Instructions for Nosey Kite

Description 
The Nosey Kite is a Variation on the Sode or Kimono  Kite,
however the slight changes in the kite plan form  have I believe
increased the appeal of the kite and improved the performance
somewhat. 



Instructions 

The Sail
You will need to get the wider kind of ripstop nylon to make
this kite or else you could place a seam down the centreline
either way the minimum dimension will need to be 120 cm. There
are two ways to mark out the pattern, either mark out the
maximum dimensions onto the ripstop and then cut away the excess
triangles at the wing tips, at the base and under the eyes, to
leave the final shape. Alternatively you could mark out the
entire pattern directly onto the fabric but take care if using
this method to ensure symmetry. a good check is to fold the kite
down the centreline to see if both sides match up. now cut it
out very carefully to maintain the symmetry.


You should now have a the sail shape marked and cut out.

If you have any problems  remember that the plan is exactly 1/10
scale


The Decoration
The applique is of course optional but if you wish to do it then
here is how. On a  piece of white paper or card mark out clearly
one eye and one eyebrow, next trace these  twice onto a piece of
white ripstop ensuring that the grain of the fabric runs
vertically, now spray mount a small piece of blue over each iris
and a large piece of black over the entire piece. from the back
using black thread sew small zigzag  to the outside of the
smaller ellipses within the eyes. DO NOT sew the eyebrows or the
outside ellipses yet.



Now cut away the excess black from inside the irises only and
cut away the black and blue from the highlights in the pupils.
spray mount the back of the whole piece and then separate into
the two eyes each with their respective eyebrows. apply the two
pieces carefully to the front of the kite and from the back of
the kite again zigzag around all the outside edges. It may be
necessary to remark the lines on the back of the kite so that
they can be seen more easily.



Once you have sewn all the pieces cut away the rest of the black
and blue from the whites of the eyes and also cut away the
backing material from behind the eyes. you should be left with a
whole piece of white behind the eyes and eyebrows don't cut this
away as it adds strength to the applique.

The nostrils are simple just make them and applique them on
using spray mount to hold them in place. zigzag  in black around
the edges to finish.


Edging

Edge the entire kite either with ripstop / polyester / or ribbon 



Pockets

Sew pockets at all the points to take the spars



Sleeves

Rather than attaching ties which I now think look very tatty
make sleeves to keep the main horizontal spars in place sew
these mid way between the spine and the wing tips



Bridle points/ Bridle

The Nosey kite has a two point bridle attached where the main
cross spars cross the spine to make a neat job of these sew a
multiple thickness square or rectangle of ripstop at these
points and then burn two holes about 8 mm apart through the
entire thickness and the sail using a fine pointed soldering
iron.

The bridle should be made from about 70lb braid and should be
around 3m long in total.  and the towing point should be almost
exactly halfway between i.e. 1.5m top and bottom  but adjust as
necessary.


Sparring

The spine should be 6.35 mm fibreglass tube, the main spreaders
are 5 mm fibreglass solid and the lower nose cross spar should
be 4 mm solid fibreglass. use rubber end caps to protect the
pockets. the lower 4mm spar may have a dihedral added for extra
stability.


Copyright  conditions

Anyone may make one copy of this kite for their own personal use
only. Any other duplication will be an infringement of the
copyright 

Copyright  Charlie Charlton 1995