SPA Modeler

I've been using the foil that is on most wine bottles. I will typically cut it into thin strips and form. The nice thing with this foil is that it usually has a color on it already (usually powdercoated I believe) and I've not had any trouble with other hobby paint sticking to it.

jelliott523 wrote:I've been using the foil that is on most wine bottles. I will typically cut it into thin strips and form. The nice thing with this foil is that it usually has a color on it already (usually powdercoated I believe) and I've not had any trouble with other hobby paint sticking to it.

I have used foil off wine bottles also for various straps. Although I have not made my own seat harnesses yet. One kit of mine, an older Monogram kit, actually had an "H" harness printed in the instruction sheet for adding to the ejection seat for that final touch. Once cut out, painted, and glued into place it looked beautiful. I have been thinking of getting some colored paper for trying my hand at that myself. But I have yet to try to make my own buckles...

Continuing with RAF types, the pre war/early war Sutton Harness shown here



was replaced mid war with a new style "QS" harness using buckles and a circular dial center attachment single point

Stikpusher wrote:

jelliott523 wrote:I've been using the foil that is on most wine bottles. I will typically cut it into thin strips and form. The nice thing with this foil is that it usually has a color on it already (usually powdercoated I believe) and I've not had any trouble with other hobby paint sticking to it.

I have used foil off wine bottles also for various straps. Although I have not made my own seat harnesses yet. One kit of mine, an older Monogram kit, actually had an "H" harness printed in the instruction sheet for adding to the ejection seat for that final touch. Once cut out, painted, and glued into place it looked beautiful. I have been thinking of getting some colored paper for trying my hand at that myself. But I have yet to try to make my own buckles...

I believe I have had that same kit, I remember a Monogram kit with the "H" style belts that you cut out of the paper. I dont remember the kit exactly, but I want to say its possibly the F-106. I have a lot of colored paper that my kids got for Christmas a few years ago that hasnt been touched, I think I literally have 500+ sheets in any color you can imagine.

I've tried most everything, from foil to lead to commercially made. For me, it really depends on what I'm working on. From talking to vets and scrutinizing pictures, a lot of WWII vehicles had the seat belts either cut off by the crew, or wrapped and secured in such a way they wouldn't interfere. For those, I generally use lead foil. As for aircraft, I'm partial to the HGW, RB, and (recently) Eduard textile/cloth belts. Very accurate in the way they lay and take a wash very well.

Stikpusher wrote:... One kit of mine, an older Monogram kit, actually had an "H" harness printed in the instruction sheet for adding to the ejection seat for that final touch...

I am building an F/A-18C kit from Monogram just like this now. I was thinking about going with rayon or silk to replace this and cut it on the bias to minimise the fraying; seal it with CA adhesive. Not sure how this would work. Also, seeing how I am going to place a pilot in the seat, its only fitting that the seatbelt be around the pilot. However the instruction are vague on this point. Guess we'll just have to wing it.

Any thoughts on the rayon or silk?

Best wishes,
Wes

Eduard and HGW (both Czech manufacturer) offer a range of fabric harnesses. Many modeler say they're the best stuff on the market. Click here to see them used on a Phantom build.
They're pretty expensive, though. Seen a fellow modeler who made them scratch out of stripes from the edge of a dollar note. Buckles were made of wire bent around a flat plier tip.

I use eithe Tamiya tape of flattened stretched sprue for seatbelts.

Here is a very informative article:

http://hyperscale.com/2007/features/mas ... tsrf_1.htm

Wes wrote:

Stikpusher wrote:... One kit of mine, an older Monogram kit, actually had an "H" harness printed in the instruction sheet for adding to the ejection seat for that final touch...

I am building an F/A-18C kit from Monogram just like this now. I was thinking about going with rayon or silk to replace this and cut it on the bias to minimise the fraying; seal it with CA adhesive. Not sure how this would work. Also, seeing how I am going to place a pilot in the seat, its only fitting that the seatbelt be around the pilot. However the instruction are vague on this point. Guess we'll just have to wing it.

Any thoughts on the rayon or silk?

Best wishes,
Wes

There is just the H-strap on the seat that connects the seat to the pilot's harness, as well as a lap belt of some sort, and leg restraints to keep those from flailing and worse upon ejection...