FJ-2 Fury help request

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hi,

I am new here, but want to ask for help. I am interested to make FJ-2 Fury (1/72) conversion build from F-86. Which type is best for this conversion, please? Is there any scale drawinf of Fj-2, please?

Any tips?

Thanks alot for all yours help

Valda

2

Valda,

I did a XFJ-2 Fury conversion a few year back to so I hope this helps. I used the Italeri F-86E Sabre, and turned it into side number 755 Buno 133755 from NATC Patuxent River. All I had to do was fill in the gun ports, delete the wing fences and re-did the nose gear a little. A great reference is Naval Fighters Number Ten, North American FJ-2 Fury by Steve Ginter. This book has scale drawings and everything you need to do a FJ-2. I believe you can still get it from Squadron, if not try e-bay. I don’t know of any 1/72 scale kits of the FJ-2 so when I went to do one the closest I could do was one of the X birds but on the plus side, there was minimum trouble in converting it.

Reddog

3

Thanks alot, I read yours old post about this, but want to have serial plane. I try Squadron, e-bay and alot of e-shops but unfortunately I cant find NF-10 Fury FJ-2 Ginters book .

If anybody have one for sale I´ll be very happy.

Thansk alot

Valda

4

Valda,

Welcome to the forum, and as for your question the only FJ-2 I’ve seen was the ESCI’s FJ-2/-3 in 1/48 scale, and then there is, Czech Model’s FJ-1, Matchbox’s FJ-4, as with Phoenix’s FJ-4/-4B also in 1/48, the only FJ’s in 1/72 scale out there now is the Emhar Models FJ-4/-4B, and RVHP resin kits of the FJ-2 and there is the FJ-3M but they run at about $60.00 each and you could get them at Great Models Web Store, www.greatmodels.com

,

5

The closest thing you’ll to an FJ-2 in 72nd scale is an FJ-3 fuselage conversion put out by Falcon vacuforms some time ago. It was one of their “triple conversion” sets and was meant to be combined with a Heller F-86. Don’t know what the status of Falcon is these days other than the Squadron Clear-Vax line.

6

Valda, Several years ago I tried a conversion that may work for you but mine was 1/48th scale not 1/72nd. I used the Matchbox FJ-4B and parts from the ESCI FJ-2/3 kits. I used the -4B fuselage and the ESCI wings and detail parts. Had to cut the hump off the -4 as well as trim down the fin. Used the -3 wings landing gear canopy etc. from the ESCI kit. Got well along with it but later bought the Collect Aire FJ-3 resin kit. Very accurate and on the whole not a bad kit by CA standards. I would suspect you could do the same with the Emhar -4 and any F-86 kit in 1/72nd. You would have to rearrange the MLG wheel wells as they were quite different and the canopy would need work. Complex but it can be done if you want to get that involved. Probably have to scratch the LG to make accurate feet. An easier route would be the Falcon conversion or the RHVP(?) resin conversion set. It would be a -3 but then all you’d have to do is reshape slightly the intake. Unfortuneately the FJ series is virtually totally overlooked by the kit mfgr’s. Too bad because the Fury was in many fighter squadrons in the 50’s and had so many colorfull marking schemes, not to mention the markings once it was phased into the reserves and utility units.

7

Thanks alot to all for tips,

my biggest problem is lack of references, specialy scale drawings. As I notice from pictures FJ-2 have more slight fuselage than FJ-3 and its more similar to F-86 than any others, but what about cross section?

I also find that French magazine JETS few years ago (1998. No.29) print some article about FJ-2 with drawings. Can somebody scan if for me, please? http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/mags/france/jets.htm

Any tips where I can find Steve Ginters - Fj-2 book, please

Thanks alot

Zdenek

8

Valda, …The -2 fuselage is exactly the same as the -3 with the exception of the intake. The opening is slightly smaller. The cross section of the fuselage of the FJ as compared to the Sabre is actually quite different. Unless you don’t mind the differences you cannot get there using an F-86 fuselage. Believe me, I have tried a few times. Where the two differ the most is in the aft fuselage with the Fury having a bulkier shape. The F-86 has much more slender lines. I have Ginter’s book on the -2 but there are a couple of perhaps more readily available books, one is the Squadron “In Action” book on the Fury. It is not the best but covers all versions -1 onward and has some 3-view drawings, it should be available and fairly cheap too. Another is “FJ Fury in detail and scale” by Bert Kinsey. It is a recent publication and should also be available. It has many photos of all the Fury series, although I think he should have split it up into a couple of separate issues to allow more in depth coverage. One other source, but it may be hard to find is an old Squadron book on the F-86 and in it it has a small section devoted to the Fury with a few photos and a 3-view. It is very old, late 70’s and is long out of print and may be expensive since it is rare. As for Ginter’s book, Google his name, he has a website and I believe you can order his books directly from there. I believe the FJ-2 issue is still available. Several years ago I actually emailed Steve Ginter asking why he had not published a book on the -3 as he had the -1, -2 and -4 all represented. He said he could not find photos of all the squadrons that operated the -3, a thing he likes to do with all his books. So the book on the -3 is just waiting in limbo until he can get the research material he wants and needs together. It may be a long wait. HTH’s

9

Valda…My bad…when to his website and the book on the -2 is no longer there. I emailed him asking if it is still available. I will post here if and when I get a reply.

10

I found two Naval Fighter Series FJ-2 Fury on Amazon just a few minutes ago. Their price’ie but if you want one here’s a link to the page I found them on. Hope this helps.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0942612108/ref=dp_olp_2/103-2085914-9067832?ie=UTF8

11

My, my, my, they are expensive now aren’t they. Paid like $14 for mine but that’s been 12-13 years ago. Might just have to scan mine, save to disc and sell the original. I had no idea they have appreciated that much in price, used no less. So I guess that does mean it’s out of print.

12

Just got an email from Ginter at NF Nighters responding to my request for info about the FJ-2 Fury book. It is definately out of print but he is going to update the book and reissue at some point. He’s done that before, the book on the F11 Tiger being an example, of which I have both of those issues. If the difference between those two issues in a indication of how different the update will be, it will be jammed full of new stuff. He also mentioned he will do one on the FJ-3 series, a book I would be the more interested in myself. Hopefully he won’t be too slow in getting those back in print.

13

Again thanks to all.

Cant wait to see new Ginters books :slight_smile:

Any chance to got French Jets magazine, please

Thanks alot

Zdenek

14

Valda,

I have the Collect Aire FJ-3 Fury. When I originally bought the kit the fin was damaged slightly in shipping so I requested a replacement fuselage from CA and they sent me one. It too was slightly damaged in shipment in the same place, just the tip of the rudder. Since I have already glued parts to the original fuselage I do have the spare fuselage. If you want to pay for shipment I can send you the two halves I do have but do not need. You will have to come up with some replacement parts. If you have both the ESCI Fury and the Matchbox FJ-4B you can probably kit bash a nice looking Fury. You would need the intake from the Matchbox kit and the wings, landing gear, cockpit and canopy from the ESCI kit. You will also have to repair the fin tip and fill in the 20mm cannon bay on the left side fuse. They molded the kit to allow the bay to be opened and I only had the one cover which is already on the original parts. Let me know if you want the fuselage.

Jon K.