ZachP319 Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Ok title says it all. Why did we want these prices of garbage? With older bare metal PE I would anneal the brass in a candle flame or box lighter to make it more malleable. And usually they worked great and looked good. I can't anneal this pre painted/printed crap.....and when I go to install the parts they are too stiff and springy to stay easily and tend pop from where they are glued. I don't think they look all that lifelike in the end either..... Is there a better way to work with these? I hate them and will opt for molded resin belts any time over this crap. I had to rant when I discovered a lap belt from my albatross diii had disappeared for no reason.... Zach williamj, MikeC, marauderdriver and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill_S Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Ugh. The first thing I would do is strip the paint! I've never used resin belts; my first choice would be fabric belts - Radu's or HGW. MikeC, marauderdriver, reconspit and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Agreed Bill....Harv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachP319 Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 Yes agreed on fabric. Also I tend to use wine bottle foil and PE hardware. I just happen to have had the preprinted crap I. The box with. Alb and now wished I had not used it. Zach Bill_S and David66 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 If there is no better option, cut strips of lead foil, remove the buckles from the painted belts and glue them on the foil. This will give you identical belts that may be put where you want and as you want. Hth Thierry marauderdriver and David66 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony T Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 There has been a band of us crying out for several years for somebody to produce modern seat webbing akin to the oldie propellery era HGW stuff - fabric straps and etch buckles - in generic sets for Aces II, MB 3/4, MB 5/7 bang seats. There must be a sound reason why this hasn't yet been done but I'm stuffed if I can figure out what. Tony David66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasta 14 addict Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 There's a simple solution to all that ..............if you hate them or don't like them..........................don't buy them Greetz Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradG Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 I've used them a few times, they generally do the job if I'm feeling kind lazy and don't want to paint seat belts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryWilliams Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Try the newish Eduard Steel seatbelts. The paint does not flake off and they shape and position easily without the need to anneal them. OK, they dont look as good as the fabric ones but at least they dont drive you up the wall trying to thread them!! https://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?adv=1&product_category_id=&product_division_id=&manufacturer_id=7997&product_type_id=&code=&scale_id=953&keyword_search=Steel+seat&setPerPage=25&sort=0&search_direction=0&save_search_name=&save_search= TaffyMan, Tony T, coogrfan and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony T Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 A sensible answer from Barry - thanks. I might give the new Eduard steel F-4 ones a go this year if there are some positive reviews - five Martin Baker 7s to dress this Summer. I remember Model Technologies and Verlinden making just the etched buckles, which could be woven with coloured strips of art paper or thin ribbon. Is there anything like that still out there? Tony MikeC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cees Broere Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 I'm lazy, I like them. LSP_K2 and DougN 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanKB Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 I anneal them, then paint 'em. Makes them look very weathered. Very very weathered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill_S Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Waldron makes some PE buckles; Eduard did as well. I recently switched from HGW's original belts to the laser cut ones. Only one set of fabric now, but enough PE for two sets. David66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfighter Jock Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 I just heat them to soften the metal and strip the preprinting from them, install them on the seat, coat them with thinned Mr. Surfacer 500 in order to blend them into the seat. Lastly, prime the whole thing and start painting away! Kirk David66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wegener Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Radu's belts have separate buckles as well as pre-cut belts so in that respect are similar to the Model Technologies and Verlinden approach. They also have useful instructions, which not all Verlinden products had. In 1/32 and larger, I find that the 3D look is really hard to obtain by other means, although the Fine Molds injection-moulded belts look pretty good as long as the type you want is available. David66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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