Subject: Cube Plans for you!
Date: 16 Jun 1998 00:00:00 GMT
From: skysetter@aol.com (SKYSETTER)
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Hey!
I have plans for a 12" x 12" cube (I call them Dancing Boxes) and anyone can
have them!
(1) SAIL: Make a template 51" x 13" rectangle. Cut one piece of 3/4 oz ripstop
with template.
(2) Hem both 51" sides with 1/2 inch hem.
(3) Fold sail in half and mark. Then fold in half again, and mark.
(4) POCKETS: Pocket material can be 400 denier nylon or belt webbing from
Wallmart. Center pocket material on the half and half again marks and sew to
sail on hemmed side or backside of sail.
(5) Sew sail together on the 13" sides (the 13" sides are now 12" sides) with
1/2 inch hem.
(6) Place two more pockets on the hem you just made at the top and bottom
hemmed side.
(7) SPINES: Cut four 1/4" dowels at 11-7/8"
(8) CONNECTORS: Cut eight 1/4" i.d. tubing (plastic) 1" long . Then cut those
pieces at the 1/2" point, half way through tubing.
(9) Place two pieces of tubing on the 1/4" dowels (making sure to only thread
the tubing to the cut point so the tubing is half on, half off the dowel making
a connection point for the cross spreaders) and place dowels in the pockets on
the sail and slide the piece of tubing which is on the dowel into the pocket
also.
(10) CROSS SPREADERS: Cut four 1/8" dowels at 17-1/2" (Cross Spars). Place
these dowels in the connection tubing points on opposing corners at the top and
bottom of the cube.
(11) BRIDLE: I use 75 lb braided dacron for the bridle (way to heavy but its
what I have on hand) (You can use some old spectra line if available also).
Cut one 24" length of bridle material and seal ends with a flame. Thread one
side of the bridle material into a sail needle and pass through the 12" hem at
the point where a cross spreader and connector meet. Tie off and do the same
to the other end of the box.
Take your cube out into the wind, hold it by the bridle and slide your fingers
on the bridle until you find a good flight point (usually 5 degrees above the
actual box). Mark it and either tie a loop in that area or use a separate link
loop and a double larks-head knot so the bridle point can be adjusted for
different wind settings.
Happy Cube Flying!
Carolyn Weir
P.S. These are plans straight out of my mind and workshop. I have made many of
them and they are a joy to fly and watch dance in the sky. I have not, nor do
I ever intend to copy someone elses plans, but also feel that everyone should
have the chance to create a little something before having to come up with
their own designs. I have posted this as a courtesy to novice kitebuilders
with the intent of giving them the chance to try something they are interested
in.
I hope this doesn't bother anyone and only brings joy to those who are curious.
From SKYSETTER@aol.com Thu Jun 25 14:57 BST 1998
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 1998 09:45:26 EDT
To: pleriche@dumbo.uk03.bull.co.uk
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Subject: Re: Cube plans
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In a message dated 98-06-25 07:42:38 EDT, you write:
<< After all the discussion on rec.kites I just had to build a cube, so was
very glad to see your plans. However, I don't quite understand how you
do the pockets for the 4 longerons.
I use 1" x 3" dacron as pocket material. I fold the material at the
1" point and
sew it to the sail, possibly that is what you would call a blind end
pocket. I
cut my longerons to fit, meaning they are not exactly 12" but
usually a little
shorter and yes, I have to bow them into the pockets and some do
break (not
many).
On larger kites I normall do blind-ended pockets and bow the spar to
get it in. Or if I really want the tension to be adjustable I make a
tube out of ripstop (maybe reinforced with dacron) and fold it over to
make an adjustable blind end. I use velcro to keep it folded.
Velcro would be too costly. Don't worry, if the rod is a little
too short, you will
clean that up with the plastic tubing for the cross spars which
will be placed
into the pockets also.
And do you find you need 4 diagonal spars? I'd have thought 2 would
do, set perpendicular to the longerons. Maybe you need a good tight
sail. >>
I have tried the 2 cross spar method and it just doesn't seem to keep the
tension on the longerons that I look for. 2 gets a little sloppy in the air,
4 keeps things nice and tensioned. The cross spreaders are actually bowed
quite a bit when placed into the plastic tubing to spread the sail giving the
tension I look for. The only other thing I can think to make the sail tighter
is to lengthen the entire template by 2" (long side) and actually sew the
longerons into the inside portion of the sail, leaving slits for the plastic
tubing to go into.
Please realize that I learned to make kites from books strictly. I have never
been to a kitemaking workshop or had assistance from other kitemakers, other
than rec.kites. I have a lot to learn, and if you find better ways to make
the cube, please pass them on. I'm always open to new ideas.
Carolyn Weir