FJ Fury in Detail and Scale
Part 2: FJ-4 & FJ-4B Variants

Digital and Printed Books

Reviewed by Floyd S. Werner Jr.

This is the second book by Detail & Scale covering the FJ Fury.  The first one covered the prototype through the FJ-3 variants.  This book will cover the FJ dash 4 and beyond together these two books provide the most extensive and detailed look at the fury series ever published.  While the FJ-4 never saw combat it was the basis for air to ground support until the purpose built A4D Skyhawk was deployed. 

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This digital ‘book’ is 147 pages long with 207 photos and 11 profile drawings done by Rock Roszak.  Authored by noted historian and researcher, Bert Kinzey, the book is easy to read and provides a lot of information.  The digital format allows you to ‘blow’ up pictures and even print them out should you want to.  There are significant advantages to doing the book digital.  One of them is the ability to update it, like a software update, with no additional costs.  The ability to enlarge the photos will prove invaluable to the modeler.  The other benefit is the ability to have your library on your tablet and stored in the cloud. 

A brief review of the development of the FJ Fury is covered in the first chapter and then it's right into the FJ-4. There is a page identifies all the major features of the FJ4 and what's the difference between the FJ-3.  The FJ-4 is in essence a brand new aircraft, with brand new fuel, larger wings, increased capabilities, but all was not rosy.  With the addition of all this weight, there was a penalty in climb performance that had to occur.  The FJ-4B was the interim ground attack aircraft until the Skyhawk could be fielded. 

The FJ-4 was the second major redesign of the Fury and it is gone over in detail in text and photos.  This is typical D&S bread and butter.  Excellent research accompanied by photos, drawings and profiles.  Some really cool Marine paint schemes adorned the FJ-4. Not to be outdone the Navy target tugs were quite colorful, painted in blue, flouescent orange fuselage and yellow wings.

The FJ-4B was upgraded to do the ground attack mission by the addition of an additional speed brake and under wing hardpoints.  The weapons loadout is illustrated in a chart and in photos.  They included various rocket pods, bombs up to 2,000 lbs and buddy refueling tanks, not drop tanks but aerial refueling tanks.  It was still capable of carrying the Sidewinders Air-to-Air missiles and Bullpup missiles.  All this meant that the FJ-4B was a very versatile fighter-bomber. 

There is a quick chapter on the FJ-4F prototype before we are treated to what we’ve come to expect from D&S- the detail portion of the book.  It starts out in the cockpit with the ejection seat and instrument panel.  Everything you could ask for it included in this section.  Fuselage, tail, wings, landing gear, engine, armament and more. The perfect reference for the modeler.

Then the part that others have copied, the modelers section.  Kits are evaluated on pros and cons in all the scales that the aircraft is available, from 1/144 to 1/32nd.  What I like is that if something is incorrect, D&S provides a possible solution to make it right, if it can be made right. 

A tried and tested format ensures that this ‘book’ is everything we’ve come to expect from Detail & Scale.  Great photos, excellent research, top notch profiles and a walk around that is very useable.  What more can you ask for from a ‘book’?  I don’t think it gets better. 

Highly recommended

You can obtain your copy by visiting their website at http://www.detailandscale.com .  These digital books from Detail & Scale are winners.  Buy with confidence. 

If you don’t like digital books, this book is also available in printed format. If you order the printed copy, you will be redirected to the Amazon page to purchase it.

The printed version is printed on 102 pages with 209 photos and 11profiles. 

Thanks to Detail & Scale or the sample.

Review Copyright © 2020 by Floyd S. Werner Jr.
This Page Created on 18 July, 2023
Last updated 18 July, 2023

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