? Seatbelt vs Shoulder Harness for SBD 3 Dauntless

[docsudy]

Hello all
I have a question about seatbelts vs seatbelt/shoulder harness combo for pilots flying the SBD Dauntless bomber. I have found only one post on another forum
stating that early Dauntless bombers (1, 2 and 3 versions, up to and during the battle of Midway)used only a seatbelt for the pilot and that shoulder harness/ seatbelts came in later, for later model versions.

I have a Trumpeter 1/32 SBD 3 on the bench and building the cockpit now. Knowing this would be useful.
Also does anyone know if anyone makes a aftermarket cloth seatbelt or harness for a 1/32 SBD 3 ?
Thanks for you time
Docsudy(Gary)

 

[TimM63]

The Dauntless 5 that I built had seatbelts only, no shoulder harness.

 

[docsudy]

Likewise, the SBD 3 Dauntless that I'm building also came with seat belts only, no harness. However, I have seen a few reviews of the trumpeter kit that I'm building that are about 5 to 9 years old online showing a full harness. The reviewer and builder probably felt it looked better and may not have known that earlier two-person, single engine bombers had seat belts not harnesses. I read from one comment posted in another site that it was after the Battle of Midway that SBD3 and later versions got harnesses.
Thanks for your reply.
Docsudy