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1/48 - North American FJ-2/-3 & -3M Fury by Kitty Hawk - FJ-2 & FJ-3 released - upgrade/date sets by Hypersonic Models


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Every term on a Naval ship has meaning, because its important at life critical times. 

 

A theory regarding use of "pendant" for the holdback fitting: early catapults go back to just after WWI when catapults were installed on battleship turrets. They were (IIRC) cartridge actuated, quickly migrating to hydraulic. It could be possible the early holdback fitting was a pendant...a short line...that parted when sufficient tension was achieved to launch the aircraft. 

 

We flight deck sailors tend to stick to our terms...even if in a modern context they make no sense!

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4 hours ago, Greenshirt said:

Every term on a Naval ship has meaning, because its important at life critical times. 

 

A theory regarding use of "pendant" for the holdback fitting: early catapults go back to just after WWI when catapults were installed on battleship turrets. They were (IIRC) cartridge actuated, quickly migrating to hydraulic. It could be possible the early holdback fitting was a pendant...a short line...that parted when sufficient tension was achieved to launch the aircraft. 

 

We flight deck sailors tend to stick to our terms...even if in a modern context they make no sense!

 

Interesting: the same usually applies in Air Force terminology, where for instance "replace" has a very different meaning to "refit".

 

On a similar subject, is my use of the term "deckhand" above any where near correct? (I'm assuming not :huh:).

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Some landing gear illustrations - Main Landing Gear:

 

LG%201_zpsoc8tkke8.jpg

 

LG%202_zpslkql2m7v.jpg

 

Nose Landing Gear: note that it's called "Auxiliary Alighting Gear" here. I'm OK with "Alighting Gear" but have never seen nose landing gear referred to as "Auxiliary".

 

LG%203_zps1g6colne.jpg

 

LG%204_zpstex3mewr.jpg

 

LG%205_zpslsqhyres.jpg

 

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Canopy: the area aft of the ejection seat is less busy than on most F-86s.

 

t%20canopy%201_zpsbdvt7jtf.jpg

 

At the aft end, the main part visible is the cylindrical Cabin Pressure Regulator (Item 8 below):

 

t%20canopy%202a_zps1tx4tnne.jpg

 

Whilst at the forward end, the U-shaped aerial for the AN/ARN-14 radio is a prominent feature. It was mounted onto the seat armour plate and therefore did not move aft when the canopy was opened:

 

t%20canopy%203a_zpsnlfbsqyw.jpg

Photos don't show it very well, but I've highlighted it as best I can in the following photos (USN Official):

 

tcanopy%204_zpscaxyt5xd.jpg

 

tcanopy%204a_zpsmyyvvdgj.jpg

 

tcanopy%205_zpsjtlqpvbw.jpg

 

 

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This is the Barrier Guard, installed forward of the windshield on the RH/starboard side: it was only installed in BuNo 135774 thru 135812, and removed as part of Service Change No.77.

 

barrier%20guide%202a_zpsteaxe6ds.jpg

 

barrier%20guide%201_zpsqzhyrkx1.jpg

 

Edited by Sabrejet
typo
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This one's a conundrum: I can't find any reference to the small probe (or antenna?) which protrudes from the top of the intake ring on many FJ-3/3M. To me it looks like an outside air temperature probe, but for modelling's sake I've shown it here on these Tailhook/NMNA photos:

 

z3_zpsxdo7szob.jpg z2_zpsiuxivffu.jpg z1_zpszdb7hqc6.jpg

 

EDIT: typically I have now found it: it's an Angle of Yaw Probe, effective BuNo.136118 onwards. I also hadn't noticed the Angle of Attack Probe, effective all FJ-3/3M:

 

cockpit%201_zpsbtjzzvns.jpg

Edited by Sabrejet
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Cannon installation:

 

guns%201_zpsirkz54n0.jpg

 

guns%202_zpswdx4edkj.jpg

 

guns%204_zps9hbnp9ss.jpg

 

Ammo bins and door/footstep. Note that the door was usually silver/NMF, but I have seen the odd dark green one too. Photos are US Navy official, NMNA and Tailhook Association:

 

guns%203a_zpsdsgmspzx.jpg

 

door%204_zpsf1n7jeiu.jpg

 

door_zpsod4bu0vc.jpg door%202_zpsuf9wdpgs.jpg door%206_zpsyzes789j.jpg 

 

I'll cover the cannon blast panel in the next instalment. I hope ;)

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There were three basic cannon blast panel configurations (USN Official first two, JMG Gradidge third photo):

 

The oval version (first photo) below was applicable from BuNo 135774 thru 135780 and 135782 thru 135872. The version with squarer sides to the blast tube orifices (second photo) was introduced in production on BuNo 135781 alone, then on all aircraft from BuNo 135873 onwards. This later type was retrofitted to most earlier aircraft too.

