When I set up the practice carrier deck at our field I use 8-10 lb weights although as a minimum 5 lbs will work. For the Cable I use cloths line type cord, cheap, readily available. As far as holding the arrestor "cable" off the deck, cut out some 2"x2" square blocks and drilled a hole in them. These are threaded onto the line and hold the "Cable" about 1" off the ground. Large craft "beads" could be used however they are kind of pricey.  So far, works OK.

In my opinion, concrete is no harder than plywood.   As stated, shouldn't make kamakazi landings.

You can simply put a couple of field boxes, or anything, really, off the side of the circle about 20 feet apart. If you can touch the ground between the boxes, you've made the landing. Not as much fun as making actual arrested landings, but no additional equipment is required.

How so? It seems that an un-arrested "spot landing" would actually be easier on the plane than an arrested landing. What am I missing?

2. Carrier Deck. A carrier deck or suitable area shall be provided for the event. It shall be 41 feet, 3 inches to 44-feet long at the center line and eight ( feet wide, and the deck center line shall be curved to the perimeter of a 60-foot radius arc, the center of which shall be plainly marked by a marked six inch diameter solid circle in the center of a 36 inch diameter circle which are either clearly marked or painted on the flying circle center. The flying circle center shall be 60 feet from the center line of the flight deck. A sloped protective ramp four (4) feet long extending from the ground up to and flush with the edge of the deck shall be provided at the stern of the carrier deck. The edge of the deck shall be adequately marked. The arresting area of the deck shall be 18 feet, 9 inches to 20 feet long, and have 10 arresting cables with a minimum diameter of one-eighth (.125) inch, and a maximum diameter of one-fourth (.250) inch, with a minimum breaking strength of 200 pounds suspended from one-fourth (.250) inch to one-half (.500) inch above the deck, spaced two (2) feet apart starting two (2) feet from the stern of the deck. Sand bags weighing approximately five (5) pounds each shall be attached to each end of the 18-foot long arresting cables. Screw eyes or other suitable guides shall be used on the outer edges of the
deck to hold up the cable and also allow the cable to move through when an arrested landing is being made. The free roll area shall be 22 feet, 6 inches to 24 feet long and smooth enough to make a free rolling takeoff. If the carrier deck is laid out on the ground or hard surface, the outline of the deck edges and the takeoff limit line shall be clearly marked. Crepe paper streamers or thread shall be stretched across the deck two feet in front of the bow and one foot back of the stern of the carrier deck, approximately one-half (1/2) inch above the ground. The beginning of the landing area and the end of the takeoff area shall be identified by highly visible vertical markers on the outside of the circle which are clearly visible by the contestant from the center of the circle.

Thanks, again, gentlemen!

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM