Scratchbuilders | 1/32 RAF Mk. II Gunsight (US MK8)

Reviewed by Saso Knez

You might have noticed that about a year ago InSight company closed shop. Fortunately Forrest Cox of Scratchbuilders put his sights on InSight sights (now that made me dizzy…)

So Forrest…you just reboxed the InSight line didn't you?

We only purchased the 1/32 scale sights. The complete insight details line included sights in other scales. We have added the enhanced instructions and the correct size domed sight lenses. Previously they came without this lens.

OK, then...

At first the idea of aftermarket gun sights seemed ridiculous to me. You can make them yourself easily, and they usually come in PE or resin aftermarket sets anyway.

This completely changed when I received my Spitfire Gun sight. It is made of five parts. One is the resin sight, another a resin leather thing that prevented pilots cracking their heads on their sights when crash landing, then you get two lenses and a doomed sight lens made of metal. I think it is some light metal, but it is impossible to tell since it is about one square millimeter big.

First you must paint the sight and only after this you should start gluing the lenses on. A great thing is that the casting block doubles as a big enough holder for handling the sight. In fact Scratchbuilders advises you to remove the sight from the block when you have totally finished with it. I couldn't agree more.

Look how minute this is. The thing below the sight is another resin part. Incredibly small+delicate=detailed

And here are the lenses. The metal one is domed the other two are punched out and transparent. I would recommend that a modeler uses a toothpick with a small amount of white glue to help position the lenses.

Another good thing are the instructions. They are really extensive and they leave nothing to be desired. Maybe even the best instructions I have seen in an aftermarket set for quite a while.

To conclude. I was very wrong. You cannot make these sights no matter how much you try, they are just to good. While one must be accustomed to dealing with small parts when finished these sights, they will be the crown jewels of the cockpit. And as far as cockpits go nothing stands out more then a gun sight. The investment in the sight will cost you $7.00.

Here is the list of the available ones:

I recommend Scratchbuilders line of sights and I thank Forrest Cox for suppling this sight which will end up in my Spitfire. Check out Scratchbuilders site as they have recently updated it.

© Saso Knez

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This review was published on Saturday, July 02 2011; Last modified on Wednesday, May 18 2016