Nice MiG-17 Gary! I recently purchased a double action airbrush and I, like you, are learning how to use it. I will use the Paasche for overall coverage and clearcoat applications. The more I practice with my new airbrush the more I realize what is possible with it. The Paasche will always have a job with me!

A bit of progress has been made; such as it is, ;). I have the cockpit assembled and had to do a bit of sanding on the sides to allow it to fit with the fuselage halves closed. It turned out just okay I think. The trim wheels do look like hell however. They look like they were "sawed" off the sprue; more like a bear's a*s sewed up with a grapevine. I didn't think they looked that rough until that old macro got involved. I think I'll pop them out and work on them a bit more. Of course, they're not parallel either...grrrr. I dropped them in the process of getting them in there and finding them was no picnic, lol. But amazingly, I did. Now, if I can avoid losing them again when I try to clean them up a little.

Here's a few looks from above:

And what do ya know? All four of the tiny decal levers are still on the IP! for now anyway!

Starboard side panel:

Port side:

A view of the pilot's foot pedals:

And just for grins, here's a comparison photo of the 109's cockpit with the one from the Monogram F-102, quite a difference isn't there? 🙂

I agree pics reveal discrepancies that the human eye may overlook, my friend @garybrantley! Still, your cockpit looks great! Wishing you luck with the trim wheels remedial actions, mainly not losing them by snapping...
Yes, there are some differences between the two cockpits 🙂

Hi Gary @garybrantley, I think your cockpit looks great, if the one I'm currently building turns out as good I'll be more than pleased.

Gary @garybrantley, I am somewhat embarrased to be this late to the party! Anyway, super job on the cockpit. If you take the trimwheels out anyway, I have enclosed a picture from the manual

Regarding the propeller blades, the backsides will be even more worn, usually only paint on the innermost 3rd or so, with the amount of wear you have shown on the front.

Thanks - the trim wheels are actually flat on the sides that faces each other (but still with a gap in between to put the hand there) - if that helps the squeeze 🙂

Regarding the props, it is the area farthest from the hub that will loose the paint first - due to the blades being sandblasted during take-off. So yes, I think your description hits the spot! Of course the sandblasting starts at the tip and "travels" towards the hub with time during use on sandy fields.

Yesterday, I pulled the three vac-formed canopy sections from safe keeping and did some test fitting. Uh oh. I might be able to use them on this model but it would require more effort than I want to expend at this point. I was afraid this might be the result. So, it was back to the one-piece kit canopy, which does actually fit like a dream.
With the finished (except for the gunsight) cockpit in place, most of the 'pit detail is visible through that canopy. I wasn't that pleased with the vac parts after cutting them out and I'm certain the over-all look will be cleaner with the kit "glass". Oh well...chalk that one up as a learning experience.

Again, "onward through the fog"! (slogan of the famous Oat Willies head shop in Austin, Texas,)

an aside: My recently ordered bottle of ModelMaster gloss sea blue enamel arrived yesterday as well and now I can move ahead with my Tigercat build. I changed the front LG, and the new part was unpainted and when opened the bottle, I found my original paint (1989 vintage at least!) had gone bad. I'm down to about a dozen pieces to attach. Finally. 😉

Looks like the canopy issue has been solved, Gary @garybrantley, all you've got to do now is mask and paint it...