Instructional Guide
Introduction
Kites have been a part of everyone’s life and culture.The earliest known kites were made from bamboo and silk, some 3000 years ago. Kites have had a role to play in 19th century science experiments as well. Even today, kites are known to be used for military purposes. History has shown people’s fascination for kites through the ages. It may be our inherent interest in space travel and flying that has made people to experiment with the design of kites. Kites have been an inherent part of folklore.While kite-flying gives one endless hours of fun, kites are also an ecologically sensitive way to enjoy nature. Kite-flying is known to be relaxing and involving at the same time. Japan and China have led the world into kite-flying and are known to have had kites since ages.They have been used for religious festivals, to decorate houses, to ward away evil spirits, to launch military attacks and sometimes even soldiers into enemy territory. To capture the essence of kite-flying, we have put together six of the most fascinating forms of kites in this pack, which are both interesting to make and fun to fly.
BOX KITE A box kite is a high-performance kite, noted for flying really high. The typical design has four parallel sticks with diagonal crossed struts.There are two ribbons wrapped around the ends of the box, leaving the ends and middle of the kite open. The box kite was invented by Lawrence Hargrave as part of his attempt to develop a manned flying machine. Hargrave linked several of his box kites together, creating sufficient lift for him to fly 16 ft. off the ground. Large box kites are constructed as cellular kites where small kites tied to each other to make a bigger kite. Most of the altitude records for kite flying are held by large box kites. Silk, linen and hemp are used because they could be spun finer than cotton and stretched relatively little when wet. TETRAHEDRAL KITE A tetrahedral kite is a multi-celled kite composed of tetrahedral shaped cells.The cells are usually arranged in such a way that the entire kite is also a regular tetrahedron. This kite was invented by Alexander Graham Bell who wanted a kite big enough to carry both a man and a motor. As such, it was an early experiment on the road to manned flight. From an initial one cell model, Bell advanced to a 3,393 cell model in 1907.This 40feet long, 91 kilogram kite was able to carry a man 168 feet above the water. The tetrahedral kite, while not easy to make compared to the simple cross kite, is very stable and easy to fly. It flies well in moderate to heavy winds if it is properly set up.
DIAMOND KITE The Diamond kite is probably the most recognized type of kite in the Western world today. For centuries it has remained popular due to its stable and reliable flying characteristics. Diamonds are simple to make too, which makes them a popular choice for children. The Diamond kite design can be flown with a bowed cross spar. If positioned close enough to the nose, this eliminates the need for a tail.The bow can be achieved by tensioning the spar with string, causing it flex. Alternatively, the cross spar can be in 2 pieces with these then joined to the vertical spar at an angle. Some people refer to Diamonds as ‘2 stick kites’.The two sticks are the vertical spar running from nose to tail, and the cross spar going side to side. ROKKAKU KITE The Rokkaku kite is a traditional Japanese fighting kite that is quite popular in the Western countries.The Rokkaku is a tailless bowed design, which is hexagonal in shape. Traditionally it is made with bamboo spars and washi paper. The rokkaku kite is often hand painted with the face of a famous Samurai. Flown on a taut string the kite is stable and rises rapidly. Fighting two or more of these kites involves tipping over or destabilizing the opposing kite or cutting its kite line. The rokkaku kite is often used for kite aerial photography and in atmospheric science.
BUTTERFLY KITE Of all the great variety of traditional Chinese Kites, the butterfly kite is one of the best known around the world. Before mass production of these kites began, no two of them were exactly the same. Children turned out simple designs with the help of their parents. Skilful Chinese kite makers’ crafted beautiful works of art that flew very well too.The methods of selecting and forming the bamboo spars and fitting sails of silk or paper were passed down through many generations. With time the butterfly kites have spread all over the world and has taken various different forms which are made using different techniques. From simple straight edged kites to more traditionally crafted kites butterfly kites are still used to decorate homes and work places. DELTA KITE The modern single line Delta kite is designed to be an eye-catching spectacle as it floats about on its flying line at a high angle. Most Delta kites are designed to fly well in light wind as it is easy to control in such conditions. The Delta had its origins in a copy of a Chinese bird kite. An architect named Wilbur Green made the first prototype, and it flew so well that a kite making business was soon established. Early delta kites were handmade and decorated with vibrant colours in geometrical patterns and shapes. Today the delta kites have become one of the most famous kites for kids around the world as they are easy to make and fly.
