1:48 F-16A MLU seatbelts STEEL

1:48 F-16A MLU steel seatbelts

A smaller photo-etched set from the Zoom line, that is with the color printed on. According to the name it contains seatbelts for a model of the F-16A MLU in 1:48 scale and is made of steel. Steel sheet holds its shape after bending, so a belt will stay folded over the edge of the seat exactly as you set it. And an empty seat without belts is the first thing anyone notices when looking into the cockpit of a fighter model.

Pre-painted, no painting needed

The parts are supplied with the color printed on. Check the number of belts and the scope of the package on the box.

The real subject

The F-16 is a single-engine multirole aircraft with a bubble canopy, which leaves the inside of the cockpit unusually visible. The MLU designation belongs to the mid-life upgrade program for European A and B version machines, which concerned mainly the cockpit equipment and the avionics.

Tips for working with photo-etched parts

Do not sand the pre-painted parts down or go over them with primer, you would lose the color print. Separate them with a scalpel on a hard surface and glue them with super glue in a minimal amount, so that the printed detail is not flooded. Smaller parts are more comfortable to carry with a moistened toothpick than with tweezers. Once seated, it helps to emphasize the recesses with a dark wash and to blend the surface at the end with a clear coat of the desired sheen.

Who the seatbelts are for

• Modelers building the F-16A in the MLU standard in 1:48 scale
• Those who want to furnish the cockpit without using a pilot figure
• Beginners who want to try photo-etch on a simple assembly
• Builders who display the model with the canopy open

The set is an add-on to a kit, not a stand-alone model. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.