January 11th
Now that the painting of J100 has been completed I have laid the hull aside for a few days whilst I make some of the more complex sail fittings, principally the main sail goosenecks and kicking straps and complete the radial jib fitting by adding a boom and kicking strap. I will make full masts for each of the A and B rigs so hence the duplication on Main Sail goosenecks and straps.
"Kicking Strap" is a misnomer because on most non-scale models it is not a strap at all but an adjustable solid limiting device (Vang) that prevents the boom from lifting in heavier gusts and allowing the sail to balloon. Its adjustment is critical as it controls the amount of twist in the sail shape. The more the twist, the more air is spilled from the sails allowing the model to be more gust resistant. On the other hand a certain degree of twist also prevents the sail from stalling in a slight wind shift so, as is most things in life, its adjustment both with the main sail and in the case of J100 on the radial jib (or leach lift in convential jibs) is always a matter of compromise.
Whilst exotic fibres are a "no no"
in the hull 
construction
it is permissible to use carbon fibre tubing with servo linkages,
the sheeting pylon, and as I choose to build, bottle screws in the
kicking straps. Actually the use of
carbon fibre even for these purposes is being debated and may well be
disallowed by a
J Rules Revision,
so maybe use aluminium tubing instead.
Aluminium end-caps are turned down in the lathe, drilled and/or
threaded as required, and with a copious application of thin instant
cyno, glued in place. I have yet to see an end-cap part from its
tube. A knurled locking nut prevents the bottle screw from turning
out of adjustment.
I would be most glad to respond to any queries that builders of the Canterbury J might care to direct to me - left click the button below.
