitude performance, and outclassed even the Bf-109F. The trials showed the necessity to redesign the oil and water radiators because of the higher heat generation of the new engine, and as well, the Il-2 program was prioritary for the use of the AM-38 engine. Because of these factors, the program was halted. A pair of other MiG-3s were re-engined in such way in operative units. The characteristics look to be:      

late type with slats; a small pipe on the left side, collecting inert exhast from the 2nd and 3rd stacks of the exhaust pipes for anti-flame inert gas system of the fuel tanks; exhaust pipes similar (if not identical) to the series examples; the aircraft carried two different configurations for exhaust stacks, I don't know if this is the early or the late one; green and dark green camouflage; slightly oblique fuselage star, with black outline; particularly large stars under the wings;

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a (probably) red band on the top of the fin; "95" roughly painted (or drawn with chalk) on the fin; propeller blades with aluminium forward surface and black rear surface.

This plan view is hypothetical, based on the similarity of the profile camo scheme with the example "white 04".

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MiG-1 and MiG-3 pre-war colors and painting updated on October 16, 2009


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All the early series production MiG-1s and MiG-3s were painted with:     

AII green uppersurfaces, light blue undersurfaces; six red stars (often contoured in black) on fuselage sides, wing upper and undersurfaces. propeller blades were left unpainted aluminium, with partially black painted rear surface, often very worn off by air abrasion. The pitot probe was light, probably light blue, with unpainted aluminium end.

This scheme was common for MiG-1s and early MiG-3s, till the war outbreak. The metal surfaces (aft fuselage, horizontal tail surfaces, central wing plan) appear lighter and worner than the wooden surfaces (rear fuselage, outer wing panels); this is well visible on nearly all German photos (forthemost representing aircraft captured or wrecked during the first days of war), but not on Soviet photos (few of which represent this scheme, and they show forthemost new aircraft from the factory). The difference between green shades on wooden and metallic surfaces is very marked in aircrafts abandoned for a long time. It was probably due to different painting techniques on separed sub-assemblies before the final assembly, that led paint on metal parts to fade quickly if exposed to the sunlight. The green/blue demarcation line was sharp on the nose and metallic parts of the wing and tail, while it was soft on wooden parts; besides, wooden and metallic parts were painted before the final assembling, and this can be understood because demarcation lines are often discontinued on junctions. This way to paint MiG-3s was abandoned more or less contemporarily to the war outbreak, and to the introduction of late type MiG-3.

MiG-1 yellow 5, 31 IAP

MiG-1 red 6, 31 IAP

MiG-1 red 8

Kaunas, Lithuania, June 1941

Kaunas, Lithuania, June 1941

possibly 31 IAP, June 1941

MiG-1 white 7 June 1941

white 1, 31 IAP, Kaunas, Lithuania June 1941

rough 1, Lithuania June 1941

white 17, unknown unit, June 1941

3 digit 220, unknown unit, June 1941

3 digit 564, unknown unit, June 1941

yellow 3, 31 IAP, Kaunas, Lithuania June 1941

azure 8, unknown unit, June 1941

red 14, 31 IAP, Kaunas, Lithuania June 1941

MiG-3 of unknown unit, June 1941

MiG-3 of 401 IAP, July 1941




red 1, lt.Estyen, 5 IAP KBF, Finland July 1941

MiG-3 that defectioned in Rumania,

MiG-3 n.2115

Melitopol, December 1941

NII-VVS, January/February 1941

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MiG-3 colors: standard bands schemes updated on April 3, 2009


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The introduction of bands camouflage painted on in factory looks to have been more or less contemporary to the war outbreak and to the introduction of the late type MiG-3. While the aircraft were probably painted AII green and light blue when still disassembled, the darker bands were painted on already assembled planes, and don't show interruptions on panel lines; the quick fading of the AII green visible on German photos of solid-green painted aircraft is not visible on camouflaged aircraft, perhaps because it is covered by camo bands, and/or because few operative MiG-3s had a life long enough to fade. Two colors are known to be used to paint darker bands:  

AII dark green (low contrast on bw photos) AII black (higher contrast on bw photos).

