1:32 Spitfire Mk.IX - Seatbelts

Fabric seat belts for the Spitfire Mk.IX in 1:32

The set replaces the seat belts of the pilot's seat in the cockpit of a model of the Spitfire Mk.IX in the large scale of 1:32. The straps are laser-cut from fine microfabric and are completed by photo-etched metal buckles. It is a detail set, that is an accessory, not a kit of an aircraft.

Why fabric belts instead of photo-etched ones

A belt of photo-etched sheet bends only where you bend it, and even once painted it stays sheet-metal stiff. A fabric belt, on the other hand, can be shaped freely, falls naturally over the edge of a seat, holds its creases and, in 1:32, where the cockpit is clearly visible once the canopy is open, looks markedly more faithful. The fabric stands the usual modeling preparations, so it can be toned with filters and lightly weathered like the rest of the interior.

How the set is built

• Before fitting, crumple the straps and work them between your fingers, which gives them natural creases and stops them being as straight as a ruler.
• Pass the ends through the photo-etched buckles and fix them with a tiny drop of super glue.
• Separate the photo-etched parts with a sharp scalpel on a hard surface, not by twisting.
• Settle the finished belts into the cockpit before closing the fuselage up; afterwards access is difficult.
• Toning with filters and a fine wash will bring the belts into line with the rest of the interior.

Who the set is for

For modelers who build the Spitfire Mk.IX in a large scale and want the cockpit finished properly even with the canopy open. The work is fine and calls for tweezers, good light and patience, but the result is one of the most visible improvements of the whole model.

This is a detail set. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package.