Cheap WW2 Seatbelts

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hi all, Ive wondered about making my own seatbelts for a while, but generally i spend out and buy PE stuff. So i thought, ‘why not have a go’. Perhaps this may inspire others to have a go too.

If this is obvious to some of the ‘Older hands’ then i appologise. Here goes.

Distinctly beltless,

In the UK, a lot of pre-packed cakes come in a foil tray. This is ideal for seat belt material as it its thin enough to work and superglues together sweetly. If you look very carefully you may see the remains of a Custard Tart [:-^]

Cut a quarter off and burnish it flat with the handle of your sissors,

Using any form of reference for lengths and size, (I used another Eduard PE set) cut the burnished tin foil to lengths,

Dont forget the lap belt ‘triangles’ on German Aircraft. Next you need some very thin wire or solder to make the buckles. I litterally just bend the buckles around my fine nosed pliers.

Next, put a small fold at the end of each of your belts and fit your Buckles over it. Secure in place with a small blob of super glue,

Next i added the adjuster buckle in the centre of the shoulder straps. This one is square and made in the same way as the the other buckles,

Heres the completed straps. It all took about half an hour to make inc pictures,

Next up give the belts a coat of Buff or thereabouts, glue em in place and Bobs your uncle.

Hope you liked my little Toot, and oh yes, im building a Tamiya 190D. Lovely jubbly.

…Guy

2

Guy, thanks for the step by step on the how to. Very helpful [tup] Will have to try that myself.

3

I’ve used PE belts, but being on a tight budget this technique of yours looks like a perfect alternative! Many Thanks for sharing step by step, I’m going to try it on the kit I’m building now![:)]

4

Cheers guys, glad you like the toot. Thats the thing with this hobby. Almost everything ive learned to do with this hobby, ive picked up from someone else taking the time to post. Im sure this can be made a damn site neater than my efforts but i intend to have the canopy shut so detail isnt quite as important.

…Guy

5

Guy, I’ve never attempted seat belts before but you make it look sooo easy I just might give it a go. By the by, who is this Bob fellow that’s saying he’s my Uncle.[:D]

Chris

6

Oooops, err dont ask. [:-^]

…Guy

7

Great. Just what I need! Another excuse to eat sweets! Seriously, I’ll have to try this on one of my WWII builds.

8

Guy…Thanks! Nice tip!..and well done too!

9

Good Show ther Guy! I always am happy to see someone who still believes in building it yourself even when it can be bought premade. I myself never liked photoetch for seatbelts. I prefer to use florist tape and bent wire in a similar fashion that you have shown. if the buckles are to complex then I will cut the buckle of of the photo etch belt and superglue it to the florist tape. A little buff for some color and silver for the buckles and your done. I prefer the florist tape for the belt part because it is so much easier to work with than the brass as far as positioning them. plus the tape has a slight texture to it which in my opinoin looks more realistic in larger scales like 1/32 and 1/24. Thanks for sharing your ideas with the rest of us. Now I’m going to the store for a good pie!

Soulcrusher

10

Nice work on the seat belts. Thanks for the tutorial.

Darwin, O.F. [alien]

11

…now who’s Uncle am I? [%-)]

Nice work Guy. And thanks for sharing. I’m going to have to give it a try.

12

Very cool toot Guy! I have used a similar method in the past, and like the look and the satisfaction of doing it myself. [tup]

13

Bob, where you been? You going to join us for the Navy GB?

14

Buried up to my eyeballs in other GB commitments along with ‘day-to-day’ life. Hopefully I can get caught up and start the Navy GB sometime this summer. I may forsake the Accurate Miniatures SBD (a great kit, btw) and go for something, err, less complex.

Thanks for asking.

15

You should ask Frank about his AM SBD [%-)]

16

I’ll slide over to the GB and try to catch up this weekend…maybe…if I get time…[:-^]

17

well done and well documented, Guy! Now THAT’s modeling: using ordinary things to incorporate into a believable model. I’m looking forward to seeing the end product.