It is difficult to distinguish black bands from dark green bands on bw wartime photos; this is probably due to the quick fading of the black, to dust or to the use of thinned black paint over green background. Some wrecks (not of MiG-3s) in Finnish museums seem to show the use of black green paint, unknown on Soviet sources and possibly made by mixing black with green paint. The use of dark green looks to have been more common during the summer of 1941, while the use of black looks more common during fall and winter 1941. The camo bands on the wings appear forthemost longitudinal from the leading to the back edge; few images show different, Spitfire-like oblique and interrupted bands. The red stars were forthemost in six positions: fuselage sides, tail, wing undersurfaces. Originally the red stars were plain or with a thin black outline; occasionally white outlines were seen in 1941/42; the use of wide white outlines was generalized in 1943/44, when MiG-3s were no longer used on first line units. Click on each profile to see a bigger drawing with photos and comments

NII-VVS test aircraft

MiG-3 AM-38F

white 04, Cap. Polyakov, 7 IAP, Leningrad front June 1941

yellow 5 with UB pods, possibly fall 1941

yellow 32 possibly summer 1941

rough 28 captured by Germans, unknown unit

Za Rodinu, unknown unit, summer 1941

silver 46, 6 IAK Moscow PVO

MiG-3 of captain A.A. Lipilin, 41 IAP, July 1941, Moscow front

blue 19 of 162 IAP, Leningrad front, summer 1942

cutten 76 Moscow front, summer 1941

white 67, 7IAK/PVO Leningrad 1941

"smert nemetskim okkupantam!" , Moscow front

red 17, Moscow front, winter 1941/42

2 GSAP/VVS-SF, Vayenga spring 1942

red 47, 12 GIAP Vnukovo, March 1942

yellow 21 of 7 IAP Black Sea Fleet, Kuban, 1943.

white 28 of 7 IAP Black Sea Fleet, Kuban, 1943.

blue 1 Moscow front

white 1 of Black Sea Fleet 62 IAP VVS ChF

tail ski

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White Tail Last Updated on April 15, 2005

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This short-nosed example features a white rudder and forward spinner worn on a standard low-contrast green and dark green camouflage. Two photos of this example are available: the first one (from MiG OKB) shows clearly the neat demarcation line between the camouflage and the light blue undersurfaces on the nose, the second one (found on the Web) shows the camo on the fuselage. The white bands on the wings and horizontail tail surface is the sky's light reflection on the wet surfaces. The demarcation line between camouflage and light blue undersurfaces is not visible on the rear fuselage behind the radiator cowling; probably it is oblique, as usual. The white rudder and the left wing root appear worn; the black band on the blade's rear surface has nearly all disappeared.

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MiG-3 AM-38 updated on April 10, 2005

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This aircraft is the only MiG-3 fitted with the AM-38 engine in factory in August 1941. This engine gave higher power but less altitude capability than the AM-35A. The aircraft had a significant improvement in its low-altitude performance, and outclassed even the Bf-109F. The trials showed the necessity to redesign the oil and water radiators because of the higher heat generation of the new engine, and as well, the Il-2 program was prioritary for the use of the AM-38 engine. Because of these factors, the program was halted. A pair of other MiG-3s were re-engined in such way in operative units. The characteristics look to be:      

late type with slats; a small pipe on the left side, collecting inert exhast from the 2nd and 3rd stacks of the exhaust pipes for anti-flame inert gas system of the fuel tanks; exhaust pipes similar (if not identical) to the series examples; the aircraft carried two different configurations for exhaust stacks, I don't know if this is the early or the late one; green and dark green camouflage; slightly oblique fuselage star, with black outline; particularly large stars under the wings;

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a (probably) red band on the top of the fin; "95" roughly painted (or drawn with chalk) on the fin; propeller blades with aluminium forward surface and black rear surface.

This plan view is hypothetical, based on the similarity of the profile camo scheme with the example "white 04".

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White 04 updated on April 15, 2005

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file name: white04.html


This profile represents an aircraft of 7 IAP, piloted by Capt. S.N. Polyakov, Leningrad front, summer 1941. It is a early type MiG-3, with radio mast and wires, and without slats. A part of the spinner looks painted with a light color, probably red. The tail wheel doors are bulged as on late version MiG-3s.

images from Red Stars 1

The aircraft bears a camo scheme with an unusual distribution of bands; it is a field-made camouflage on an early style solid green aircraft. The colors are probably AII green and dark green, with a darker band on the right wing root (probably black) and some lighter patches on the right wing and over the nose (probably fresh green repaintings). Note the stars over the wings, as usual on prewar-built aircraft.

(below) Another version of the first photo allows to distinguish camouflage lines on the back and on the tail.

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Shotdown Yellow 5 updated on April 5, 2005

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file name: shotdown5..html


This profile represents an example of an unknown unit, that made a forced landing. The photo has a very low contrast, and at first glance it looks an overall green aircraft without stars. This would be odd. Besides, the aircraft is a late production MiG-3, so the photo is probably taken in autumn 1941, when MiGs were always camouflaged. Observing carefully the photo, one can see (or think to see):        

it is a long-nosed example, with slats; it is armed with underwing gun pods; low contrast green/dark green camouflage, with reasonable concordance with usual scheme; a medium size red star on the fuselage, and a small size star on the tail, behind the yellow 5; the hypothetic tail star is very uncertain, but the strong displacement of the 5 digit looks to confirm its presence. it looks without radio devices; ther mast is not visible, but it could have been removed with the nose panels; the radio boxes behind the seat look absent too; there is the small pipe for inert gas anti-fire fuel tanks system over the left side exhaust stacks; the tail wheel looks extracted in spite of being the main undercarriage retracted; probably it was locked fixed in low position; the propeller blades look unusually painted, probably black or green.

