Return to the BUILD
“In this issue you will assemble your first seat by following these step-by-step instructions.”
After the last two very long issues, this one is a welcome break!
Contents
Parts
Materials: The seat surfaces are rubber, but the internal frame is metal. The Knobs are plastic.
Magazine
- Drive Time: Model Instructions
- World of Tomorrow Part I: Marty Arrives in the Future
- A Time Traveler’s Guide: Blast From The Past
Build
The Driver’s Seat
Step 1
Place one of the Sponges into the cavity at the back of the Seat Back Cover:
Step 2
Press Seat Back (Front) down over the Sponge.
The Seat Back Cover is rubber, but the Seat Back (Front) is metal. Be sure to align all five tabs with the matching grooves. It should sit flush:
Step 3
Place the other Sponge into the underside of the Seat Base Cover:
Step 4
Place the Seat Base (Upper) on top of the Sponge.
These six tabs should be aligned in the grooves the same way as like the first time and should be flush as well:
Step 5
Push the seat back assembly onto the seat, as shown.
The long strip at the bottom of the seat back assembly should end up tucked back into the space between the two seat pieces:
Step 6
Align the holes at the base of the two parts and insert one of the two Knobs.
The knobs have a key on them that matches up to the hole. Make sure these press all the way in:
Step 7
Tighten one (1) HP screw from the inside to secure the Knob in place:
Step 8
Repeat the two previous steps to install the other Knob:
Step 5
Secure the Seat Back (Rear) to the back of the seat with five (5) DM screws.
This is your friendly reminder to try using 3-in-One Oil on all screws going into metal:
Step 6
Secure the Seat Base (Lower) to the bottom of the seat with four (4) DM screws:
This is the completed seat:
Of course, it is mod time! There are two mods out there for the DeLorean seats. First up is the small grey stickers included with Decal Set II from Mike Lane.
These are simple peel and stick color-matched decals to cover up the holes:
The second option is the Seat Back Covers from Bill Will Green. These are 0.25mm molded polystyrene and painted to closely match the seat:
The back of each Seat Back Cover has pre-installed self-adhesive strips:
Once the backing is removed from the strips, you can push the cover into place. Make sure you tuck the edges under the rubber seat cover:
Both are great solutions to cover up the holes in the back of the seat. While they won’t be seen much, the seat can be folded forward to see the bulkhead details once the car is complete, so hiding them is always nice.
Step 7
Fit the completed seat to the driver side of the floorboard. Make sure you move the Seat Belt out of the way first:
Step 8
Turn the entire assembly over and secure the seat from below with two (2) HP screws. Do not overtighten these, the seat should be able to slide in the tracks!
Thoughts
Thankfully, there was no wiring in this one! The seat is nicely detailed, not great, but it looks the part. I am not sure exactly how the Seat Belts are supposed to look, but they seem off to me.
Next Up
Issue 51 – Interior: Seat (Right)
This is probably the most easiest, or one of the easiest Issues. But I opted for Model Modz seats, (https://modelmodz.com/DeLorean-1-8-Scale-Replacement-Seats-p150867296) as they look more like real seats and cosmetically match the real car.
BUT if you didn’t use Model Modz, then I highly recommend Bill Green’s seat backs and his inside door mod (which I bought) He does excellent work.
I had to modify the internal knob, cutting its top because it was touching the seat belt, preventing the seat from sliding. I also reinforced the bottom edge of the seat belt with a stitch.