Spitfire Mk V - Gun Sight Mk II

[@chrisnurczyk8239]

Thanks for the excellent presentation! Graphics are well done and help make the topic understandable. First class content!

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Much appreciated, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@ZevangBSB]

OMG! High level of details in just a gun sight! Another nicely done investigation!

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thank you Jose!

[@JonqsSimulationsOfficial]

All these videos are incredible! Absolutely lovely for me as an aircraft developer for flight sim!

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Great to hear!

[@sxgbln5868]

i hope one day i can simulate this type of gunsight nice vide!!!!

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

You can do it!

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

If I recall correctly, Johnnie Day was present during a tour by German Luftwaffe top brass in 1938. The pilots were specifically warned to not explain the HUD to the Germans, including Ernst Udet among others, explaining that they don't work, but some fool from RAF Command decided to show off the gunsights abilities. Thereafter they found similar HUD gunsights in Bf 109s during the Battle of Britain.

[@colvinator1611]

Very interesting. The detail is amazing and necessary to get the job done. Thanks a lot.

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thanks for watching

[@lucasromanow1688]

Excellent videos! From a very young age I have been a fan of the Spitfire MkV !. thank you very much for these contributions! Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Pleased you like them! Thanks

[@cycleSCUBA]

Fascinating, as ever. I'd guess this was what lead to the heads up display that fighters have now? HUD's have several of the important instruments/displays. Thanks for the video. We Will Remember Them🇬🇧🌹

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Good point!

[@mpgingdl]

A pity Spitfire pilots in WW2 didn't have this video.

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Would have been an interesting way to train aircrew. Thanks for watching.

[@gnatdos]

Thanks a lot. It's been a ver useful lesson

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

You are welcome!

[@rolandbogush2594]

Very interesting, nicely presented and illustrated.

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Many thanks!

[@0836whimper]

Incredible detail, well done.

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thank you very much!

[@johnjephcote7636]

The projector Type 1 Mk II (that lives under my stairs) has the square reflector glass. I always wondered at what date they replaced the circular ones. ( I treasure the memory of Jeffrey Quill, in white sidcot suit, exiting AB 910, after a flying display at Bassingbourne).

[@blockheadgreen_]

I believe it was in mid-1941 when the square version entered production. The older variant persevered in service a fair bit longer however.

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thanks for watching

[@glennledrew8347]

A very thorough examination. I would have included some mention of: - The role the diameter of the collimator plays in the allowable range of translation of the pilot's eye while keeping the centre dot visible. - How the apparent size of the reticle pattern is independent of the viewing distance. I have made some improvements to some gun sights appearing in Il-2 1946, and in the process obtained a better understanding of the particulars of their operation. But in the general principle of their working, I knew this long before playing with flight sim modding, because there exists a sight for astro telescopes called the Telrad, which operates essentially exactly like these gun sights. And I have built my own, including one with a small 5X telescope by which to magnify the image and perceive fainter stars while aiming the main scope.

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thanks for watching

[@blockheadgreen_]

Some of the best photos I've seen of the sight switched on. Did you take many of these photos yourself??

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

All the photographs you see were taken by me during my many photo trips when researching and developing my series of PC CD-ROMs covering the Lancaster, Spitfire V, Halifax, Hurricane and Mosquito. To get that shot of the gunsight took a few shots to get right. I'm pleased you liked it and thank you so much for your comment and for watching.

[@johnjephcote7636]

I once connected mine up to an old 12v model train controller. It worked perfectly, being able to adjust the range from the central spot.

[@FAFLSuedois]

Excellent

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thank you so much 😀

[@cristianocampos9153]

Amazing video

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thanks!

[@tomwallace2705]

Very interesting and informative.

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thanks Glad you enjoyed it

[@dominicgo477]

Great stuff!

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@allandavis8201]

Another piece of the knowledge jigsaw puzzle put into place, thanks Brian. I was just wondering about the Day/Night dimmer switch, I am sure you said it was made out of plastic, but it looked more like Bake-alight (sorry about spelling) to me, could you clarify please, the only reason I ask is because I thought plastic was not widely used during the war years but Bake-alight was, thanks Brian. 😀👍🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇦 P.S Could You do a video on the start system of the B.A.C Lightning MK1, my dad told me that all the see of crews carried their beret in their pocket so they had something to beat out the flames that invariably occurred from the AVPIN fuel, he also something about a glass jar 🫙 that came into the system somewhere down the line, it was many many years ago that he told me about it so I could be talking baloney. Thanks Brian.

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Yes, the dimmer switch was made of Bakelite, it was the first plastic made from synthetic components. It was used during the war in all manner of electrical switches and components. Yes, I'll look at the Lightning Mk.I later on. Thanks for sharing and watching

[@allandavis8201]

@@ukaircraftexplored6556 Thanks Brian.

[@pontymike56]

excellent

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thanks!

[@chaimshen-orr2993]

WOW - verrry interesting. Questions, though: 1) Did the range ring also change the depression angle ? I assume it did not, since gravity drop at practical ranges is small compared to other deflection factors. 2) Why frosted bulbs ?? In the later GGS (Gyro Gun Sight) the bulbs are not frosted. 3) Why the fixed-length cable ? It is clear that the (coiled) cable was bothersome, obscuring parts of the instrument panel. It should not be too difficult to cut the cable to the required length and re-install the plug during sight installation - or was that actually done, but not in the two or three restored Spitfires shown ?. 4) Why 3 reserve bulbs ? Certainly the filaments lasted longer than that . . . Can you do a similar video on the GGS ? - I have an actual Mk. IID, plus a collection of related documents, and would be glad to assist

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thanks for your questions. 1. No, the range ring did not change the depression angle. The depression or gravity drop was set by armourers at the gun butts, where the range and depression would be harmonized at the required range. This was achieved by adjusting the guns in their wing mountings and also adjustment to the sight. The guns and sight were then 'harmonized' and ready for operations. 2. The frosted bulbs may have been used at the time, to reduce the projection in the sight of the double filament in the bulb. 3. Why indeed. This was wartime and maybe it was quicker to produce the cable at a standard length in the factory. 4. I'm not certain why three bulbs were stowed. I do know, that three types of bulbs could be fitted. The 18 watts for day use. The 2.4 watts 12 v for night use, and a 6 watts 24v also for night use. Again, the aircraft is used in wartime, and maybe the small stowage of three fragile bulbs, helped to quickly change a faulty bulb before the next sortie. Yes, I will be covering the MK.IID in a later video, and thank you for your offer to assist. Although I can't say when at this stage, I will be in touch in the future. Cheers for now, I hope this helps and thanks for watching.

[@Eric-kn4yn]

The gyro gunfights were getting very high tech then. Miles in front of fixed reflector gsight

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

I will be posting videos covering over British Gyro gunsights later.

[@blockheadgreen_]

Do you happen to know if there are any diagrams/blueprints of the general arrangement of the sight? I have a Spitfire 3d modelling project on the go and I cannot find any!

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thanks for watching, I'm sorry, I only have what is included in the video.

[@blockheadgreen_]

@@ukaircraftexplored6556 Thanks for the reply! I'll see if I can find measurements and reverse engineer the piece using photos and some of the diagrams in the video.

[@operator6471]

I would imagine if you were too focused on this you were dead. Point and squirt and get the hell outta there!!

[@ukaircraftexplored6556]

Thanks for watching!