These details with enhanced contrast are to evidence where I think to see traces of the stars contours (evidences with white points on the latest image).

The last detail evidences what is visible of the gun pod behind the bended gun barrel.

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captured yellow 32 updated on April 5, 2005

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This example was captured by Germans, probably during the late summer 1941. The photo shows it with panels removed, broken trasparent panels, removed wing outer panels, removed sliding canopy, bullet holes and bended propeller blades; probably it had to land on enemy controlled ground due to war damage. It is loaded on a train car. The photo shows clearly that it is camouflaged, and the side stars.

This image is strange because the aircraft's uppersurfaces appear light and less camo details are distinguishable. Here we see clearly a black band on the spinner, the absence of the radio mast hole on the bended nose panel and some dark bands on the landing gear door.

Its characteristics look to be:      

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late model, probably with slats; without radio and radio mast; apparently without the sliding canopy (it's not clear if it was flown so, or it was lost during the recovery); inert gas pipe on the left exhaust stack; camouflaged green and dark green with light blue undersurfaces; yellow (or light blue? or...) number 32, freehand painted (perhaps airbrushed), overposed to the fuselage star; the shape of the number is slightly different from right side to left side; red painted trim on fuselage and, perhaps, on the right elevator; green spinner with a black band; black propeller blades; black sprayed stripes (or smoke traces?) on the main gear door.

According to researches of Erik Pilawskii, the camo scheme shown on the right is typical of green/ dark green camouflaged aircrafts, adapted to what is visible on the photos.

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rough yellow 28 updated on August 6, 2007

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file name: rough28.html


This profile represents an aircraft captured by Germans, probably during the fall 1941. The photo shows that the aircraft is lacking of wing external panels, engine cowling, and his canopy, fuselage, rudder and landing gear appear damaged, perhaps for a bomb blast. Note the camouflaged landing gear doors and propeller blades. Two other photos of this plane are known.

Its characteristics seems to be:  

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late type, probably with slats; the radio mast is not visible, but something that could be a radio box looks visible behind the headrest, so I think that the radio mast should have been removed with the engine cowling; inert gas pipe visible on the left side; a rough 28, probably yellow, is painted on the stabilizator, parallel to the ground, on both sides; standard green/black (or dark green?) camouflage, with some green repainting on the fuselage sides close to the tail; standard red stars on six positions (fuselage, tail, wing undersurfaces); camouflaged propeller blades(green/dark green) camouflaged landing gear doors (green and black mottles over light blue).


Za Rodinu Updated on October 13, 2005

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This aircraft was captured by Germans in the first period of war, probably in fall 1941.


It looks to feature:    

late type, probably with slats; early type tail wheel doors, not usual on late type MiG-3; green and black camouflage, with unusual scheme and evident repaintings with fresher black; the "za rodinu" ("for the motherland") slogan, painted white on the left side, with decreasing digit size.

Here is a reconstruction of the unusual camo scheme.

This image allows to see that the plane had the sliding hood and the antenna mast. from barbarossa Victims

This image shows part of the camo. Note the early type tail wheel doors. The star looks deleted on this image, but further documents demonstate that it was present, even if in bit unusual position and size. from barbarossa Victims

The image below shows clearly the tail star, and hides strangely the fuselage one. This could be due to reflexions on the gloss paint.

This image shows well the late type engine cowling. All four the available photos show the left side of the plane with the slogan; this probably means that the right side was less interesting because without any slogan. from Migi Stalina

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Silver 46 updated on August 16, 2005

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file name: silver46.html


This aircraft is believed to be from the 6 IAD, Moscow PVO, spring 1942. There exist three photos showing three apparently identical fighters, numbered 44, 45 and 46; they are late production types, armed with rockets, flying with open canopy and open rear undercarriage with doors open. The spinner looks unusually pointed; probably it has the tooth for the starter.

The camouflage is black and green, and is representative, with small variants, of the camo scheme of many MiG-3s. The hand painted digits look to be silver, and are not perfectly parallel to the flying axis.

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Lipilin's Aircraft Latest update on 5 April, 2005

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file name: lipilin.html


This profile represents the aircraft of captain A.A. Lipilin, 41 IAP, that shot down a German reconaissance aircraft at an altitude of 8000 m on July 27, 1941, on the Moscow front. The photo shows only a small portion of the aircraft; some details are hypothetical.    

