From: gengvall@aol.com (G Engvall) Subject: Re: Building Simple Kite Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 23:45:51 -1000 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Message-ID: <4l2ekf$qdj@newsbf02.news.aol.com> In article <4ju5ne$n8@taurus.bv.sgi.net>, Tim Turkovich writes: >I'am interested in building a kite out of a trash bag and two support >sticks.I have seen this design in books and have personaly seen this kite >fly. Now I can't find any information on how to build. Sure, I'l bite... I can think of two kites which fit your description, A Sled Kite, and an Eddy (Bow) Kite. The Eddy kite requires a bowed (bent) spreader stick. Eddy: The Eddy's I usually make from trash bag are 21". The definition of an Eddy is: The Spine and the Spreader are the same length, the spreader is bowed, they cross (intersect) at 20, this is where the string ties on (tether point) and do not require a tail. >From that definition, here is how to make the sail: Make a pattern from poster board. On the posterboard, draw *one half* of the sail, as follows. Make two marks, 21" apart. Make another mark between them at 4.2" (20). (4-1/4 inches is close enough). Now, draw a line away from the mark at 4-1/4" at a 90 degree (right) angle, and put a mark 10-1/2 inches away. (1/2 of 21). Now we need to make a hole in the pattern to make a hole in the sail for the string. Go back to the 4-1/4 inch mark, and measure up 1 inch (along the line from the 4-1/4 mark to the 10-1/2 mark). Measure out an inch each way (on the line between the two 21 inch marks) Cut out the triangle formed by these 1 inch marks. Cut out the triangle formed by the 21 inch marks and the 10-1/2 inch marks. The reason we only make 1/2 a sail pattern for a trash bag kite (or any kite...) is so we put the middle of the sail on the fold of the bag, and cut. This way, any little mistakes in cutting are automatically the same on both sides of the kite, keeping it balanced... Okay, use the pattern to cut out your trash bag. Best way to cut is with an Olfa type rotary cutter and a cutting mat. Razor blade on Masonite works too. You can get 3 sails out of a "Tall Kitchen Bag" if you're careful. We tape in the spine (vertical stick) first, using reinforced filament tape. Then we slide the bowed spreader under the spine and tape one corner, making sure the stick bends straight away from the kite. (Otherwise, the corner will have a "tuck" if the stick needs to be turned to tape the other corner.) Using plain, cheap, cellophane tape (the "good stuff" doesn't stick.) and tape down the two sticks (using the corners of the square hole as a guide). Tie the flying string around *both* sticks, and go fly a kite. Sled kite: This is much easier to draw than to write about. Using the same 21" sticks, make a "half pattern" template. First, draw a rectangle 7" by 21". (This is one half the main body.) On one side of the rectangle measure down 7 inches and out (at a right angle) 7 inches. ______7"_ |\ | \ | \ Point is 7 inches out, 7 inches down. (14" out from center of kite) | / This point is where the bridle ties on - see below. | / | / | |< This is where one stick goes, the other goes in the other side. | Kite is 21 inches tall ________| Again, line up the left edge (as drawn above) with the fold of the bag, and cut out the kite. You should end up with a sail like this: _______________ / | | \ / || \ These points should be 28" apart. \ | | / Kite should be 21" tall. | | Sticks should be 14" apart. | | \ | | / | | \|______________ |/ Reinforce the "points" with tape and punch holes. Cut a piece of string (28 * 3 = 84") about 8 feet long. Tie each end to one of the points. Match up the points (hold them together evenly) and find the *exact* middle of the string, and then tie a loop. This is where the flying line ties on. Enjoy. Tails can help in stronger winds. Some people make the kite from trash bag with "fringe" (about 7 inches long) hanging down. This kite can be described with "units" In our case, each "unit" is 7 inches, but it could be 6 inches, or 5 inches. The "main body" rectangle is 2 units by 3 units. The "flares" (triangle sides that act as keels when the kite flys) are one unit down and one unit out. Sticks are 3 units. Bridle is 12 units. good heavens gary = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Subject: Re: Building Simple Kite Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 10:07:22 -1000 Message-ID: gengvall@aol.com (G Engvall) writes: >Sled kite: [...] >These points should be 28" apart. >Kite should be 21" tall. >Sticks should be 14" apart. Throw away your ruler. Now get a sheet of plastic. Any reasonable rectangle, either way up. Place a couple of sticks around a quarter way in from the left and right side, align ends with top of sheet. Tape them in place. Hold left and right edge and feel in wind for ballance point. Tape these places, poke a hole in the tape then tale a long loop of line and poke one end through each hole and tie off. Fold the loop in half, and tie and overhand loop at half-way. If you want to be neat, cut off or fold back and tape the corners. Attatch flying line and fly immediately.l Time permitted between start and flight: 60 seconds. Andrew -- If you wouldn't lend your kite to a stranger, you wouldn't understand, but if you're ready to loose or destroy anything you fly, you might find AoxomoxoA = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =