1/48 FJ-3 Fury.
This is the early 1980s Esci kit in its naval guise. Esci marketed the basic kit as both an FJ-2/3 and an F-86E with a few different parts in each release. I saw George Blair started the F-86E version of this kit over on the Sabre group build page and thought I'd share this. I remember finding this on a vendors table about 20 years ago and snatched it up as it was the only game in town for a -2/3 Fury. Unfortunately, the decals were shot and the kit sat in the stash for a few more years. In 2008, I came across a decal sheet for a FAGU FJ-4 and realized that I could use some of the markings to make the earlier FAGU -3. FAGU was the Fleet Air Gunnery Unit at El Centro, CA. in the 1950s. Their mission was to train gunnery instructors. The kit has a lot of shape problems, especially in the nose area. It's really not a bad F-86, but Furies were different. Knowing that, I forged forward and built it with idea that it would suffice until something better came along. 16 years later, I have no intention of replacing it. It's a nice looking model that looks good on my ‘50s shelf. I added some Eduard F-86 PE to the cockpit and replaced the seat with one from a junked Monogram F-105. Not super accurate, but better then what came in the kit. I used Tamiya gloss aluminum for the coroguard leading edges and the GSB is Modelmaster.
Well done John. Don't see too many Furies being built
Thanks, George. It was one of my navy missing links.
Sweet looking Fury.
Thanks, Dan!
Fine job, John.
Thanks, Gary!
Thanks for sharing this, John (@j-healy). Nothing looks better than an all-blue Navy plane. It makes it look like the plane is all dressed up for a formal event. I am having several fit problems with Italeri/ESCI Sabre that I am building. Lots of filler and sanding already. The nose doesn't look quite right to me, either, but you are right that it will look like a Sabre/Fury when done. There is no way my Sabre will look as good as your Fury when I am done, but I am learning a lot building my Sabres, so I count that as a win. Well done, John.
Thanks, George. Sorry to hear you’re having fit issues. I remember this one having exceptionally good fit all around. Those molds are 40 years old now. This one was a first issue in a beat up, mildewy box but the plastic was in great shape. Looking forward to seeing yours done.
A really nice-looking Fury! Love that scheme - both the dark blue version and the checkerboard work really sets that off.
Thanks, Greg! It screams 1950s.
Excellent Fury, John!
Thanks, Spiros!
Excellent John (@j-healy). This is what I wanted to see, another Fury. Truly a nice clean build. Blue does the lines wonderfully on this kit.
Thanks, Carl. I agree, GSB looks good on anything.
Fabulous Fury. Really like the blue finish of the aircraft. Well done 👍
Thanks, Alfred!
Very nice!
Thanks, David!
A great looking Fury, looks good in blue.
Thanks, Chas!
Nice work on this @j-healey.
You'll be interested to know that the re-release of the Kittyhawk Furies is inching closer. The batch release that includes the F9F-8 has arrived at Squadron and I got news this morning that my Cougar kit is now on the way here. The Furies are supposd to be in the next batch release.
Thanks, Tom. Good to know about the KH kits. I can see myself building a silver Marine Fury.
A really nice solid end result on your Fury John (@j-healy). Paint work is brilliant 🙂
Wow, stunning colors, love this scheme, John @j-healy. Very beautiful and clean build!
Excellent work done on this Fury, John @j-healy
It does look really good in Navy blue.
Looks beautiful John! Great work on this.
Fantastic painting!
Again, wonderful work. I like these early jet planes.
Nice work!