How to Build a Delta, Sled, Diamond and Rokkaku Kite

Ryan Doyle Garrett Addingon Emma McKenzie

Shalynn Spikes

April 18, 2012

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Table of Contents How to Construct a Simple Delta Kite…………………………………………………………...3 How to Construct a Diamond Kite……………………………………………………………….6 How to Construct a Sled Kite…………………………………………………………………….9 How to Construct a Rokkaku Kite………………………………………………………………14

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How to Construct a Simple Delta Kite Materials

• Plastic Tablecloth • Permanent marker • 4 3/16 wooden dowels • Ruler • Scissors • Insulation Tape

Approximate Time 30 minutes

Instructions

Measuring the Sail 1. Place your tablecloth flat on the floor. 2. Measure 70 cm by 70 cm at the edge of the tablecloth.

3. Mark 3 dots in a horizontal line from the top left corner.

Part 2: Cutting the Sail

1. Take your ruler and connect the dots with a black marker.

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2. Flip the tablecloth over and trace over all the black lines.

3. Cut along the top and right side of the tablecloth and open it out. 4. Take your scissors and cut along all the black lines.

Part 3: Adding the Spars

1. Take 5mm dowel and cut off a 70 cm (32 inch) length. Lay this down the center of the sail.

2. Cut off two 80 cm (36 inch) lengths. Lay these down over the leading edges of the sail.

3. Using 6 pieces of insulation tape, tape each 5 cm (2 inch) long stick them down in the positions in the top left photo above.

4. Fold all the tapes around to the underside of the plastic. See the top right photo.

5. Cut of a 70 cm (32 inch) length of dowel and lay it across the sail, 31 cm (14 inches) from the nose.

6. Using 2 pieces of insulation tape each 20 cm (9 inches) long, lay them over the crossing points.

7. Carefully wind the tapes around the dowels without getting them stuck to the sail. See middle photo on the right.

8. Add an extra tape to the middle of each leading edge, to help keep the sail in place.

9. Tightly wind an 8cm (3 inch) piece of tape around the spar joint.

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Part 4: Attach the flying line

1. Poke a hole in the plastic sail, right over where the horizontal and vertical dowels cross each other.

2. Thread the flying line through the hole and tie it firmly around the vertical spar.

You are ready to fly!

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How to Construct a Diamond Kite Materials

• Flying Lines • Table Cloth/ Trash Bags • Tapes • 3/16 dowels • Ruler • Scissors • A black marking Pen

Measuring the Sail

1. Fold the Table Cloth in half then place it onto a flat surface. 2. Start from the top left corner and measure down to 25 cm. 3. Then measure at a 90 degree angle and go 50 cm to the right. 4. Using the black pen/marker, mark that spot. 5. Go back up to the top left corner and measure down 100 cm 6. Using the black pen/marker, mark that spot.

Cutting the Sail

1. Using the ruler, connect the dots using the black pen/markers. 2. Flip the tablecloth over and trace the line you just made. 3. Using the scissors, cut along the black lines.

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Adding the Spars

1. Lay the dowel from the tip of the kite and reach all the way to the bottom. 2. If there extra, cut the extra bits of dowel 3. Cut up 5 cm of tape, and then cut that tape in half in the middle. 4. Using those 2 tapes, place them on the dowel ends and onto the table cloth. 5. Grab the other dowel, and place it on the side and match it to the longest ends to the

other side. 6. Cut the remaining bits that sticking out. 7. Cut 5 cm of tape, and then cut that tape in half. 8. Tape the dowel onto the kite.

Attaching the Flying Line

1. Poke a hole where the dowel is crossing 2. Thread the free end of the flying line into the hole and tie it firmly onto the dowels

crossing.

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Adding the Tail 1. Using the scrapped table cloth, make a long narrow strip that no longer than 5 times

the length of the kite. 2. Thread the tail at the bottom of the dowel and tie it firmly

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How to Construct a Sled Kite Part 1: Materials Needed

• Plastic Table Cover • Two 3/16 inch Hard-wood Dowels • Flying Line (Specifically Gayla Industries Safety Spool) • Tape ( Specifically Gorilla Tough Tape) • Ruler ( Measurements in inches) • Scissors • Black Marker • Cutting Tool ( Specifically Strong Wire Cutters/ Pliers)

Part 2: Building the Kite

Beginning: Measuring the Sail 1. First, make sure you have an open space to work in. This can either be a full size dinner

table or floor of a clean room. 2. In that space, spread your Plastic Table Cover out completely and smooth the wrinkles. 3. Stand at one end of the cover (the side with the smaller length) and fold the plastic cover

to the other end dividing it in half. 4. Now, the plastic table cover will have a fold on one of the shorter sides of its border and

you must position yourself so the fold is on your left hand side when you look down at the plastic cover.

