Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 17:53:24 -1000 From: jcarson@aries.dpi.tas.gov.au (Jeremy Carson) Message-Id: Organization: Communations and Computing, Premier and Cabinet, Tasmania Subject: Bridling an Edo - information needed Does anyone have any guidelines (no pun intended) on bridling an Edo? I was once told that a rule of thumb was to have bridelines about 13 times times the length of the height of the kite and to gather them at a point ahead of the kite when bowed and placed flat on the ground. bridles ---> _______________________________________________X <-- knot bridle points-> [ [ [ [ --------------------------------- <-----kite on edge bottom top I tried this procedure with a small paper and bamboo kite (14 bridle lines) and it worked well. It was stable and flew without tails :-) Encouraged, I thought I would try making a larger Edo and bridle it the same way, but it won't fly however much I adjust the towing point :-( Any suggestions gratefully received. Jeremy Carson = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 10:23:14 -1000 From: sasaki@netopd.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: <3lcfji$jjd@netope.harvard.edu> Organization: Harvard OIT Network Services Subject: Re: Bridling an Edo - information needed In article , jcarson@aries.dpi.tas.gov.au (Jeremy Carson) writes: |>Does anyone have any guidelines (no pun intended) on bridling an Edo? I remember an article in Kite Lines that told how to bridle one of these beasts. Don't remember when, but someone from Kite Lines should know. I once watched a kite maker from Japan working with the bridles at the Black Ships Festival in Newport, RI. The kite was face up on the ground, with bow lines slack. He took the bridle lines along the spine and gathered them to a point off to the side of the kite. He marked all of these lines. He then went row by row from the top to the bottom of the kite and tied each row together. He used his fingers to measure differences with the lines. He then gathered all of the rows together and attached the flying line. The kite went straight up and the kite was rock solid. It seemed like magic... -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Services Division 26 Green Street 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 29 Mar 1995 05:57:47 -1000 From: mgraves@leadingedg.win.net (Michael Graves) Message-Id: <1763@leadingedg.win.net> Subject: Re: Bridling an Edo - information needed In article , Jeremy Carson (jcarson@aries.dpi.tas.gov.au) writes: >Does anyone have any guidelines (no pun intended) on bridling an Edo? Sure do, we learned our lessons while making our "Frank LLoyd Wright" edo, which you may have seen at the AKA convention in Lubbock. Our bridle advice we provided by Mel Govig. - Set the kite on its head leaning against a wall. - Place it carefully so that it sits at an angle 15 degrees from vertical. - Along the floor in front of the kite use masking tape to mark a line in the exact center of the kite. - once you know how long your bridle it to be, mark that distance >From the kite on the tape. - gather the bridle lines for the top row at the mark you just made, tie them off with an overhand knot - repeat the last step for the remaining rows. - gather all of the bunches of line and secure them together with a larks head knot and a large loop of line. That loop is you tow point. If you are carefull this results in a kite that flies at a good high angle, without much (or any) need of adjustment. There are more elegant ways of gathering the bridle bunches, but I'll leave you to ponder those. Don't use a really smooth synthetic line for your bridle. The edo needs the bridle to provide a drag element, so a rough, toothy line works best. If you, like me, want a nice, smooth finished look you can use synthetic line, but use alot! Our edo was very squirrely with a bridle 3x its height, 6x it got better, and 8x even better yet. One more this worth noting, the amount of bow you put in you edo will impact on the optimum bridle setting. I've head it described two ways. Put 1/4 arc in the entire kite and it will fly very stable, but require more wind(recommended by Mel Govig). The alternative is to start with 1/4 arc at the top of the kite, gradually easing to flat at the bottom(recommended by Tal Streeter). Good luck! Michael Graves = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =