If you have two
hours of spare-time, you can use them to build the Sledmatiste C3, the
multi-sled Venet with 3 arches to be flow with 4 lines. This very simple kite
can be assembled more or less quickly, more or less cheaply, and can be more or
less light depending on the materials you will use. Compared to the "4 lines
standard" Revolution, the flight of the Sledmatiste C3 is sound within a fairly
wide wind window but you will avoid to fly it at the edge of it, the sail having
then a tendency to collapse. Yet, you may be able to reopen it by pulling
sharply on the lines. It has a very stable flight and moves slowly, always at
the same speed. It stops, corkscrews and flies backward. On the other hand,
don't attempt to fly bacward while going upward (you will experience sudden
collapsing except if you add an extra optional spar to the rear). Also, don't
attempt the lateral slide (impossible). Its wind scale is somewhat wide. Are you
convinced ? Well then, let's begin the assembly. The sail is made out of Tyvek which can be found in
specialized shops, but you may also use heavy plastic trash bags or Spinakker
Nylon. begin by drawing the shapes on the sail, then cut. Reinforce the edges of
Tyvek with Scotch tape. The spines are made of carbon tubing Ø5,5 or 5 mm and
82,5 cm long, easily obtained from our shopkeeper, but you can also use bamboo,
fiberglass tubing or ramin. You will Scotch them at their tips and to the
backside of the sail and also at the rear bridles attachment points for the
central spines. The intermediary and lateral stiffeners preventing the
closing of the leading,edge of the arches and of the keels are made "skewer"
bamboo sticks which can be obtained from your nearest butcher shop. You can also
use plain carbon or fiberglass rods Ø2 or Ø3 mm. You will Scotch them at their
tips on the backside of the sail. The bridles attachment points are
strengthened with reinforced tape. The bridles are somewhat light, if you have
leftover lengths of Topline (or Dyneema), that will be perfect. Use a thick
needle to pass the bridles through the sail and to knot them. The central
bridles go around the spines. The transversal spar preventing the closing of
the lateral arches is made of plain carbon rod Ø3 mm or fiberglass rod Ø3 mm or
even carbon rod Ø2 mm. Split bamboo can also be used. Onthe flying field, you
assemble its ends to the front of the lateral spars using rubber bands or a
piece of Scotch tape. Do you have the handles and the lines ? No, well then,
this paragraph is for you. Let me say that their construction will take you more
time that it will take for the assembly of the Sledmatiste. The handles,
inexpensive but comfortable are detailled on the plan. One receive the two left
lines and the other the right ones. the four lines are made of 70 Kg Topline or
Dyneema (strong enough to last), or else 45 Kg, and 22,5 meter long each. It is
important that they all have precisely the same length ! Fix firmly one of their
ends, unroll them wholly, stretch the lines with equal force (use a spring scale
or a pulley and a weight or invest in a "Equalizer"), then mark them at the same
spot. Have you already flow a 4 lines kite ? No, then concentrate your
attention on the following lines. You have both handles in your hands. Pull on
the two upper lines and simultaneously with your wrists, pivot upward the lower
part of the handles, you are opening the "throttle", the kite moves upward.
Then, slowly pull on the lower lines and the kite stops. pull a little more on
the lower lines and the kite moves bacward. Pull once again on the gas pedal,
then pull on the right lower line, you are slowing down the right wing of your
kite which begins to turn right. Thanks God, it works the same way to the left
! Before I let you try your new kite, I would like to give an explanation to
the name Venet. I wouldn't have succeded in conceiving the Sledmatiste without
the experiments of Sylvien VENET about the Sled.
C5 :
pentaptich about BMPT painting (Buren, Mosset, Parmentier, Toroni)
As soon as you will be an experienced "4 lines"
pilot, you will add the optional transversal spar to the rear of the kite in
order to alow you to control the backward flight of the kite or better, to start
the construction of the C5 version
(french plan), designed for very light winds.