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it is an early model MiG-3 (as one can see from the tail wheel doors), with radio devices and probably without slats; there is a white 5 and a small round on the tail; there looks to be a red 11 painted over it; a large 0 is on low position, and the star is unusually small; there was probably a red star painted on the fuselage (as on nearly all the MiGs) without further numbers (there are already too many ones on the tail); the black camo bands look unusually soft, but the overall scheme looks similar to one seen on photos of many other MiGs; it could be field painted, on the all green background typical of early MiGs (this could justify the unusually small tail star as painted on the field too; the first examples had no tail stars; the factory camouflaged aircrafts had a far larger star); hand brush painting is visible on the fuselage side; the spinner was probably green, as on most MiG-3s.

The aircraft bears a green/black camouflage; where not visible on the photo, it was drawn on the base of a similar scheme drawn by Erik Pilawskii.

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Blue 19 updated on April 5, 2005

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This profile represents an example of 162 IAP, 43 IAD, Leningrad front, summer 1942. Its characteristics seem to be:  it is a late type aircraft, with radio devices;  a dark gloss number, probably blue 19, can be seen on a side, and is partially superimposed over the fuselage star (I think the number is blue, not black, because it is partially covers a black camo band, and this should obscure the reading of a black number);  the frames of the canopy look green, not in agreement with the black camouflage band;  there is the small pipe for inert gas anti-fire fuel tanks system over the left side exhaust stacks.

The aircraft bears a green/black camouflage; where not visible on the photo, it was drawn on the base of a similar aircraft. The spinner is not clearly visible on the photo; it is supposed to be green, as on most MiGs.

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Cutten 76 updated on April 5, 2005

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file name: cutten76.html


This profile is based on three photos, probably taken during summer or autumn 1941 on the Moscow front. A careful observation of the photos shows some characteristics:       

it is an early type MiG-3, with slats; it has the radio mast; it wears what seems a white 0 (sometimes used for unit leaders) on the tail, and a red 76 with thin black outline on the rudder, overposed to the red star; it has a green/worn black base camouflage, with fresh black bands hand painted on the tail and rear fuselage; it has particularly large stars with a black outline under the wings; it has modified main undercarriage covers; probably they were cutten after a damaging or to have a better access to the brakes for maintenance; it has black painted and heavily worn propeller blades.

A hypothetic recostruction of the camo scheme, based on the observation of the wing of the second photo. Fresh black repaintings look localized on the wingroots and on the junctions of outer wing panels.

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White 67 Last Updated on August 6, 2007


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MiG-3 of 7 IAK/PVO (Air Defence of Leningrad), probably during the autumn 1941.



late type, probably with slats; with radio apparatus; green and black camouflaged with apparently unusual scheme; black engine cowling fixed tail wheel; white spinner and digits.

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Death to German Occupants! Updated on August 16, 2005

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file name: death.html


This profile represents an example of an unknown unit, characterized by a slogan "smert nemetskim okkupantam!" (death to the German occupants!). Someone hypothized that this was the plane of Dolgushin of 180 IAP of the Moscow PVO. Its characteristic seem to be:       

it is a late type aircraft, probably with slats; green/black camouflage and light blue undersurfaces, with unusually low color demarcation; large red stars with very thin light outlines, probably white; equipped with radio; the tail wheel is without the doors; the spinner, not clearly visible in the photo, seems to have its top painted red; the slogan, probably painted white, is on the right side; it could be on the left side too, as hypothized on the drawing.

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Red 17 Updated on April 5, 2005

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file name: red17.html


This profile represents an example of an unknown unit, Moscow front, winter 1941/42. It appears partially dismounted, and this creates some difficulty in drawing the camo scheme, that appears to have been partially field repainted. Its characteristics look to be:     

it is a late type aircrafte, with slats, starter tooth and radio devices (the wire looks visible near the stabilizer, even if the mast is dismounted); the camo scheme looks to have partially repainted on the field, on the base of a standard green/black scheme: we see unusually soft and irregular undersurface demarcation line on the nose and sides; there looks to be a roughly painted red 17 on the tail, parallel to the ground line; the tail star looks absent; it is armed with underwing rockets; it looks to have regular doors at the tail wheel.

