Pre-painted photo-etch seatbelts

[Ant]

Hi All,

I just finished the cockpit on the 1/48 hobbyboss wildcat. I usually make my own seatbelts, but this time I thought I would give the eduard pre-painted ones a go. I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed with them as the paint cracked off as I bent them to shape and where it didn't crack off, it rubbed away really easily on the bends, needing some careful touch-ups and weathering to disguise it. Is there a trick to using these? I can't really anneal them as that will toast the paint. I think I'll get the un-painted ones next time and do it myself.

Pic of the finished item ...

I'm not sure I even assembled it correctly, as the instructions weren't that great. Or they just aren't idiot proof enough for me!

Edited March 25, 2008 by Ant

[Mark]

Well, whatever you've done, that looks very realistic! Looks really nice. I've never had the problems that you described, they've alway behaved very well for me. But I do understand where you're coming from re. putting them together. The instructions are cr@p!!

[smuts]

hi I had the same happen to me the first time Iused em, now I dip em in klear no probs.

HTH Andy.

[Tedfellows]

Gorgeous Seat Ant! I would be chuffed to bits with that

[darson]

Ant, the way I normally do Eduard seatbelts is to:

1. Assemble individual belt as per instructions

2. When read apply a small dot of CA to the point of the seat that the belt fastens too, usually the back or the side.

3. Wait for the glue to set then gently push the belt into position in the seat (the bit where the pilots bum goes) and set in place with another drop of CA.

Here's on I prepared earlier, it's a P-40E from the RAAF in the desert hence the dust.

Cheers

[Ant]

busdriver:- Thanks!

smuts:- Good idea, I'll give that a try next time & report back.

darson:- Thanks for the advice, that's pretty much what I did also. You have to treat those belts with a lot of respect!

Tedfellows:- Thanks also. Just to show off, here's the finished cockpit ...

I think I need to work on making the belts lie more realistically, rather than rigid strips of metal hanging perfectly from the seat. Difficult to simulate fabric though.

[darson]

I think I need to work on making the belts lie more realistically, rather than rigid strips of metal hanging perfectly from the seat. Difficult to simulate fabric though.

Mate they look pretty realistic to me, nice job

[lgl007]

Ant, it looks awesome... and very realistic. I think you are being overly critical of yourself (of course that is your right ;-) ... but the belts look great... and weathering the already pre-painted Eduard PE stuff make it all look that much better. Frankly, I would prefer them not to pre-paint and allow me to paint them... /shrug doesn't really matter in the end... I still paint to weather...

-Greg