Scratch building leading edge slats: has anyone tried this?

[Stan in YUL]

Hi gang, has anyone worked out a technique for scratch building this feature?

Thanks in advance.

[Weaver]

I just read about a build where the modeller cut the leading edges out of the wing, replaced them with a strip of Evergreen that was thinner vertically and horizontally, then sanded it to a rough aerofoil shape. He then carved out the backs of the original leading edges just enough so that they would sit at the correct distance in front of the new sections and look thin enough at the rear edges.

[Beermonster58]

I just read about a build where the modeller cut the leading edges out of the wing, replaced them with a strip of Evergreen that was thinner vertically and horizontally, then sanded it to a rough aerofoil shape. He then carved out the backs of the original leading edges just enough so that they would sit at the correct distance in front of the new sections and look thin enough at the rear edges.

That's the method I used on the old Airfix F-111E. Of course, once I'd gone though the process of building the slats and wing flaps, Hasegawa produced their lovely F-111 kits with everything hanging off the wings!

[PR19_Kit]

That's the method I used on the old Airfix F-111E. Of course, once I'd gone though the process of building the slats and wing flaps, Hasegawa produced their lovely F-111 kits with everything hanging off the wings!

Well of course they did! They waited until you'd done yours and said 'OK, it's production time!' 

[Beermonster58]

/quote]

Well of course they did! They waited until you'd done yours and said 'OK, it's production time!' 

🤣👍. It was ever thus! 🤣.

[Stan in YUL]

Thanks gents!

[kerick]

Steal parts from another kit! 

[Captain Canada]

Hack and slash lol. I use a new blade in and Xacto knife and a scribe tool in a pin vise to cut out the leading edge and save it's shape. Then use evergreen in whatever size and/ or putty to fill that gap, then add a few details to the back of the leading edge I cut out. But I'm defo not particular in my builds.

[Gondor]

It's best to fill the area behind where you cut out the leading edge flap so that you show where the flap came from. In fact you may be wanting to create a slat instead of a flap. THIS article has a section which shows the difference. The article probably shows you a lot more that you don't need to know about slats and flaps but who knows.

[Stan in YUL]

Much obliged Gondor.