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White 57 with Reindeers Updated on April 5, 2005

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This profile represents a MiG-3 of 2 GSAP/VVS-SF at Vayenga airport in 1942; only four MiGs of this unit survived at the beginning of 1942, and only one was lost during 1942, set on fire after landing because of combat damages. The remaining 3 MiGs were transferred to 255 IAP/VVS-SF where they remained in hardly serviceable conditions until mid 1943, when they were transferred ot the VVS-TOF, the Soviet Pacific Fleet, putting an end to MiG-3 service in VVS-SF. Particularly noticeable are the Lapps with their reindeer helping the VVS ground crew. Sleighs were used on the unsnowed ground too. The objects on the canisters look like bombs, probably for bombers SB that were in the 72 SAP; this SAP got Pe-2 as well since July 1942.

This aircraft is unusual in many respects; its characteristics seem to be:

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 

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late type, with radio mast, without slats (as visible for the long pitot); camouflaged with AII green and black uppersurfaces, with light blue undersurfaces; the camouflage scheme of the wings is unusual, and is documented only on this aircraft; the tail and the left side of the fuselage are not visible on photos; there is a white number with two digits, probably a 57 (the first digit looks too wide to be a 1; it is surely not a 0, 2,6,8,9; if it should be a 3 or a 7, it should resemble more to the second digit; it looks not a 4, that is usually open on the top); the number is unusually moved rearwards, so there is not space enough for a red star with the usual position and size on the fuselage; so probably this was omitted; if this unusual sceme is the result of a repainting, the demarcation line between light blue and camouflage colors could be unusually low, to cover the hypothetical original red star; the spinner is white, with alluminium blades with traces of worn black paint both on front and rear surface.

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3rd camouflaged aircraft of the 12 GvIAP line last modified on April 5, 2005

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file name: 12iapcamo3.html

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Three camouflaged MiG-3s appear on 3 photos taken on March 7, 1942, when the 120th IAP of Moscow Air Defence was was made Guards as the 12th Gv.IAP; they appear only partially as background elements, but they seems to be almost identical with the exception of some details. This example is the most hidden of the trio, but it shows some interesting characteristics, while the other two look extremely anonymous. The characteristics seem to be:          

late type, probably with slats; standard black and green camouflage with light blue undersurfaces; red band on the spinner; overall black propeller blades; perhaps a small red 47 under the windshield; stars on 6 standard positions (fuselage, tail, wing undersurfaces); a white antenna mast, probably from another aircraft; a silver stripe over the fuselage-spinner junction; fixed tail wheel; underwing rockets.

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yellow 21 updated on October 15, 2003

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file name: yellow21.html


These images show a line of MiG-3s and P-40s of 7 IAP VVS ChF (Black Sea Fleet) in Kuban, 1943. Many versions of this images exist, probably they are from some movie. We see five examples of MiG-3: from the left to the right, white 27 (or 25?), white 28, yellow 21, another covered one, and finally white 30. White 28 was the subject of some profiles published on other sources: it was interpreted as painted with uniform green uppersurfaces by John Weal, while n.21 was drawn as camouflaged with dark green bands on the instructions of a decals sheet of Travers. First aircraft has obviously camouflaged wings, while vague shadows with coherent shapes are visible on the other aircrafts of the line, so I think they are all almost identical. Only the third aircraft differs in having a yellow number (or, at least, darker than the white outline of

the star) and the inert gas pipe on the exhaust stacks. Photos from Soviet Air Force Fighter Colours 1941-1945 of Erik Pilawskii

Another image, from a different source, looks to show the contours of some camo bands on the rear fuselage.


late model, probably with slats; with radio and radio mast; with inert gas pipe on the left exhaust stacks; camouflaged green and dark green with light blue undersurfaces; yellow number 21, slightly overposed to the fuselage star outline; red stars on six positions, with large white outline;

Here is a camo scheme obtained from what is visible on the photos and from other similar aircrafts.

 

spinner with aft cone painted white; probably black propeller blades. Back to MiG-3 Main


white 28 updated on April 10, 2005

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These images show a line of MiG-3s and P-40s of 7 IAP VVS ChF (Black Sea Fleet) in Kuban, 1943. Many versions of this images exist, probably they are from some movie. We see five examples of MiG-3: from the left to the right, white 27 (or 25?), white 28, yellow 21, another covered one, and finally white 30. White 28 was the subject of some profiles published on other sources: it was interpreted as painted with uniform green uppersurfaces by John Weal, while n.21 was drawn as camouflaged with dark green bands on the instructions of a decals sheet of Travers. First aircraft has obviously camouflaged wings, while vague shadows with coherent shapes are visible on the other aircrafts of the line, so I think they are all almost identical. Only the third aircraft differs in having a yellow number (or, at least, darker than the white outline of

the star) and the inert gas pipe on the exhaust stacks. Photos from Soviet Air Force Fighter Colours 1941-1945 of Erik Pilawskii

Its characteristics look to be:         

late model, probably with slats; with radio and radio mast; with inert gas pipe on the left exhaust stacks; camouflaged green and dark green with light blue undersurfaces; yellow number 21, slightly overposed to the fuselage star outline; red stars on six positions, with large white outline; spinner with aft cone painted white; probably black propeller blades.

