FJ Fury Part 1: Prototypes Through FJ-3 Variants in Detail & Scale

Detail & Scale Aviation Publications

Print and Digital available

Reviewed by Floyd S. Werner Jr.

Detail & Scale has been known for their research and reference books for quite some time.  They set the standard for most reference books that we see nowadays. Combining the best of original reference material and a modeler section, these books became the standard which everybody else was judged.

This particular book written by noted historian/researcher Bert Kinzey, deals with the FJ Fury from the prototypes through the FJ3 variants. The Fury was the Navy's version of the F-86 Sabre.  Detail & Scale originally released a book in 2003 on the Fury but this expanded edition includes more photos, drawings and expanded modeler’s section.  Printed on 102 pages of quality paper this softbound book is printed on demand at Amazon and contains plenty of color and black and white photos, supplemented by fantastic profile drawings by Rock Roszak.

The book starts off with the developmental history of the aircraft all the way from the prototype up to the FJ3. There are some really colorful paint schemes in this section everything from just plain white with orange markings to ones with three color paint schemes like blue and yellow, but these are just teasers for the rest of the book.

The FJ-1 is the next chapter.  The aircraft itself is pretty plain and boring.  The aircraft is very short and stocky.  It even featured straight wings.   It barely resembles a Sabre jet.  The aircraft was not well liked and after only 14 months in active service it was relegated to the reserve units.

It wasn't until the FJ-2 that the aircraft took on the look of the Sabre jet. The aircraft had swept wings and more than a passing fancy of the F-86.  There is a really good drawing that shows the outline differences between the Fury and Sabre drawn up by Tommy Thomason.  This is where the Fury starts to take on some life with unique paint schemes and markings. 

The FJ-3 featured a larger engine with a bigger intake to feed it. The FJ-3 also had had the 6-3 wing fitted to it, so the leading-edge slats were removed.  The FJ-3 was also the first version to carry the new Sidewinders air-to-air missiles.  The Marines and Navy put some spectacular paint schemes on this variant. 

The Fury Detail pages chronicle the FJ-1 prototype and production variant.  This variant is highly covered thanks to the Naval Museum in Pensacola and period photos. 

This is followed up with the FJ-2, FJ-3 and FJ-3M details.  Similar to the FJ-1 these variants are covered in a walk around style that will prove very helpful for anyone building the Kitty Hawk kits.  The captions are worth as much as the pictures so make sure you don’t overlook them.  Both types of wings are shown to advantage so you can see the differences the 6-3 wing required. 

Everything that a modeler could want is included, cockpit, landing gear, tail, fuselage, armament, and engine.  Heck even the inflight refueling probe is included.

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Then comes the section that really set Detail & Scale apart from the rest, the Modelers Section.  Kits from 1/144th thru the 1/48th scale kits.  There are two builds of the Kitty Hawk FJ-2 and FJ-3 in extra detail.  A real boon for the modeler of these kits.

So, there you have it.  In typical Detail & Scale style what I would have to consider THE book to have for early FJ Fury.  First class pictures, excellent profiles, along with the details that modelers need, and the inclusion of the modelers section makes this another winner for Detail & Scale. 

Highly Recommended

You can obtain your copy by visiting their website at www.detailandscale.com .  If you order the printed copy, you’ll be redirected to the Amazon page to purchase it.  The book is also available in Apple books and Kindle format at the same place. 

Thanks to Detail & Scale or the sample.

Review Copyright © 2022 by Floyd S. Werner Jr.
This Page Created on 31 January, 2022
Last updated 31 January, 2022

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