Messerschmitt Me 262
Dropped Leading Edge Slats

Eagle Parts

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The Messerschmitt Me 262 was equipped with automatic, mechanically operated leading edge slats. When operating correctly, these slats were in the lowered position whenever the aircraft was on the ground.

Eagle Parts' 1/48 scale Me 262 slat set is designed specifically for the Tamiya kit. The Tamiya slats are longer than those on other 1/48 scale Me 262s so any set designed for a different kit will not fit. Although well-known drawings match the Dragon/Trimaster and Monogram slat length, Tamiya's is longer and they insist that the new kit was done from actual measurements, not drawings.

The slats on each wing are split into inner and outer sections, divided by the engine nacelle. Each section comprises an insert for the leading edge which incorporates the sliding rail mounts, and the slats themselves, resulting in a total of eight parts in grey resin.

The inclusion of the rails on the leading edge makes for fewer parts, but the thin resin protrusions are very delicate. They are at particular risk when the casting block is being removed. I should know - I broke one of the rails off and bent another while removing one of the blocks!

Casting blocks are not thick but they do run the full length of each part. I used a razor saw to carefully remove them.

The casting itself if excellent. Detail is very fine and in scale. There were no imperfections on my sample.

Parts Preparation

This accessory required some surgery to the Tamiya kit - the removal of the closed slats from the kit's wings.

I started with the top wing halves. I lightly scored the top wing slat panel lines with a new scalpel blade. I scored repeatedly until I could see the white ghost of a line appear on the undersurface of the wing. I then sliced each end of the slats and snapped the parts off the kit wing.

This exercise was repeated for the lower wing, but with even more care as the slats' profile on the lower wing is very narrow. In addition, the four locating pins at the leading edge of the lower wing must be completely removed. I also found it necessary to sand and trim some more material at the leading edge, especially toward the wingtip where the wing is very thin.

This whole operation is not especially difficult, but you really do need to take care and continually test-fit the resin parts before you commit to glue.

When fitting the inserts to the prepared kit wing, I found it helpful to trim off some of the tongue at the back of the longer resin inserts toward the wingtip where the wing is thinnest.

Eagle Parts' 1/48 scale Me 262 slats will be a noticeable enhancement for Tamiya's beautiful new kit. For purists, the Me 262 must have dropped slats whenever it is on the ground, so after-market slats are also essential for authenticity.

With a little time, care and skill, a perfect fit is quite achievable.

Recommended.

Thanks to Gregg Cooper and Eagle Editions for the review sample

EagleParts accessories are available online from Eagle Editions

Text Copyright © 2002 by Brett Green
Images Copyright © 2002 by Brett Green (assembly photos) and Gregg Cooper (heading photo)
Page Created 25 May, 2002
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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