Here is a camo scheme obtained from what is visible on the photos and from other similar aircrafts.

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blue 1 Updated on August 16, 2005

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file name: back1.html


This profile represents an aircraft of an unknown unit (perhaps 180 IAP) on the Moscow front, on the background of another one characterized by a slogan "smert nemetskim okkupantam!" (death to the German occupants!). Its characteristic seem to be:       

it is a late type aircraft, with slats; green/dark green camouflage and light blue undersurfaces, with unusually low color demarcation; black/white spinner; equipped with radio; the tail wheel is without the doors; a rough 1, painted with a medium color (possibly light blue or yellow), is visible on the stabilizer; it seems that the part of star on the stabilizer, and perhaps the red star on the rigt side of the fuselage, were partially hidden by dark repaintings.

thanks to C.F.Geust

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tail ski Updated on December 20, 2005

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This profile represents an aircraft of unknown unit after a forced landing.

file name: tailski.html


The painting of the plane is uncertain, one can see some traces of camo, apparently without any number. The most interesting characteristic of this plane is the tail ski replacing the tail wheel. Probably the main landing gear was equipped with wheels, as usual. Its characteristic seem to be: Images from Istrebitel MiG-3 of Medvedv, Kazanov, Maslov and Mikoyan's Piston-engined fighters 0f Gordon and Dexter

  

it is a late type aircraft, probably with slats; it has the inert gas pipe on the left exhaust stacks; equipped with full radio equipment.

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white 1 of Black Sea Fleet Updated on December 10, 2005

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This profile represents an aircraft of 62 IAP VVS ChF (Black Sea fleet). It is also visible from the left on a videotape.

file name: white1bis.html


image from Aerokosmicheskoe obozreniye

Its characteristic seem to be:     

it is a late type aircraft, with slats; green/black camouflage and light blue undersurfaces; black repaintings on nose (perhaps on its lower surface too), spinner; some small fresh black repaintings on fuselage; the wingroot fairing and the panel in front of the windshield are all green, and the camouflage don't continues on them; tail wheel doors of early type, with recess for the protruding wheel;

equipped with radio receiver only.

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outlined white 5 updated on April 3, 2009

file name: white-5-outlined.htm

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This profile represents an aircraft flown by a Soviet pilot, possibly in summer 1941


Its characteristics seems to be:  





   

early type MiG-3, probably without slats; the radio mast is absent, but the radio box is visible behind the headrest, and the rear wire aerial is instelled; a white 5, outlined in red, is visible; its position, strongly moved back, let me think that it's the only digit of the code; standard green/black camouflage, possibly added on an overall green base (the rear band is soft, while the engine band has hard outline); standard red stars on six positions (fuselage, tail, wing undersurfaces); lack of sliding hood; all black-painted prop blades, very worn, with well visible bare metal; predominantly black painted interior (but with a light-painted seat backrest)

Image from Kriylya 2/2008

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MiG-3 winter schemes updated on July 10, 2007


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During the snow period, many MiG-3 were painted white, both on the factory and on the field. The white cote had a different look depending by the mean of application (spray or brush), of the layer thickness, the wearing, the care etc. On many examples, it appeared as a very light grey instead that pure white. It is not clear if white distemper or usual white paint was employed; however, the white layer was relatively uniform in winter 1941/42, well different than those seen on LaGG-3s and La-5s in winter 1942/43, when the aircrafts were only partially and irregularly painted by white distemper. Besides, a lot of MiG-3s were fully repainted with summer schemes during the spring of 1942, and this let us know that the white layer wasn't too easy to be removed. The white paint could cover the upper and side surfaces only, or be extended to the lower surfaces too. In photos, on has to check the presence of a white-blue demarcation line on the fuselage, or the shade of wheel covers; the reflexion of snow on wing undersurfaces makes them seem always white, even if they were light blue. The white paint extends often on propeller spinner and blades, and even on the exhaust stacks (that return quickly dark because of heat and smoke). While summer camouflaged MiG-3s wore usually numbers on the fuselage side, in front of the stars, white MiG-3s wore them on the stabilizer, or don't have them at all. Very few exceptions to this rule were seen. By the winter 1941/42, most MiG-3s had their tail wheel locked in extracted position, the doors removed and a tissue cover added to close the bay. RS-82 rockets were a standard equipment for the MiG-3s operating in the front of Moscow. Some rare photos show MiG-3s partially covered with white distemper; they could be of winter 1942, for analogy with similarly painted LaGG-3s. Some photos on the Kharkov front show the white paint partially covered with temperate camo colors during spring 1942.

