1:48 B-24D Liberator seatbelts STEEL

Why the belts are worth replacing

Seat belts are the most conspicuous soft element in a cockpit. A kit either leaves them out altogether or suggests them as a relief on the seat, where they look like a strip of plastic stuck on. Photo-etched belts, by contrast, drape freely over the edge of the seat and over the backrest, so they bring to the cockpit the impression of a workplace someone was sitting at a moment ago. On a bomber that pays off twice over, because the glazed nose and cockpit let you see inside.

Steel photo-etch

According to the name the parts are of steel. Steel photo-etch tends to be thinner than brass and holds its shape better once bent: a belt can be rolled into a flowing fold once and will not spring back flat, which is exactly what is wanted of belts. The set is intended for a B-24D model in 1:48 scale; the instructions supplied describe where each part goes.

Usage tips

• Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not with cutters.
• Shape them gradually, with fine tweezers and in small steps.
• Glue them with super glue applied with a pin, spot by spot and part by part.
• Degrease the surface before gluing; glue will not hold on greasy metal.
• Fit the belts before the seat goes into the fuselage.
• The buckles are tiny, so work over a light background.
• If you paint the belts, lay down a primer coat first; on bare metal the paint comes off during handling.

Terms of supply

The kit, the seats, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.