1:48 Typhoon Mk.IB - Seatbelts

Typhoon Mk.IB – fabric belts 1:48 from HGW

This is an accessory set for a cockpit, not a kit of the aircraft. It holds straps of printed microtextile cut by laser and photo-etched metal buckles. The set is intended for models of the British single-seat fighter and bomber aircraft Typhoon Mk.IB in 1:48 scale.

What the set solves

The belts supplied in the box with a kit tend to be either plastic ones as part of the seat or flat photo-etched ones. Neither looks like webbing, because the bend and the softness of the material are missing. A fabric strap can be creased, folded and left to fall over the edge of the seat pan, so that even in 1:48 scale it convincingly fills an otherwise empty cockpit. The interior of the Typhoon is clearly visible under the sliding canopy, which raises the importance of this detail still further.

Procedure and tips

Take the part out of the sheet, remove the backing paper and work the strap briefly between your fingers. Thread the ends through the buckles and secure them with a small spot of cyanoacrylate. In 1:48 scale the parts really are small, so it pays to work over a light-colored surface and with good lighting. The fabric will take a fine wash, with which the straps lose their factory cleanliness; do not apply heavy coats of paint to the fabric, as they clog its texture.

Who the set is for

• Builders of 1:48 models with an open or slid-back canopy
• Modelers for whom belts molded on the seat are not enough
• Those who want a true interior without the labor of making them from foil
• More experienced builders used to fine work with tweezers

This is not a model of the aircraft, but an accessory for the interior. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.