1:48 Yakovlev Yak-9D seatbelts STEEL

Steel seat belts for the Yak-9D in 1:48

The narrowest possible scope for a detail set: one item, one job. Eduard puts color-printed belts etched from steel in here, ready to fit straight away. The set does not try to replace the equipment of a whole cockpit; it adds the one item that is missing from most models and that nonetheless decides whether the interior looks lived in.

Where it goes on the model

The target is the pilot's seat and the area around it. On the Yak the cockpit is narrow and the seat makes up a substantial part of what shows when you look in from above. Belts thrown over the backrest or lying loose on the cushion immediately fill in bare areas of plastic. The manufacturer also makes a photo-etched set for the same aircraft that deals with the instrument panel and the side walls; together they cover the whole cockpit, but there is no need to get them at the same time.

How to work with steel

Steel photo-etching behaves differently from brass when it is bent. It takes repeated shaping, holds a sharp edge and does not spring back, so you can afford to model even a more complicated sag. Bend it in small steps with two pairs of tweezers rather than all at once. Do not use too much force, though, as a thin belt can be torn through after all.

Usage tips

Separate the parts with a scalpel on a hard surface and level the burrs. Glue with cyanoacrylate glue applied with a pin, ideally at one point where it meets the backrest. Excess glue will dull the printing, so really only a drop. If you are painting the seat, fit the belts only once the paint has dried. A final matte clear coat brings the interior together.

Who the set is for

• modelers who build the Yak-9 in 1:48
• those who want to raise the level of the cockpit with a single part
• builders without a pilot figure, where an empty seat shows clearly
• anyone who wants to try working with photo-etching on a simple job

This is an add-on to a model. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.