Eduard has released a series of WWII-era seatbelts in the “steel” series. I think that Eduard Models calls this product line “Steelbelts”.

• https://www.eduard.com/index.php?cur=2&&redirected=1
• https://www.eduard.com/index.php?cur=2&&redirected=1
• https://www.eduard.com/index.php?cur=2&&redirected=1

The USAAF fret gives you 6 (six!) seatbelts sets, 3 in tan and 3 in dark green with their respective shoulder harnesses, lap belts, lap covers and even a very small latch. The RAF Early fret gives you a total of 4 seatbelts sets, all in a tan-ish shade, plus lap belts and finally the Luftwaffe WWII Bombers gives you a total of 4 seatbelt sets (shoulder harnesses, lap belts, lap covers) and you get an extra 4 sets of lap belts. Not sure if those are intended to be “spares” or if you get a few extra lap belts for a gunner position? At any rate, it is nice to have them.

When working with this new line of seatbelts (steelbelts) the main thing that jumps is how thin they are. Reading in the Info Eduard (June 2016 issue) they say they are 0.04 mm thick. I should probably say they are 0.04 mm thin. They are pre-painted and also have some shading (weathering) on them.

You apply them like any other metal aftermarket piece, using a dab of superglue. That is all that takes to use the steel seatbelts. About 1 minute per seat and it is very easy to do (if you have experience with small parts).

Pros

• They are very flexible and easy to pose in any position you would like.
• They are pre-painted.
• They even have some weathering on them! However you can add further weathering.
• You can bend and re-bend them a few times and they will keep their last shape.

Cons

• None was found

In this review I used a Hasegawa Fw-190 for the Luftwaffe Bombers set, a Hasegawa P-47D for the USAAF Fighters set, a Hasegawa Hurricane MkII for the RAF Fighters seat.

As you can see, different kits were used, and in all cases the seatbelt fit the seats and looked in scale.

In my opinion the “opportunity for improvement” is in the instructions. They don’t indicate which airplanes used which seatbelts. For instance I used them in a Hurricane seat, but somehow I think they are more appropriate in a Spitfire seat? At any rate, this is a minor issue and most modelers are good at researching the details of the airplane they are modeling.

I would like to finish saying that last year I had the chance to review the “superfabric” style of seatbelts and I said that I liked those seatbelts better than the metal ones. Well… after trying the steel ones, I have my doubts regarding which one I like better.

I would say that if I want seatbelts that look good and are very easy to apply then go with the “superfabric” ones. If you want seatbelts that look better and are easy to apply to apply (because of the superglue) then go with the “steel” ones.

These items are highly recommended for modelers of all levels, except perhaps the most novices due to the small size of the lap belts.

Very highly recommended.

I would like to thank Eduard Models and IPMS/USA for the review sample.