I’ve been using the CraftOptics for various modeling projects over the past few weeks. Last night, I was using them while detail painting around grills and air-intake screens on a locomotive, and they made a big difference. I notice that I don’t have as much neck and eye strain when wearing the CraftOptics. The clip-on light is a big help as it illuminates the area between my two work lights.

I’ve also tried them while applying decals. I flip the telescopes up when positioning the decals, as I prefer seeing the whole model to make sure things are in alignment. However, the telescopes are useful after the decals are in place and the setting solution has been applied. At this stage, I check for trapped air bubbles and silvering (trapped air under the clear areas of the decal that show up a silver blotches against the painted model).

In addition, I’ve used them while drilling holes for grab irons. Some models have molded dimples that serve as the starting point for drilling holes. The telescopes make it easy to see the dimples, especially on dark cars and locomotives.