1:72 Seatbelts USAAF WWII STEEL

Photo-Etched USAAF Seat Belts, 1:72 Scale

A set of photo-etched seat belts for models of American aircraft of the Second World War in 1:72 scale. The word STEEL in the name refers to the version in steel sheet. It is not a kit but an accessory that replaces the flat belts supplied in the box.

Why replace the belts

The seat is among the first things a viewer looks at in an open cockpit. Belts molded into the shell of the seat merge with the background and read as mere relief. A photo-etched part has a thickness of its own, can be folded over the edge of the seat and left to hang freely into the space below, so the cockpit immediately looks occupied. In 1:72 scale these are small items, but it is exactly they that decide the final impression.

Building and painting tips

• Cut the items from the fret with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not by snapping them off.
• Steel sheet is stiffer than soft metal, holds its shape and stands up to a corrected bend.
• Shape the bends with flat-jawed tweezers or a bender, always along the whole width of the part.
• Degrease the parts before gluing so that both glue and paint hold.
• They are bonded with a minimal amount of super glue, applied with the tip of a toothpick.

Who the set is for

For modelers who build American aircraft in 1:72 scale and want the cockpit finished even in a small scale. Working with photo-etched parts of these dimensions calls for tweezers, good light and a calm hand. The extent of the set and the placement of the individual items are given by the maker in the enclosed instructions.

The package holds only the photo-etched parts. The model, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.