5. Get your ruler and measure 7 inches down from the top left corner of the folded border at your left. Use your Black marker to make a visible black dot at that measurement.

6. From that dot, continue to move down the fold and with your ruler and measure 2 feet. Make a visible dot with your black marker at the measurement.

7. From that dot, measure 10 inches with your ruler perpendicular to the folded border. Make a visible dot with your marker on the plastic cover at that point.

8. Return the dot drawn in step 5. Repeat step 7. 9. At the dot drawn in step 8, position your ruler vertically and measure 6 inches above the

dot. Use your marker to make a dot at this point. 10. From that dot, position your ruler perpendicular and measure 10 inches to the right. Use

your marker to mark this point with an asterisk. 11. From the asterisk, position your ruler vertically and perpendicular and measure 9 inches

below the asterisk. Use your marker to make a visible black dot here.

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Middle: Cutting the Sail 1. Looking down at the plastic cover you should see 5 dots and an asterisk. 2. Use your ruler to make straight lines and connect the dots. Ignore the asterisk.

3. Get your scissors and use the ruler to carefully cut along these lines beginning from the

folded border on the left. Do this slowly and keep the plastic cover smooth and taught while cutting.

4. Unfold what you cut out.

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End: Creating the Structure This Description will rely heavily on visual representations.

1. Position the sail according to image 2 above. 2. Get 1 of your 3/16 inch wooden dowels. 3. Align it according to the image 3 below

4. Using your wire cutters cut off the end of the wooden dowel that is not on the sail. 5. Tape the top of the dowel to the sail with your Gorilla tape. 6. Tape the bottom of the dowel to the sail with your Gorilla tape 7. Repeat Steps 1-7 on the other side of the sail that looks like image 3.

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End Continued: More Structure

1. Snip off a piece of duct tape, each 10 cm (4 inches) long then cut them in half. 2. Go to the right-most corner of the sail, and lay down the tapes as shown in the left photo

above. 3. Fold the tapes around onto the underside of the plastic, as shown in the right photo above. 4. Press firmly all over to make sure the tapes are fully stuck to the plastic. 5. Go to the left side of the kite and do exactly the same thing, using 2 more strips of tape.

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Finishing Touches 1. Cut off a length of flying line that is at least 5 times longer than the kite is tall. 2. Tie one end of the line to the right side towing point of the kite, as in the photo. Use any

knot you know but make it as tight as possible, to crush the tape. 3. Similarly, tie the other end of the line to the other towing point. 4. Lay the kite on the floor, folded in half so the towing points and spars are 1 on top of the

other. 5. Stretch out the bridle lines and tie a simple loop in, right near the end. The 2 bridle lines

should be exactly the same length. I've brought the loop knot back into the picture, so you can see it in the photo.

You’re Done!

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How to Construct a Rokkaku Kite Materials

• Plastic Table Cloth: 54 inches X 108 inches • Pack of Bamboo Skewers (pointed): 12 inches (30 centimeters) • Flying Line: 20 LBS or more • Ruler • Scissors • Pen for Marking • Electric Tape • Sticky Tape (such as Scotch Tape) • Wood Glue • Newspaper • Flat surface to work on

Approximate Time

• Should exceed no more than 45 minutes

Instructions How to Build the Frame of your Rokkaku Kite

1. Take one (1) skewer and cut it to exactly 5 ¾” (14.5cm) in length – do this while keeping the pointed end because this will come in use later to poke holes.

2. Cut points of six (6) additional skewers off. 3. Check the length to make sure the six (6) skewers are the same length. 4. Take another skewer (this will be the eighth) and cut it into four (4) pieces that are

exactly 1 ¾” (4.4cm) in length – use the marking pen to mark the center of each piece (this will be 7/8ths of an inch from either end of the small pieces).

5. Look at the picture below to see how to place and glue the skewers as seen (place newspaper under the skewers to catch excess glue).

6. Prop the skewers 1” off of the newspaper so the glue does not stick to the paper while drying – you can use any household items to do this step (see picture).

