Date:	Mon, 18 Oct 1993 06:27:15 -1000
From:	tanaka_be@swam1.enet.dec.com
Message-Id: <9310181624.AA02810@enet-gw.pa.dec.com>
Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University
Subject: Breaking leading edges

Rob Mcmullen writes:

/	First of all, I just built two M.E.F.M.'s with the intention to
/compete in the inovation/freestyle group at the E.C.S.K. Championships
/at Wildwood, NJ next year. I have one problem though, the leading edge
/at the ferrel keeps breaking on one of my kites.


If the break is right at the joint, sometimes epoxying a 3" rod inside
the end of the spar that fits into the ferrule helps.  Some of the small
AFC rods have an outside diameter that is roughly equal to the inside 
diameter of many commonly used rods.  On the leading edge, the bottom
rod is the one that usually breaks, and a simpler method to try is 
just to use a slightly heavier rod for this part of the leading edge.
The gain in weight isn't much.  If you're lucky, the rods you are using
are made by a manufacturer that maintains the same outside diameter
even for the heavier rods.  This is also a nice fix if you happen to
be breaking a lot of rods at the tee.  

Good winds,

Bert Tanaka
West Covina, Ca.  


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