Seatbelts

[Hugh_Effo]

Hi

I started doing Airfix planes beginning of this year, as I got fed up of doing tanks.

I do think as a whole the kits go together well, but do have one small criticism.

why on earth do Airfix, not include seatbelt decals with their newer kits. Not all of us want to build the model with the pilot, and I have to spend a fortune on aftermarket seatbelts. Tamiya and a few other have started including decals for seatbelts, so how about it Airfix.

Regards Malcolm

[Ratch]

Hi Malcolm, as your post is about aircraft seatbelts I've moved it to the Aircraft Forum.

[dogsbody]

On my 1/72 Airfix Hurricane Mk.I, I scanned and printed the decal sheet of a Tamiya 1/72 Spitfire. I then used an Xacto No.11 to cut out the seatbelts and stuck then to the Hurc's seat.

Chris

[Heather Kavanagh]

I use thin strips of painted masking tape. If I’m in the mood, I’ll also paint representations of the buckles and fasteners. I have found transfer belts just too flat.

[Kenneth ONeill]

I agree with Heather about the masking tape belts. If you use an automotive tape rather than a model-making tape, it's even a useful canvas colour.

[dogsbody]

On my 1/72 Airfix Hurricane Mk.I, I scanned and printed the decal sheet of a Tamiya 1/72 Spitfire. I then used an Xacto No.11 to cut out the seatbelts and stuck then to the Hurc's seat.

Chris

 

 

[dogsbody]

On my 1/72 Airfix Hurricane Mk.I, I scanned and printed the decal sheet of a Tamiya 1/72 Spitfire. I then used an Xacto No.11 to cut out the seatbelts and stuck then to the Hurc's seat.

Chris

 

 

So! I tried to add a photo to this posting, but nothing works. I tried my Flickr account but no photo shows. I tried using the little icon on the right side of the bar at the top of this reply box. When I click on Post Reply, I get a 502 Bad Gateway!

 

 

Does this P.O.S. forum even work right anymore?

[T2B]

You may actually find that some of the new tool kits (mainly the jets with bang seats) have alternative seat inserts with moulded on seatbelt detail. Alternatively painted thin strip's of masking tape works very well!

It's more of a challenge than a decal but that's MODELLING!

[Kenneth ONeill]

On my 1/72 Airfix Hurricane Mk.I, I scanned and printed the decal sheet of a Tamiya 1/72 Spitfire. I then used an Xacto No.11 to cut out the seatbelts and stuck then to the Hurc's seat.

{photo deleted, text for context}

Chris

So, if I'm understanding you correctly, these are decal belts still attached to the backing paper, yes? If so, I think I have a new "go to method" thanks.

[dogsbody]

On my 1/72 Airfix Hurricane Mk.I, I scanned and printed the decal sheet of a Tamiya 1/72 Spitfire. I then used an Xacto No.11 to cut out the seatbelts and stuck then to the Hurc's seat.

{photo deleted, text for context}

Chris

So, if I'm understanding you correctly, these are decal belts still attached to the backing paper, yes? If so, I think I have a new "go to method" thanks.

 

 

No. I scanned the Tamiya Spitfire decal sheet and printed it out on regular white paper. I then cut out the seatbelts, using an Xacto #11 blade. I glued that to the Hurricane seat.

 

 

[Kenneth ONeill]

OK, got it now thanks.

[Hugh_Effo]

Thanks for the replies. I use Masking tape for some seatbelts, but when you compare Airfix to kits like Eduard and Special Hobby, they are lacking in that extra detail. I love Airfix kits as the instruction and fit are by and large very good, just seem to be behind the curve when it comes to PE parts and small details. I have a great company called Kit-world, who do 3D decals of seatbelts for all sorts of scale and countries, and so easy to apply.

[Ratch]

The trouble with adding PE is that it excludes Airfix's main market - kids, and adults know they can buy it aftermarket (if they want it). Personally, I detest PE and wouldn't want it in the kits I buy.

[T2B]

And you usually find the kits with added PE or Resin from the likes of Eduard are about double the equivalent Airfix kit, so as Ratch suggests it would probably exclude the kids market and those on a lower budget.

As stated some detail is added, moulded on seatbelt detail for a bang seat insert from the new tool Airfix HP Victor. Only painting required. Oh they are making this modelling lark easy!

[AirportsEd]

I have mixed feelings about the potential 'extras' that could be included in Airfix kits. I would like to see seatbelts included in kits where you would actually be able to see them clearly on the finished model. Most of all though, I wish they would include canopy masks (to make up for my lack of skill!)

Obviously, this would add to the price of the model, so I wouldn't consider putting masks or seatbelts in starter kits. However, as Airfix has gone to the trouble of including extra internal details on some kits that are invisible when the model is complete (e.g. new build Wellington), perhaps that time / effort / expense could have been spent on helping to improve the chances of a potentially better external finish.

Or perhaps simply leave the 'invisible' bits out and sell the kit £1 cheaper?

[Ratch]

Most of all though, I wish they would include canopy masks (to make up for my lack of skill!)

Or perhaps simply leave the 'invisible' bits out and sell the kit £1 cheaper?

Why not just buy masks - I wouldn't want top pay extra for masks I wouldn't use. And then you wouldn't leave out detail that other modellers would complain about. For years modellers have complained about the lack of cockpit detail.

 

 

You'll never please everyone all the time - hence the Cottage Industry after market brigade.

[T2B]

Ed, masking isn't that daunting. All you need is some quality masking tape, a good sharp modelling knife and most importantly some patience. I do it quite a bit but for difficult glazing I do invest in a professional mask set if I need to.

As Ratch says you can't please everyone all of the time. Airfix probably do a good job of meeting a broad market place ( though I think it's rarely recognised ) and I love the extra cockpit/fuselage detail that are included in new tool kits!

For kits that include mask sets, PE etc like the Eduard Profi kits, would take Airfix to a new price point and thus would be a more specialist market for experienced modellers. This would take them away from the majority of their customers!

[Hugh_Effo]

Dont think price point is the issue. If you look at the example below you see

Airfix Spitfire Mk1a (1:48) RRP £23.99

Eduard Spitfire Mk 1 early (Profipak) (1:48) RRP £22.02

I agree that PE may be a bit overkill, as the kits are designed to be built by the younger generation, but having seatbelts as decals, would cost virtually nothing, and would just be as easy to apply as any other decal.

 

 

[AirportsEd]

Thank you all for your replies.

As Hugo points out, the decals / mask could be done for virtually nothing in terms of a price rise, but I doubt the same can be said for ‘invisible’ internal detail. I think everyone is in favour of cockpit detail, if you can see it on the finished model. I wonder what the cockpit inside the new tool Vulcan will be like as it will be difficult to see inside the finished kit.

I know that a steady hand, masking tape and patience can deliver good results, but I still think that a professionally produced mask (of the quality Airfix would be capable of producing) would be a bonus to most people who want to try and make a ‘proper job’ of it, especially when you are dealing with the more complicated canopy frames (as T2B mentioned). Having pondered the choice while standing in my local model shop this month, I chose the last two kits I bought because they came with a mask, but still did not cost any more than the alternative kit.

I have only just returned to making kits after an exceptionally long break and I know you will never please all of the people all of the time, but I do think that this would be a relatively straightforward way for Airfix to ‘up its game’ without massive investment. 

[Ratch]

I'm afraid that things like masks would involve a cost because all production is sub-contacted to non-Hornby production facilities. Airfix simply do not have the staff to knock up these things, and even if they did, it would still cost in materials, overheads and labour.