How to make the glues.
How to build a kite.
- Find a 40" (1 m) long bamboo stick and split it in two along its length. Be careful about keeping the knife in the center so that the two sticks have the same thickness.
- Cut one of the sticks in two sections so that one is about 24" (60cm) long and the other 16" (40 cm) long.
- Make a cross with fine hemp or flax string: the 16" (40 cm) stick at about 10" (25 cm) from the thicker end of the 40" (1m) stick.
- Attach the last 16" stick to the 40" (1 m) at about 24" (60 cm) from the thicker end.
Ideally you should make small notches on the sticks to strengthen the frame.
With more string link the ends of the lateral sticks forming an X (C-F-E-D on the drawing) and then join all ends by running the string around (A-C-E-B-F-D). Small notches and some tape will help maintain the string before it's tightened.
Cut the exterior shape of the kite in Kraft paper leaving a 1" margin all around.
Gluing the kite:
Once the glue is ready, consolidate the knots and coat the sticks with it then attach the Kraft paper on the sticks. Coat the external string with glue and then attach the Kraft paper by folding it over the string. Coat the paper also but without excess. Leave to dry out.
Preparing the tail:
Prepare the kite's tail by attaching paper bows with string leaving an interval of 4 to 6" (10 to 15 cm) between each bow. 10 to 15 bows total are sufficient.
Attach the kite's tail to the narrow end (B).
Retaining string:
Attach between A and B a piece of string equal to twice the length of AB, and do the same for CD and EF. Link all the strings together in such a way that once the strings are pulled, the center of the knot is at the vertical of 1/3 of the length of AB starting from A. Attach the retaining string to this knot.
Once the glue is dry, the kite is ready for test flying. The balance in flight is set by the relative length of the strings AB, CD and EF.
Happy Flying!