 |
|
The frame of the kite is composed of a spine that runs vertically along the length of the kite's back side, and spars that provide the horizontal supports.
The spine and spars are joined together by a spar connector. In our demonstration, we constructed a spar-connector from ordinary plastic tubing.
Figure A
Figure B
Figure C
Figure D
Figure E
Figure F
Figure G
Figure H
Figure I
Once the kite was finished, a tail was fashioned from a length of plastic warning tape.
Kites can be constructed from any number of household materials, including old shirt fabric, newspaper, aluminum foil or wrapping paper. Combine materials by taping them together with packing tape. Use your imagination to create your own distinctive kite.
Creative kite tails can be made from string, strips of fabric or ribbon. In this case, discs were cut out of aluminum pie-pans and added to give this tail more drag.
 REAL VIDEO
The diamond-style kite is the familiar, classic design, and it's one that's easy to build from scratch. The one shown here is constructed with a nylon sail and a lightweight aluminum frame. A perfectly flyable version can be constructed fro
|
One of the more rewarding things about the sport of kite flying is that you can build a simple kite from scratch materials. This can be a particularly rewarding project for children as they'll get to see their own handiwork take flight. In this segment, narrated by host John Nickel, we demonstrate how to make a classic diamond kite, joining a mother and daughter as they go through the basic steps of building a kite. We also show you some examples of different materials you can use to build your kite that you probably already have at home.
Kite Anatomy A kite consists of the following basic parts:
- Spine - The backbone that runs down the length of the kite.
- Spars - The support sticks, which extend horizontally over the spine and out to the sides.
- Spar connector - A center piece that holds the two spars together at an angle.
- Skeleton - The connected spine and spars, which form the shape of the kite and give it support.
- Sail - The fabric or material that covers the frame and catches the wind, allowing the kite to fly. In our demonstration we used a plastic sheet made from cutting up a trash bag. Sails may be made from paper or other materials as well.
- Bridle - The strings attached to the spine or spars, which help control the kite when it's up in the air. It can be adjusted to different wind conditions.
- Flying Line -The string attached to the kite's bridle -- i.e., the string you use to fly the kite.
- Tail - A long strip of paper or plastic that adds drag to your kite, which gives it stability.
- Reel or Spool - What you use to wind your kite string and keep it from getting tangled or pulling away.
Build a Classic Diamond-Style KiteMaterials: Newspaper (to cover table)
Plastic trash bags
Wooden dowels, 1/8"
Plastic tubing, 1/8" inside diameter
Nylon string
Plastic warning tape
Posterboard (for template)
Pen
Scissors
White marker (to mark trash bag)
Glue
Sandpaper
Tape measure
Duct tape
Steps: - Begin by making a template from the posterboard. Measure 16" from top to bottom on the posterboard. Leave about 3" from the top of the board. Your spars should stick out 8" to each side. Connect the lines to form a diamond shape, then cut out the template. Use a pen to punch a hole in the template where the spars will meet the backbone.
- Next, use the template to cut out the sail from the plastic-bag material. Cut open one plastic trash bag and lay it flat on the table. Place the template on top of the trash bag. Trace around the edges of the template with a marker. Since our sail was constructed from black plastic, we used a white marker (figure A).
- Using your cardboard template as a guide, cut out the sail with sharp scissors. If you want, you can cut more than one sail at a time by layering sheets of the plastic before you cut (figure B).
- Mark the spot where the spars meet the backbone on the trash-bag sail (figure C).
- Fold the sail along the backbone (figure D), then the spar line. The junction of the two folds forms the spot where the spar and backbone will meet. Cut a little arc here with your scissors.
- Now construct the spar connector. Cut a short piece of the plastic tubing.
- Tip: If the plastic is too hard to cut, hold it over a light bulb for a few seconds until it gets soft.
- Cut the dowels. You'll need a 16" piece for the backbone and two spars, 8" each. Use sandpaper to round the rough edges off the ends of the dowels.Dip one end of each spar in glue, and stick the end of the first spar into the connector. Do the same with the other spar. The assembly makes a shallow V (figure D).
- Lay the spars on the sail and put the backbone at a 90-degree angle across the spar connector (figure F).
- Glue the backbone to the connector or fasten it with stiff wire.
- Attach the skeleton to the sail at the corners with duct tape (figure G). To add a little strength, bend the edges of the sail over the skeleton before taping them together.
- To make the bridle, cut 2' of nylon string. Put one end through the hole you made in the sail, and tie it to the spars where they cross. Next poke a small hole through the plastic sail about an inch from the bottom of the kite. Thread the string through and tie it to the backbone (figure H).
- Next, make a little loop to attach the kite string to the bridle. Cut off about 5" of string. Tie in into a loop (figure I), using a figure-eight knot. Attach it to the bridle directly above cross point.
- Now you are going to do a prussic knot. Wrap the loop over the bridle, then feed it through itself once, then again. This knot makes the bridle adjustable. When you pull the loop taught, it seizes up and holds, but when the loop is slack, you can easily slide it along the bridle. This adjustable bridle permits you to move the attachment point for the flying line to adjust for varying wind conditions.
- For the tail -- which adds stability when the kite is aloft -- we used a 10' length of the plastic warning tape. At the bottom of the kite, thread the plastic strip through so the backbone is at the halfway point, then wrap it around the backbone twice to hold it in place.
- Attach the kite string by tying it to the free end of the bridal loop.
Your homemade kite is now ready to fly.
RESOURCES :
American Kite Flying Association
1559 Rockville Pk.
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: (800) 252-2550
Web site: www.aka.kite.org
The Magnificent Book of Kites: Explorations in Design, Construction, Enjoyment and Flight
Model: 1579120253
Author: Maxwell Eden
Into the Wind
Into the Wind, a kite specialty-store in Boulder, Colorado was featured on DIY Family Outdoors, episode 105. Into The Wind was founded in 1980 by architects, George Emmons and Jim Glass. Today it is staffed by more than 25 dedicated kite enthusiasts.
Into the Wind
Boulder, CO 80302-5307
Phone: 303-449-5356
Fax: 303-449-7315
Email: kites@intothewind.com
Website: www.intothewind.com
Make Your Own Kite Web-site
Web site: www.skratch-pad.com/kites/make.html
-or-
www.skratch-pad.com/kite
Diamond-Kite plan and knot Web-site
Web site: anthony.kitelife.com
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
