KITE PLAN - WINGED "W"

John Maxworthy, Long Island, NY
Date: February 4, '97
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BACKGROUND / MATERIALS

The use of the wooden dowels has apparently kept the weight down, where this kite can be teased into the air in very lite winds..
If you decide to construct this kite, I suggest you save the individual images (On my browser, click the right mouse buttom over any image and save) to later print the image from a saved file. After printing, just use the 19 images as a manual.

The materials needed for construction include:
Ripstop nylon, 3/4 oz. -- 5 yds @ 40 in. wide
Wood Dowel, 1/4" dia. -- 13 pcs x 48" lg.
Wood Dowel, 5/16" dia. -- 5 pcs x 48" lg.
Fiberglass Tubing, #75 dia. -- 1 pc x 12" lg.
Misc. -- arrow nocks, fiberglass or brass tubing for the external ferrules, barrel beads, 1/2" dia. metal slip rings, and 20+ ft. of line for the bridle and some of the connection points.

PANEL ID AND SEWING STEPS


Before the panel cutting and sewing steps would be the planning of the graphics or panel colors. As suggested in the Kite Plan Index, this planning could use Paint Shop Pro or Windows Paintbrush.

FITTINGS AND CONNECTIONS

I have gotten in the habit of using a lot of metal slip rings and short lengths of FG tubing for spar holders and then bead tensioners opposite these spar holders. This probably adds unnecessary weight to the kite, but I like the idea of everything being more durable plus this arrangement always allows me to setup any size kite by myself. Whatever end fittings you feel comfortable using is always my suggestion.

SPAR/ SPLINE ID AND DETAILS

If you decide to use fiberglass or graphite rigging, instead of the shown wooden dowels below, definitely size all the rigging with wood dowels first. I must have rigged this kite 2-3 times until I got all the panels pulled equally tight under tension.

ITEMQTYDESCRIPTION
#141/4" dia.x ~41-46" lg. wood dowel w/ arrow nock on one end.
#225/16" dia.x ~46" lg. wood dowel w/ arrow nock on one end.
#325/16" dia.x ~46" lg. wood dowel.
#441/4" dia.x ~26" lg. wood dowel.
#541/4" dia.x ~27" lg. wood dowel.
#62#75 x 12" lg. fiberglass tube. See detail
#711/4" dia.x ~40" lg. wood dowel. See detail.


Determine exact lengths at time of rigging.

BRIDLE & SETUP

The towpoint is selected on Line C depending on the wind conditions.

Setup requires: A) installing the 8 standoffs, #4 & #5 and then B) installing the 4 cross spars, #2 & #3, into the connectors #6. Remember to slip the cross spars through the spar guides as shown above in of the Fititngs/ Connectors section.
The splines, #1 & #7, are kept in place when bagged and transported. Actually, I also leave the standoffs, #4 & #5, in place also. I epoxy them permanently in place on the ends with the fiberglass holders and just disconnect the ends fitting into the clear pvc tubing. They then lay flat for bagging.

There are instructions for making a storage bag with the ROK plans.

You can reach me by e-mail at: jmaxworthy@sprynet.com
[MY KITES I ] [MY KITES II] [VERDUN 1996] [VERDUN 1995] [MY KITES - PLANS]

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http://www.home.sprynet.com/sprynet/jmaxworthy/ww-plan.htm