1:72 Seatbelts Italy WWII

Seat belts of Italian Second World War aircraft in 1:72 (Eduard)

This set from the manufacturer Eduard is an accessory, not a kit. Photo-etch means a thin metal fret with parts etched out chemically, held to the fret by tiny tabs. Because the fret is many times thinner than any injected plastic part, it can capture things that plastic simply cannot manage, and cockpit belts are exactly such a case. In the small 1:72 scale that goes double: the plastic seat is bare there, and photo-etch is the quickest way to bring a cockpit to life.

A universal set, not one specific kit

This set is not tied to a single kit. These are general belts for Italian aircraft of the Second World War that you can use across Italian types, fighters and other machines alike, regardless of whose plastic you happen to be building. One fret therefore covers several projects and is worth keeping in stock for anyone who works on Italian aviation subjects regularly. The parts are also pre-painted, so there is no laborious painting of straps and fittings at these fractional sizes.

Use

• Cut the parts off the fret with a scalpel or photo-etch scissors; never break them out of the fret.
• Bend them with a photo-etch bending tool or with tweezers over a sharp edge so that the folds are crisp and clean.
• Bond with super glue: cement for plastic does not hold on metal.
• Let the belts fall freely over the seat so that they look used; a straight belt looks unconvincing.
• In 1:72 scale work with good tweezers and ideally with a magnifier, as the parts really are tiny.

Who the set is for

For aircraft modelers in 1:72 scale who build Italian Second World War subjects and want belts in the cockpit that look like belts, not like relief cast in plastic. Thanks to the pre-painting it is a rewarding and quick upgrade even for those who are only starting out with photo-etch.

Note: this is not a model. The aircraft kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.