black 12 of 12 GIAP,

red 02 of 12 GIAP,

red 85 of 12 GIAP,

Vnukovo, March 1942

Vnukovo, March 1942

Vnukovo, March 1942

black 36 of 12 GIAP, Vnukovo, March 1942

red 90 of 12 GIAP, Vnukovo, March 1942

red 39 of 12 GIAP, Vnukovo, March 1942

Za Stalina, 6 IAP, Moscow front, winter 1941/42.

unknown unit, Kalininsky front, winter 1941/42

Lieutnant I.F.Golubin of 16 IAP, Moscow area, winter 1941/42

red 3, unknown unit, spring 1942

black 2, 28 IAP Moscow front, winter 1941/42

red 8, 27 IAP, Moscow front, winter 1941/42

red 42, unknown unit, winter 1941/42

unknown unit, winter 1941/42

Za Rodinu, 122 IAP, Vnukovo February 1942

Za Stalina, 148 IAP, Kharkov front, spring 1942

Za rodinu, 148 IAP, Kharkov front, spring 1942

dotted aircraft, 148 IAP, Kharkov front, spring 1942

distempered white 40, unknown unit and place, 1942

Za Partiy Bolshevikov, 122 IAP, Vnukovo, February 1942

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Red 7 unknown unit and place, 1942

MiG-3 repaintings and non-standard temperate schemes updated on January 7, 2008


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Click on each profile to see a bigger drawing with photos and comments Not standard schemes were due to many types of repainting. black and dark green bands on early-style solid green base The use of field made camouflaged started at the war outbreak, usually on the base of the old solid green painting. In some cases the field camo was very similar to the factory applied one, ie large bands of dark green or black. Black repaintings on nose could have been executed to easen the engine cooling. Other aircraft were painted in more fanciful way, forthemost with thin mottling or striping of black on a green base; many photos exist of such arrangement, but they show forthemost the aircraft in too partial way.

"zebra" of Lt.Baikov of 34 IAP, Moscow front, 1941

white 40 or 6, unknown unit

white 42, 401 IAP, July 1942

Overposed 14 unknown unit, early 1942

white 36, 401 IAP, July 1941

black repaintings on standard black/green or dark green/green base; perhaps black was used to improve the green/dark green camo effect, or black was easier to be found than dark green on the field. Sometimes the engine cowling and wingroots were painted black overall. Sometimes markings were partly oversprayed too.

no. 42 of 7 IAP, Leningrad front, October 1941

hidden 4, unknown unit

white 5 of 8 IAP VVS Chf, Black Sea Fleet 1942.

white 64 of 11 IAP June 1943.

temperate bands repainting over an already white painted aircraft (spring 1942 and later); the schemes were similar but not identical to factory ones; sometimes white paint remains visible.

Za Partii Bolshevikov of 122 IAP, Moscow front, spring1942

Za Rodinu of 122 IAP, Moscow front, spring1942

black nose 18 unknown unit, probably 1942

black nose 40 unknown unit, probably 1942

red 49 flown by Kriucov, 12 GIAP, Vnukovo (Moscow), spring 1942

provisional temperate mottling over an already winter painted aircraft (spring 1942). This was observed on some aircraft of 148 IAP during the battle of Kharkov.

Za Stalina of maj. Titayev, 148 IAP Kharkov spring 1942

spotted aircraft, 148 IAP Kharkov spring 1942

Za Rodinu of capt. Nekrasov, 148 IAP, Kharkov spring 1942

overall green repainting

aircraft at NII VVS exposition, 1943-1946

white 12 of 7 IAP of Black Sea Fleet, probably 1943

aircraft for ground crew training, 1945, Volsk Military Aviation School

yellow 5 of unknown unit.

fully out-of-standard schemes Sometimes the base camo was improved with the application of a lighter paint, that could have been light grey or sand. Many photos exist, but they show the aircraft forthemost in very partial way.

white 54 of 6 IAP, 7 IAD Uglovoye airfield, Pacific Fleet, August 1943

red 27 of 7 IAP, Leningrad front, summer 1942

recce 9 of 38 PAE, Moscow front, late 1941.

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captured and remarked MiGs updated on August 16, 2005


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Aircraft captured and remarked by Germans and Rumanians worn non-Soviet colors and markings partially covering the original paints.