 

guns%201_zpsfq8pyppp.jpg guns%202_zpsr3wt2bk7.jpg

 

Not a production version, but on many FJ-3D/D-2 (DF-1C/DF-1D) drone control aircraft, the lower/aft cannon was removed and its blast panel orifice blanked off:

 

guns%203_zpsn5yzoic6.jpg

 

Edited by Sabrejet
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On ‎6‎/‎3‎/‎2017 at 7:18 AM, Jon Kunac-Tabinor said:

in Pensacola Sabrejet - have you seen these 3 galleries?

 

http://www.logbookmag.com/gallery.asp?CatID=37

 

Also  http://www.net-maquettes.com/pictures/north-american-fj-3-fury-walk/  shows the splitter elevator - but this is the presevered  airframe at Chino - so whether it was ever used by VF-37....

 

Cheers

 

Jonners

If I am not mistaken, the FJ-2 hanging from the ceiling in the Naval Museum in Pensacola, Florida also has the splitter elevators installed. It is painted as an early, overall sea blue, pre production machine.

Edited by jpk
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10 hours ago, Sabrejet said:

On a similar subject, is my use of the term "deckhand" above any where near correct? (I'm assuming not :huh:).

 

"Deckhands" are typically unspecialized sailors who simply provide labor where much labor is necessary. It originated from the days of sail, when inexperience aloft meant one was only qualified to handle the lines from the deck. 

 

In modern parlance we refer to either the "flight deck crew" or "hangar deck crew". The former being of more experience than the latter, given the flight deck is more busy, with more dangers and therefore needing more experience. There are also more specialized ratings on the flight deck, from catapults, arresting gear, fuels, directors, maintenance specialists, final checkers (squadron personnel who do final check on an aircraft just prior to launch) and many more. Some do serve on the hangar deck as well, but again they are typically the less experienced. Going back to the early days in the late 20's, each specially wears a colored jersey, as well as clear markings that are easy to see and use during ops where sound is impossible. 

 

At the bottom would be the "deck hand". They carry chains, drag around tow bars, and chocks, and help where they can in order to learn the trade. 

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1 hour ago, kagnew71 said:

thank you for all the good information.

please post all you have on gun sight also

thanks in advance. GlNo automatic alt text available.en

 

Incidentally I provided you with colour scheme info for your F-86D kit a few years ago: glad to see the kit has been well-received.

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What an exciting flurry of activity and information since the announcement by Kitty Hawk of doing a 1/48 FJ-3 Fury. Hopefully all the interest will spark other manufacturers to consider other naval subjects from 50's Navair. This are area is sorely in need of attention.

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Another rarely-seen item: the fuselage-mounted Ram Air Turbine (starboard/RH side only), which was sometimes extended on the ground (and hopefully never in the air!). Photo courtesy NMNA.

 

RAT_zpsbzjxjd3f.jpg

 

RAT%202_zpsw94dcc1a.jpg

 

RAT%201_zpsarks0psz.jpg

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I suspect that a few may model the forward radio equipment bay with its hatch removed, so here are a few of that area. The top illustration also shows a few bits of equipment aft of the seat and also the LH/port-side console.

 

238_zps4juacujc.jpg

 

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And though not the best, the following shot (Courtesy Tailhook Association) shows the area and panel internal structure for colour reference.

 

xx_zpsfiqywqcq.jpg

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Almost done: not the most colourful colour scheme, but certainly something different: FJ-3 BuNo 135908/201 of VF-21 at NAS Oceana in October 1955, in probably the first attempt at a gull gray over white colour scheme. Points to note are the dark blue fwd equipment bay panel and drop tanks, mid-fuselage paint demarcation line and slatted wings (very few slatted FJ-3s had the gull gray/white colour scheme).

 

(Photos courtesy the late Bruce Robertson)

 

a_zpsiqsww6hz.jpg

 

b_zpssif1gup4.jpg

 

c_zpsggjwjrev.jpg

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Finally, one of my favourite FJ-3 colour schemes, that of Utility Squadron VU-4, based at Guantanamo Bay circa 1960/61. Top photo is an original I bought on theBay many years ago and the second colour photo is courtesy NAWS China Lake (and no I have no idea what’s going on in that one, but I’d guess something related to explosives/weapon testing).

 

These two shots should give enough of an idea to do this simple but colourful scheme in model form (might do it myself in fact). Note the (yellow/gold?) stars on the rudder.

 

Aircraft shown are FJ-3M BuNo 141440/17 and FJ-3 BuNo 136093/18.

 

F-86H536_zpsm4gkpxb1.jpg

 

img192_zpsad3bqvgf.jpg

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I wonder if this was an early attempt at the gray over white scheme? Interesting the way it is applied. Notice the interior of the gear doors appear to be all red and it is carrying dk blue aux tanks. Another thing is the intake lip. It appears to be painted corogard and not red. Cool photos.

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1 minute ago, jpk said:

I wonder if this was an early attempt at the gray over white scheme? Interesting the way it is applied. Notice the interior of the gear doors appear to be all red and it is carrying dk blue aux tanks. Another thing is the intake lip. It appears to be painted corogard and not red. Cool photos.

 

My thoughts too: see caption above photos. ;)

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