JoneZ Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 I've read on a couple different sites (and it seems to make sense from a physics standpoint) that the reason for the Widow's oversteer could be caused by the weight in the leading edges. Skyshark P300 rods, and solid ferrules. This seems to make sense, being as the added weight on the wingtips would cause some added inertia, thus causing the kite to not want to recover from a turn so easily. I've already upgraded my lower spreaders to P200 and the center T ferrule to a hollow one -- shaved 6 grams off my kite. Really not much difference in oversteer -- although she flies a little more gracefully in lighter winds. Im thinking of soon upgrading my leading edge frame to P200 as well. With replacing the 4 rods and 4 ferrules (including the 2 nock end caps), I can shed another 16 grams off the weight of the kite. And yet another 4 grams if I replace the spine and the ferrule at the base of the spine. Thats a total weight reduction of 26 grams -- almost an ounce. With the P200, theres not much difference in strength of the rod -- although a little more flexible I suppose, so I cna only see an improvement coming out of this modification. I thought I'd start a topic about reframing, and peoples experiences changing to lighter materials -- any flight complications, or improvements, etc... Cheers all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guru4tru Posted May 24, 2009 Report Share Posted May 24, 2009 Hi Portland Jon, It sounds like you are searching for that perfect Margarita! heehee! Keep It Up! Duane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoneZ Posted May 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 In a way, yeah I guess. lol I was one of kids that was always takin apart things. From radios, to toasters, to dads skill saws. I think I was just born to take things apart and try to make them better. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kite Shoppe Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 In a way, yeah I guess. lol I was one of kids that was always takin apart things. From radios, to toasters, to dads skill saws. I think I was just born to take things apart and try to make them better. lol When you come over, remind me to give you my blender. Maybe you can fix it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoneZ Posted May 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 Just replaced the nock ends and ferrules on the widow. The old ones weighed 4 grams per side (with ferrule, nock and line) The new ones with the hollowed ferrule (with line) are 1.5 grams. 2.5 grams weight reduction per side. This might make a slight difference, being as all that weight was in the last 3 inches of the wingtip. btw. If you thought Theresa was jokin about the blender (like I thought), she was most certainly not. lol Thanks for the blender T. Hopefully I can get that sucker workin again. hehe ~Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kite Shoppe Posted May 30, 2009 Report Share Posted May 30, 2009 Just replaced the nock ends and ferrules on the widow. The old ones weighed 4 grams per side (with ferrule, nock and line) The new ones with the hollowed ferrule (with line) are 1.5 grams. 2.5 grams weight reduction per side. This might make a slight difference, being as all that weight was in the last 3 inches of the wingtip. btw. If you thought Theresa was jokin about the blender (like I thought), she was most certainly not. lol Thanks for the blender T. Hopefully I can get that sucker workin again. hehe ~Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thanh_B2 Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 sorry if this is out of place, im new to this forum and kite flying in general. I was thinking of doing the same thing considering in have to get replacement rods anyway. ive had my kite for about 2 days with about 8 hrs of flight time and im loving every second of it thus far. First day out however i seemed to have misplaced my top spreader (a very common occurance as i understand) . I was thinking of getting some new 4mm carbon rods (thats what the frame is specified as on the tag) I was wondering of anybody has any experience with the pultruded carbon rods. And maybe a list of pros and cons of solid carbon rods vs pultruded, recommendations...any and all other info would be great! In the mean time ive been using wooden dowels from a craft store which are alright but very flimsy. thanks! o. this is what ive been looking at. http://www.goodwinds.com/merch/list.shtml?cat=carbon.pultrudedcarbon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoneZ Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 What type of kite do you have m8? If its a small size kite, you'd be good to use pretty much about anything really. I would go for the cheapest carbon rod possible. If its a medium size kite, that where the weight / stiffness ratio comes into play. Also, You may want to stick with the type of rods that your specific kite uses. Reason being, is that the kite is balanced out weight-wise. If you use a heavier or lighter rod than whats normally used, you change the center of gravity, thus change the flight characteristics. Hope that helps m8. ~Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thanh_B2 Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 its a premier jewel, spider series. 65" x 27" which is about the same height as i am. i was thinking of maybe changing all the rods and get closer to a "UL" type setup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoneZ Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 You'd be looking at about $90 to swap out all the rods, and even still, it won't fly like a UL. I would just save up for a UL myself, or put that $90 towards a Premier Widow o.0 . Just goto a local kite shop and replace the upper spreader with another 4mm Carbon rod and call it good m8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thanh_B2 Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 wow that totally makes sense! thanks for the slap, putting me in my right mind. alittle obsessed right now with the new hobby. hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoneZ Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 lol Not a slap,, just a re-direction. hehe. Im the same way m8. As a wise man pointed out to me, Im always searching for that perfect Margarita. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guru4tru Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Hi Thanh, I'm sort of new here to, but "Welcome!" "Now!"...someone is finally talking about something I am an "Expert" at and I have the answer that works for me! I'm an "Expert" at losing upper spreaders! (OK so it's not any great tech. thing) But, I have returned to more then one flying field looking for that "needle in the haystack". I have lost so many upper spreaderd that I went out and bought some red tape and wrapped it around the spreader, about a 3" area, on both sides of the spine...and I haven't lost one since!! (The tech. stuff has to come from others...I'm still learning the basics too!) heehee Keep It Up! Duane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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