I owned an original LS 3 for many years. Never had a problem with the seals in flight. But the wing root brackets in the factory Komet trailer would crease them unless they were taped together in a gentle curve before lowering the lid. I think I recall adjusting the brackets in the trailer to eliminate this problem. Dick Johnson's testing indicated there was some performance loss without the seals. I know of at least one owner who used auto body putty to build up a flat spot on each side of the fuselage so the butt end of the flaps could "wipe" against them (with a felt seal) and dispense with the flexible seals entirely. I watched them perform this minor modification in the hangar on a rain day at a contest back in...1979?

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
U.S.A.