Power Kite Forum

Building a kite named Kat Scratch Fever.

riffclown - 17-6-2020 at 04:47 PM

Started construction on this kite today for jeepersjoey.

kite - Copy (Final Draft2).png - 55kB

riffclown - 17-6-2020 at 04:49 PM

Day one Fabrication and how we got there.


10x speed video showing initial panel construction

riffclown - 18-6-2020 at 03:32 PM

And here's how I usually see the pattern take shape each time.
10x Speed.

Randy - 18-6-2020 at 04:03 PM

Impressive. So you can just tape the panels together, or is that temporary to hold it before sewing? What kind of tape is that?

riffclown - 18-6-2020 at 04:06 PM

It is Seamstick tape and it facilitates the piecework.. I still have to sew everything but this allows me to do all the piecework first. BTW, the white panels you see in the video are Mesh. This is a vented design ;)

riffclown - 18-6-2020 at 06:41 PM

Still a long ways to go but it's starting to look like the colorizer output in the first post.


jantie - 19-6-2020 at 12:19 AM

:thumbup:

B-Roc - 19-6-2020 at 06:08 AM

Wow, that is a lot of work. How many hours does something like that take from start to finish?

riffclown - 19-6-2020 at 07:06 AM

usually about 15-20 hours total. The sewing is the most time consuming part. The cool part is I get to see what the kite will looklike about 4-5 hours in. There are a few special requests on this one that will add a bit of time (Center panel with specific look. (Top in first photo..)..

I like taking lots of photos while building. Here is all of the panels with the sun behind them





And the panels overlapped is always a personal favorite of mine. It really intensifies the colors and makes very cool color interactions..



Soooo awesome!

jeepersjoey - 19-6-2020 at 07:24 AM

I love it. Very happy with the progress and all the updates.

It looks great! So awesome!!

Paul
(p.s. "Kat" is my wife's nickname at work since there are so many Kari that work there. So, she grabbed "Kat". "Kat Scratch Fever" was recommended by me for the song but the wife said "That is a disease, I like that name!" {she is medical})

riffclown - 19-6-2020 at 04:47 PM

I had to see the Blacklight profile of this kite. This kite is a true UV Pop star!!

riffclown - 20-6-2020 at 11:20 AM

Today's update for this sail. Made the bag for the kite this morning while I was getting the parts for the leading edge ready. Leading Edge is laid out with wear strips , screen reinforcements and ready for folding.

jjesseday - 20-6-2020 at 03:58 PM

Thanks for the pictures riffclown this is very fun to watch. Obviously you're very experienced. Enjoy Paul!

riffclown - 20-6-2020 at 05:34 PM

Thank you. This is kite #73 for me. I'm happy to say I've learned something new with each and every kite. For instance. this kite has me rethinking how I do the center 8-ish diamonds in the future. Always looking for a better way to do everything.

Other build notes, I don't usually match Rev Dimensions exactly because I'm not copying Revs. I'm very consistent with the leading edge length but I constantly play with the vertical dimensions in search of performance advantages. Paul asked for a kite that uses Rev Frames without modification so I have had to adjust the build slightly. It will be a bit taller than my usual builds because I use T Connectors instead of just tying an end cap to the vertical. The positive effect of this It will have a cleaner Leading Edge than your typical Revs.

In this video, my first full size balanced vented kite (piloted by Jim Cosca) is flying alongside a mesh built by Eliot Shook. Despite the 15+ mph winds you can see the balance in play. **Note the kite went home with him while I built him a "more purple"


Here's the 72" Balanced Venting prototype in 20+ winds and on short lines. It took days to get the smile off my face.

This kite goes EVERYWHERE I go now and is always handy and ready to fly.

Both these kites made the trip to Hawaii with me last year.


riffclown - 21-6-2020 at 12:57 PM

On Tuesday, This was just a drawing.. Bridle Test went well . This kite is almost ready for jeepersjoey




riffclown - 22-6-2020 at 10:15 AM

And this kite is on its way to its new home.

RedSky - 22-6-2020 at 06:42 PM





:thumbup:

riffclown - 25-6-2020 at 10:34 AM

whoop whoop Delivered!!!

Windstruck - 25-6-2020 at 11:16 AM

I know iPaul has been super excited to get this new toy from you. Happy day. He and I are good friends and I look forward to test flying this kite when next we get together. I have little personal experience flying rev-like kites, but they look super fun. Your craftsmanship looks exceptional. Cool color scheme to boot! Good stuff. :thumbup:

Time to play

jeepersjoey - 25-6-2020 at 11:27 AM

It arrived today and looks awesome. The pictures do not really do justice to how impressive this kite is. I stared at for a good 5 minutes and appreciated the amazing amount of work that went into it.

Wow. Just, Wow!

No wind right now but in 2 hrs 11-17 mph is predicted.

Time to find my nearest field!!
Paul

riffclown - 25-6-2020 at 11:48 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck  
I know iPaul has been super excited to get this new toy from you. Happy day. He and I are good friends and I look forward to test flying this kite when next we get together. I have little personal experience flying rev-like kites, but they look super fun. Your craftsmanship looks exceptional. Cool color scheme to boot! Good stuff. :thumbup:


Thank you, Paul definitely picked the colors. I'll take credit for the build but he did the design hands down. 100% his concept based on my build technique.

When you do see it, give it a close look and let me know what you think. Pay close attention to the reinforcements where the bungees are tied. They are hard plastic and hold the kite's shape IMO better that the Rev method.

FWIW, My test flights were in <5mph and that's well below the suggested wind range for this fully vented wing.

riffclown - 25-6-2020 at 12:35 PM

Quote: Originally posted by jeepersjoey  
It arrived today and looks awesome. The pictures do not really do justice to how impressive this kite is. I stared at for a good 5 minutes and appreciated the amazing amount of work that went into it.

Wow. Just, Wow!

No wind right now but in 2 hrs 11-17 mph is predicted.

Time to find my nearest field!!
Paul

and now the fun begins

ColinW - 25-6-2020 at 07:25 PM

I would be glad to have a close look at the workmanship. If you could post the kite to Victoria, BC I will just do a quick inspection, and a test flight or 2 (just to make sure it is properly balanced) and I will have it back to you by Christmas.
SUPER envious here.
Beautiful work Riff!

riffclown - 26-6-2020 at 06:56 PM

Need pics and video!!!!

Flew yesterday and will fly tomorrow

jeepersjoey - 27-6-2020 at 02:46 PM

The wife has flown kites EXACTLY once. It was a very windy day and I was in a horrible mood at a weekend kite festival.

She perked me up my saying "why don't ya show me how to fly a kite?".

I would not say she was hooked. But, she did very well with the vented REV and 15mph winds.

She told me today that we should go out Sunday and fly the Kat Scratch Fever.

Wow!

Oddly, I flew it Thursday when it arrived. But, my phone completely died on Friday morning and all my pics are lost.

Pics and videos to follow from tomorrow's fly!
Paul

riffclown - 27-6-2020 at 05:48 PM

Looking forward to your media..

riffclown - 28-6-2020 at 01:02 PM

Sorry, I realized I was hijacking the thread..