You will find the following materials in the box. Use them to make the kites: Kite Paper Glue Straws Thread You will also need a pair of scissors, take help of adults when needed
For Certain Kites you will be needed to join straws to make them longer. Use the technique explained in the image on the right to do so. Pinch one end of the straw as shown and insert it in the other straw. Join two straws end to end as shown. Use glue or tape to fix the two pieces together. Cut the length in the appropriate size
PROJECT 1: Making The Box Kite
The following steps will help you in making the Box Kite:
1 Make a square frame using 1 straw length as shown. Also make a cross using straws as shown in the image. Use threads to tie the straws together tightly. Make sure the straw is not pressed or flattens when tying the straws together. Make 2 each of these frames.
2 Cut 8 rectangular pieces out of kite paper using the straw length and one-fourth of the straw in its breath.
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Arrange the pieces as shown. using 2 straw lengths for the structuce.
Paste the kite paper pieces carefully on the structure as shown in the image.
Tie the pieces together using string. Make sure the straws are not flattened.
Multiple box kites can be tied together to make a mega kite ready for flying.
Glue can also be used to secure the pieces together.
PROJECT 2: Making The Tetrahedral Kite
The following steps will help you in making the Tetrahedral Kite:
1 Use thread to weave 3 straws together as shown.
2 Attach more straws as shown in the image to make two triangle pieces.
3 Fold the two triangles around the middle straw and attach another straw between the open ends as shown in the image.
4 Cut the kite paper along the edges of the tetrahedral making the shape shown in the image. Each side of the triangle is one straw in length. .
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Paste the kite paper on two sides of the frame as shown in images 5 and 6
Using glue or thread, four of these kites can be joined together to make a larger kite. Tie the open ends together firmly. More of these pieces can be joined to make larger kites. Tie a string as shown to fly the kite.
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PROJECT 3: Making The Rokkaku Kite
The following steps will help you in making the Rokkaku Kite:
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Make a straw frame as shown on a piece of rectangular kite paper.The middle one being 3 straw in length and the other 2 are 2 straw in length. Paste the smaller straws leaving 6� from top and bottom on the middle straw
Take a piece of kite paper provided and glue the frame to it, glue small pieces of cut out kite paper as shown for extra strength
Cut the sheet according to the image
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The finished kite should look like Tie strings at the end of the two above straws to shape it like a bow as shown and the kite is ready to fly.
PROJECT 4: Making The Diamond Kite
The following steps will help you in making the Diamond Kite:
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Make a straw frame as shown Glue small pieces of kite paper on a piece of rectangular kite as shown for extra strength paper. 2.5 straws for longer center and 2 straw for horizontal one. glue the shorter straw 6� from the top.
3 Cut the rectangle kite paper into the shape shown in the image leaving a little gap along the straws.
4 Wrap the flaps inwards and paste it.
5 Stick a tail and tie strings as shown to prepare the kite for flying.
PROJECT 5: Making The Butterfly Kite
The following steps will help you in making the Butterfly Kite:
1 Make a straw frame as shown using 1 straw length for each of the straw shown in blue color leaving 2 inches from the edge of the center straws. Now place the straw shown in color red joining the centres of the straws and cut off the extra bit.
2 Cut out two pieces of kite paper with 2 inches by 2 inches in size. Paste pieces of kite paper as shown in the image .
3 Cut the rectangle kite paper into the butterfly shape of the kite leaving a little gap along the straws, wrap it over the straw and glue it in place
4 Tie strings as shown to prepare the kite for flying.
5 Turn over and use differently colored papers to decorate the kite.
PROJECT 6: Making The Delta Kite
The following steps will help you in making the Delta Kite:
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Take 3 double length straws Glue pieces of small kite paper and place them as shown in the as shown for extra strength image (red straws) so that the bottom ends lie on the same line, all one straw length apart leaving a gap at the top. Take a triple length straw and place it half way across as shown by the yellow straw
3 Cut the rectangle kite paper into the shape shown in the image leaving a little gap along the straws.
4 Fold the flaps at dotted lines as shown
5 Stick a tail and tie strings as shown to prepare the kite for flying.
DID YOU KNOW Some Japanese kites weigh over 2 tons.
The longest kite in the world is 1034 metres. There is at least one Kite Festival every weekend of the year in some part of the world.
Benjamin Franklin used a kite to prove that lightning was electricity.
The aeroplane is a development of the kite. The first powered aircraft were large box kites with motors fitted to them.