MiG-1 at Russienparadies, Berlin 1942

MiG-3 6+1 tested probably in Rechlin in 1941

MiG-3 black 1 tested probably in Rechlin in 1941

MiG-3 CV+ST tested in Germany

white 2 (early look) of Cpt 'Bazu' Cantacuzino Escadrila 19 observatie, Melitopol 1941

white 2 (later look) of Cpt 'Bazu' Cantacuzino Escadrila 19 observatie, Melitopol

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MiG-1 and MiG-3 detail colors updated on December 15, 2003

file name: colordet.html

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Notes on details colors Usually the undercarriage legs, bays and doors were painted with a light color, probably the same light blue of the undersurfaces; wheel disks were usually painted with emerald green, with an unpainted hub. Sometimes the undercarriage struts and doors look all painted with a dark color which could be A-14 dark grey. Flaps inner side looks painted light blue too. The colors of the cockpit interior seems to be not fully standardized: different combinations look possible. The instrument panel is seen both light (light blue-green?) and dark (black or dark grey A-14) on different examples; the tubes structure and the seat look dark, probably dark grey A-14, while the internal face of the fuselage panels in correspondance to the cockpit, the pavement and the cloche are light, probably light blue-green as on the side panel conserved in the Finnish Museum. Probably some boxes were green. The plates on which the side panels are hinged appear bare metal when the panels are removed. Note that the MiG-3 under reconstruction by Rusavia has different colors; if they are real, they are well different from what can be seen on bw photos. The engine is forthemost painted gloss black, with some unpainted details; lubrification pipes should be brown. Inner face of engine compartment panels is painted dark, probably dark grey A-14 or AII green as the external surfaces. The propeller blades are usually bare alluminum with the rear part partially painted black, as factory standard. Other configuartions are:     

overall natural metal (on some prototypes); natural metal and black as standard, but the black paint was so worn to be nearly disappeared; the same color of the aircraft uppersurfaces, that is to say green and/or black, sometimes with camo blotches (this is a field repainting); on white-painted MiGs, the blades are often painted white themselves, partially or completely; sometimes blades were repainted black, independantly from the color of the spinner; this field repainting looks more common in 1942 and later.

A thin metallic stripe, covering the gap between spinner and engine cowling, is sometimes unpainted and appears natural alluminium. Notes on painting and wearing The demarcation line between the uppersurface color is usually sharp and straight on metallic parts (nose, central wing section, horizontal tail surfaces) and soften on the wood and fabric surfaces (fuselage side, rudder); additionally, often the demarcation line shows small steps between metallic and wooden parts, as if they were painted separately. Sometimes we find soft lines on the nose sides too; this is probably due to field repainting. The camouflage blotches usually show continuity on these points, as if they were painted after a reassembly of the parts. The demarcation line between upper camo colors is usually soft, with few exceptions. The color peels offs quickly on the wing roots due to crew boot abrasion; the remaining parts of the aircraft show no significant peeling off, apart the propeller blades. Stenciling There is sometimes a writing, probably red, on the right side of the nose, near the propeller; it is the reduction gear rate 0902 (which means 0.902) or 0732 (0.732). A black line is sometimes on each side of the fuselage, under the leading edge of the horizontal tail planes, perhaps to show a lifting point.

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MiG-1 and MiG-3 color chips updated on September 20, 2003

file name: chips.html

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The AII colors were standard in the years 1940-41, and widely used in the following years too, when AMT colors became standard. Here are approximate equivalences to some color catalogues. The color chips shown below are merely indicative of the actual color, partly because of the difficulty to see screen colors and painted chips under the same light conditions, and partly on account of the different appearance of the same color on different computers and even between different programs on the same computer. Name

Indicative Chip

Federal Standard

Humbrol

Xtracolor

AII light blue (new) underside color usable for codes too

25466

89(+white)

X601 (+ white)

AII light blue (worn) underside color usable for codes too

35550

50% 47 + 50% 65

X602

AII green (new) uppersurface standard color

24258

151(+ a bit yellow); now 151 is X 33 (+ a bit out of catalogue, 150 could be yellow) used as a second choice

AII green (worn) uppersurface standard color

34151

105

X115

AII dark green camouflage color

2/34062 or 2/34066

76 (+ a bit 101)

X 628

AII light brown (sand) possibly used for non-standard camo

20260

74

A-14 steel grey possibly used for internal tube strut and other details

26187

27

blue-grey aerolak possible internal color

26320 or 26176

144

X 125

factory green (AE-5?) (uppersurfaces of prototypes; possibly the same color of I15bis and many I-16s)

24058

50% 3 + 50% 15

X 144 (+ a bit white)

metal use primer, light bluegreen possible internal color usable for codes too

approx. FS(3)4664 - FS(3)4670 - (3)5622

50% 65 + 50% 23

X 127

AII ochre possibly used for non-standard camo

20111

160

X 614

AEh-9 light grey possibly used for non standard camo

25630

medium grey (AEh-8? 10?) possibly used for non-standard camo

26493

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X 107 (+ a bit yellow)

MiG 3 Colors

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