This isn't the smallest kite in the world, but it's probably the smallest that most people will make.
Add to that the fact that it is made of no specialist materials at all, and you're ready to make a tiny marvel.
(I'll highlight the materials you need as we go along, but you can substitute many other materials at most stages)
Add to that the fact that it is made of no specialist materials at all, and you're ready to make a tiny marvel.
(I'll highlight the materials you need as we go along, but you can substitute many other materials at most stages)
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Signing UpStep 1: The Template
This kite is a shape known as a false eddy.
The Eddy kite was revolutionary in its day, the first diamond-shaped kite to fly without a tail, thanks to a unique bagginess to the sail. This version needs a tail because it has a traditionally-taught sail, and has simpler proportions.
The size is not important, but the proportions are. Based on a square, it is trimmed off by one quarter of one diagonal. The shortened diagonal is the centre-line of the kite.
The size of this kite is governed by the spars I used. For no particular reason, I chose to use the bristles from a yard-broom. The bristles were just over 7cm long, which made the basic square 5cm on a side.
I drew the template out on squared paper (the squares are 5mm across) to save the effort of constructing a proper square on plain paper.
The Eddy kite was revolutionary in its day, the first diamond-shaped kite to fly without a tail, thanks to a unique bagginess to the sail. This version needs a tail because it has a traditionally-taught sail, and has simpler proportions.
The size is not important, but the proportions are. Based on a square, it is trimmed off by one quarter of one diagonal. The shortened diagonal is the centre-line of the kite.
The size of this kite is governed by the spars I used. For no particular reason, I chose to use the bristles from a yard-broom. The bristles were just over 7cm long, which made the basic square 5cm on a side.
I drew the template out on squared paper (the squares are 5mm across) to save the effort of constructing a proper square on plain paper.
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at my work (in a decoration-atelier) we use the bristles for the antennas of our deco-butterflies and lobsters, so i could get some of them for tiny kites
And i uset tissue-paper instead of transparent foil for the kite-sail.
so i have got a hint for you:
You can bend the horicontal spar in the middle to get the same effect like the plastic-cross-peace of the kites in the toy-shop makes:
a curvature in shape of a 120° angle between the halves of the sail-surface.
So i got the idea to build such a tiny kite from it, because it is very thin and light.
So it´s not a transparent kite, but a gold-silver kite that shines and twinkles in the sun.
If you look at step 3, I made an angle of 135º. 120º is more stable, but 135º gives slightly more lift, and a lively, twitchy flight that I like.
" at the beginning-text means, the sail is flat.
and in the picture above this text (under it there is a gridded sheed of paper with the template on it) the kite loks also flat
I based the proportions of this kite on an "Eddy" kite, which actually has a loose, baggy sail, held in place with a cord around the edges.
The bagginess of the sail means it can curve into a highly-stable dihedral.
See: http://www.kitemakers.org/classes/images/2007/eddycomposite.jpg
http://www.danelugdz.blogspot.com
very nice creation...and very easy to make....
(But what are the links for?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oCmr_Q2778
Or will other adjustments need to be made?
Maybe use cling film (saran wrap) as a sail, or use splinters of bamboo for the spines, shaved really thin.
thanks for all the ideas and inspiration over the years. Please keep the premium quality 'ibles we all love coming.
How long could you make it?