Airfix Lancaster II - where's my bombsight gone?

[Simon]

Hello everyone

 

Just started on my next build, Airfix's Lancaster II. Browsing the instructions, I see there's a bomb sight, part C32. Except on the sprue, there ain't, at least on mine - there's just the bracket, with no sight attached:

 

 

I see from this sprue shot of the Mk.I/Mk.III that it does actually exist (top left-hand side, four parts along):

 

 

The rest of sprue C seems identical, so is mine 'short-shot' or does the Mk.II not have a bomb-sight, for some reason?

 

Many thanks

 

Simon

Edited January 7, 2017 by Simon
typo

[sprue]

I think its on the clear sprue?

Mike

[Simon]

No - as I mentioned. it seems it should be there on that part, but isn't, for some reason. The sprue photo from the Mk.I/Mk.III kit shows it, four parts along the top from the top left corner.

 

I just wondered if it had been deliberately missed off for the Mk.II, or I'd just got an iffily moulded sprue...?

 

Simon

[Graham Boak]

Interesting question.  I wonder if it isn't a bombsight, or at least not the conventional one.  It doesn't look like the ones I've seen, but I can't claim to have seen them all.  Could it be a specialist Dambusters sight?  If so, it wouldn't be appropriate for the Mk.II or indeed the standard Mk.1.  However, it seems unlikely that Airfix would block off part of the mould so I suspect you've simply got a short-shot.

[Simon]

Looks like I've got the bracket bit that's meant to have a Mk.XIV attached to it:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_XIV_bomb_sight

 

Anyhow, I've popped an e-mail off to Airfix and see if they can sent out a replacement...

 

Simon

[Graham Boak]

Yes: it seems I was thinking of the CSBS that preceded the Mk.XIV.  Bombsights are something that are usually missing in bomber kits which I find somewhat surprising, at least nowadays.  Good on Airfix for including one.

[Junchan]

Hi Simon,

My Mk. II has bombsight part molded on the bracket.

 

The Lancaster had a Mk. II automatic bombsight

 

or  Mk. XIV stabilized vector bombsight.

 

The kit part more looks like the Mk. XIV.

 

Jun in Tokyo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/horaburo/albums

[dogsbody]

3 hours ago, Simon said:

Hello everyone

 

Just started on my next build, Airfix's Lancaster II. Browsing the instructions, I see there's a bomb sight, part C32. Except on the sprue, there ain't, at least on mine - there's just the bracket, with no sight attached:

 

 

I see from this sprue shot of the Mk.I/Mk.III that it does actually exist (top left-hand side, four parts along):

 

 

The rest of sprue C seems identical, so is mine 'short-shot' or does the Mk.II not have a bomb-sight, for some reason?

 

Many thanks

 

Simon

 

 

There it is, in the top left row, to the right of the rudder mass balances.

 

 

 

Chris

[Simon]

1 hour ago, Graham Boak said:

Bombsights are something that are usually missing in bomber kits which I find somewhat surprising, at least nowadays.  Good on Airfix for including one.

 

Or not, as the case may be...

 

Having had close look it looks like it's snapped off the bracket rather than been short-shot, but it's not in the bag with the sprues. Hopefully Airfix will come up trumps with a replacement.

 

Simon