1:24 F6F-5 seatbelts STEEL

Eduard 1:24 F6F-5 seatbelts STEEL, seat belts for 1:24 scale

A small accessory with a large effect. The set contains photo-etched seat belts for the pilot's seat including buckles and fittings, executed in pre-colored steel. The STEEL designation means the carrier material is not soft brass but steel sheet: that is springier and, above all, it holds its shape after bending, so a belt can be left to fall naturally over the edge of the seat or to hang down to the cockpit floor.

Why deal with the belts separately

An empty seat without belts is one of the most conspicuous shortcomings of an open cockpit, and in 1:24 scale that holds doubly, because the seat is large and the viewer looks into it at close range. Plastic kits either do not contain belts at all or have them suggested as relief on the seat. A separate photo-etched set gives the belts real thickness, curvature and metal buckles.

Building and painting tips

Pre-colored photo-etched parts are neither sanded nor sprayed over: the printing is part of the product. Shape the belts gradually and in small steps, refining a bend with blunt tweezers or a wooden stick so that the color does not crack at the edge. First simply lay the belts out and find a credible hang, and only then fix them at points with cyanoacrylate. Slight waviness in a belt rather than a flat surface helps the realism a great deal. The fittings and buckles can be brought out with a dark wash and the excess wiped away.

Who the set is for

• Builders of models in 1:24 scale with an open cockpit
• Modelers who want metal belts instead of suggested relief on the seat
• Those looking for a quick increase in cockpit realism
• Beginners who get on with photo-etched steel: it holds its shape better than brass

This is an accessory for modelers, not a standalone model. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.