Tip weight and Spectra lines?

[Bill Little]

Hi All,

This is a topic I have not see discussed before.  I suspect that Spectra lines are a bit lighter than steel, but can't swear to it.  With 1/2A models, a fixed tip weight is often used for ease.

Has anyone seen a major problem with the differences in line weight?  Or is it a non issue?

I have a Little Legends (Buso) USA-1 and Eric's (RSM) new Leprechaun version of the Still Stuka to make up lines for.

Speaking about the Stuka, this is a really wonderful little kit!

Thanks, all!
Bill

[Russell Shaffer]

I think the Spectra is quite a bit lighter.  I set up for steel lines and just live with too much tip weight for sport and practice flying.  Of course, I don't fly all that great anyhow.

[Jim Svitko]

The Spectra fiber is quite a bit lighter.  I weighed 0.015 braided steel cable and equivalent diameter (65 lb test) Spectra fiber.  Both sets were same length, same line connectors.  The Spectra fiber lines were one-third the weight of the braided steel cable.

On most of my planes I removed some tip weight.  Others I left alone, depends on certain factors.  You can remove tip weight if you need to or fly on longer lines with the Spectra fiber.

[phil c]

Steel is about 8 times as dense as Spectra braid.  60 ft. .018 lines weight about 26 grams.  Same length of 100lb. test Spectra weighs 6 grams.  That means a total difference of about 40 grams in tip weight and lines on your Involution.

Depending on the manufacturer and how the lines is braided Spectra lines do seem a bit draggier, so a half a degree or so me leadout rake might be needed.