7. Get eyelevel with the skewers to make sure they are level and as straight as possible.

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How to Build the Frame of your Rokkaku Sail 1. Take the large table cloth (still doubled over) and lay it on your flat surface. 2. Grab the two sets of skewers that do not contain the pointed skewer after they are

completely dried. 3. Lay the skewers perpendicular to the table cloth approximately one and a half skewer

lengths apart (shown in the picture below). 4. Only one of the two glued together should extend over the table cloth (the other skewer

should lay on the table but on the side of the table cloth that is folded over). 5. Now mark the corners of the template with dots and the end of each skewer (see picture

below).

6. After marking the corners, take your ruler and draw (as seen in the picture above) straight lines that are 12 7/8” in length that extend towards the fold of your table cloth.

7. A trapezoid should appear (the base of this trapezoid is the fold of your table cloth).

Take the six (6) skewers that have their tips removed, and the one (1) skewer that still has its tip attached. Then, take two (2) skewers that have no tip and attach them – like above. Take two (2) more and do the same. Then take the remaining two (2) skewers that have no tip, and lay them together like you previously did, but this time, also add the skewer that has its tip to the end of the two (2) without their tips. Lay a thick layer of glue to attach the pieces described above.

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8. Unfold the table cloth and trace the same lines (using a ruler as a straight edge) onto the other half of the table cloth.

9. Cut out the sail of your kite and lay it flat on your table or surface (a six-sided figure should appear).

10. Place the long three (3) piece skewer along the length of the sail (pictured below). 11. Using the electrical tape, tape the ends of the skewer to the tips of the sail – tape the

skewer to one side and the fold the tape over to the other side to secure the skewer (view the picture because this part can be tricky).

12. Lay the two other skewers perpendicular to the vertical skewer (see picture). 13. These skewers will be on top of the previous skewer. 14. Tape the skewers with electric tape like previously done. 15. Take the wood glue and glue the cross sections of the horizontal and vertical skewers.

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How to Build the Bridle of your Rokkaku Kite

1. Once the glue has dried, you are ready to begin this part of the kite. 2. Cut off about two feet (24”) of flying line and tie a very small loop knot to each end – if

you are not familiar with how to tie a loop knot, there are several reliable sources to show you how to online and there will be a website listed at the end if you need help.

3. Poke holes in the plastic, on either side of the upper vertical skewer – four (4) holes total (0.4 skewers from the vertical skewer) and this is indicated by the black dots in the photo below.

4. Tie each end of the line to the skewer (through the holes!) by using a double slip knot – a link to an online tutorial for this type of knot will also be listed at the end if you need help.

5. Cut off another piece of flying line about 35” long. 6. Tie a very small loop knot to one end. 7. Poke two more holes on the other end of the vertical skewer (this is shown in the picture

by two black dots near the end). 8. Tie the looped end to the skewer (through the holes!) by using a double slip knot, as

before. 9. Tie the other end of the line to the mid-point of the upper bridle line (as before).

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10. Take a length of flying line about 6” long and tie one end to the longer bridle with a Prusik knot (a link to how to do this type of knot will be listed at the end).

11. Tie a small loop knot into the other end. How to Bow the Lower Spar of your Rokkaku Kite

1. Cut off about 12” of flying line. 2. Cut off about 35” of flying line. 3. Tie the lines to the lower set of skewers (or spar). 4. Pass the longer line through the two (2) loops (see picture below). 5. Pull some extra bow into the spar before securing the truckie’s knot with half

hitches (links to tutorials on both of these knots will be below). 6. Put a drop of glue on both knots against the skewers to ensure that they will never

come undone.

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How to Prepare to Fly your Rokkaku Kite 1. Create a flying line and attach it to the bridle that was just creating by using a lark’s head

knot (link will be provided below). 2. To check to make sure all of the knots are tight, lay the kite flat and then lift up on the

bridle until all three (3) lines are pulled tight – shift the Prusik knot along the longer bridle to ensure its security.

You know have a Rokkaku kite to fly on a breezy day. Enjoy! Links to Online Knot Tutorials

• Loop Knot: http://www.my-best-kite.com/loop-knot.html • Double Slip Knot: http://www.my-best-kite.com/slip-knot.html • Prusnik’s Knot: http://www.my-best-kite.com/prusik-knot.html • Lark’s Head Knot: http://www.my-best-kite.com/larks-head-knot.html • Half Hitch Knot: http://www.my-best-kite.com/half-hitch.html