Does anyone know someone that can make custom kites?
I got a call from a person who lost their son and want to make a kite of some type with his picture and birth/death dates on it to honor the boy.
My thought was to do a digital print on some nylon material and then produce a kite of some sort.
If anyone has a person in mind who could help this person reach their goal I would be happy to pass on the info to help out.
Thanks guys.....

If you are talking relatively closely you might want to reach out to Scott Davis who is the Regional Director for the AKA in your area. He should be able to put you in contact with a local maker.

Region 10 is the AKA region for Alaska and Washington, click through for Scotts contact info.

http://kite.org/community/regional-resources/

ATB,
Sam

With out a doubt , Sam is the man.

Big Kid, I just had BigE build me a custom NPW and he customized it for me. Just lettering and now he's building single skins.

I have a direct to garment (DTG) printer that prints like a big ink jet printer for polyester and cotton, 50/50's and 100% polyester t-shirts. Won't print on nylon.

Nylon requires a catalyst when we screen print on it. Once we mix the catalyst into the ink, use it and toss it. Has a short pot life. Best for 1 color jobs like car flags and coaches jackets, and one color prints like on kites for logos. It can air dry.

I also make laser photo transfers that are heat applied. At 320/350 degrees application temperature, some nylons shrink with direct heat. I really don't want to test on any of my flying stock to see what would happen.:o

My best idea would to either do a DTG full color print on t-shirt material, 50/50 or 100% polyester, or a color laser printed transfer and then appliqué it to a already made kite. 1.0m or such.

I could help with the print. We do memorial shirts and stickers every day. Even memorial stickers for caskets.:eekdrull:

Thanks Davis, the screen print ideas were my thoughts also. I would think nylon would be the material of choice for long Jevity. I was thinking that the digital print on 50/50 would be good for the picture.
Ultimately it's the decision of the parents.

Jeff, if possible, e-mail me a jpeg or .ai image with sunrise and sun set dates and I'll do a sample, N/C.

Wow! You guys are awesome!
Jeff, There was someone at the kite festival who made a rokkaku (I think) with a picture of Jerry Garcia sewn into the sail. Stunning work. I'm afraid I don't know who it was, but you may be able to look it up. I think he won that days competition, and he seemed to be well known to the officials. He was interviewed on the microphone, and had said the commissioned creation took over a hundred hours, but in the end he wouldn't sell it. Beautiful kite tho...
p.s. I went up to Pacific Beach after the festival with the buggy and got a few turns in, in verrry light wind. Thanks so much for the instruction session. Still having trouble turning the kite before I need tob and keeping the lines tight, but with more wind I think I'll have it.
colin

I think the first question is what type of kite? If it's a single line then there are some guys around on kite building facebook groups who do some really truly stunning stuff, if it's an NPW type then I'd be up to help, as Cheeks says the picture would need to be fully appliqué for nylon, which needs careful planning of the image.

Thanks guys. I believe they just want a kite to memorialize their son. Not particular to any style, just needs to have a picture and writing. More than likely a 1-liner to sit in the sky and watch.

Jeff:

Not sure if you are sorted for this or not, but this was recently posted by userid FlyMarket on the GWTW forum.

If you would prefer to speak to them by phone their number is:
(717) 638-7777

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A Wonderful Boy" rokkaku

I was contacted not long ago by Howard Zemser, the father of US Navy Midshipman Justin Zemser. The two used to fly kites together before Justin left for the Naval Academy. In May, while riding the train home to New York to see his family, Justin was killed in the Philadelphia train wreck. Howard commissioned me to build a kite to memorialize his son. This is the result: A Wonderful Boy.



I took a lot of detail pictures as I was building it, so if you're interested in technique and the process of how it all came together, you can see the details on my Facebook page https://business.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=53189...

Thanks to Ken Conrad of Great Winds Kite Company of Seattle for doing the dye sublimation printing.

---------------------------

If you click through to the Facebook page for the project, there are 22+ photos with descriptions on the construction of the kite.

ATB,
Sam

Super find Sam,
I talked to Phil and he said the kite cost him just shy of 200 bucks for the printed material and he donated the labor.
The material was printed by Great Winds Kite Company in Seattle. Looks like an answer to the main question. Thanks

Insomnia's got to be good for something, besides pissing off the cat.

ATB,
Sam

Good find! Nice for occasional use, just wonder how "fade" resistant the print is and how it would stand up to "our" style which are packed away. IMHO the colours using appliqué with the light behind are unbeatable.

Quote: Originally posted by bigE123

IMHO the colours using appliqué with the light behind are unbeatable.

ATB,
Sam

There is always Susan AKA NPWGoddess ?

I think this is something that Markite may also be able to help you with?

I have met Farber. he is amazing, the amount of detail in his applique is unparalleled. Ive done detailed applique too and he is what I aspire to when i do stuff like that.

Got in touch with Ken at Great Winds Kite Company in Seattle. He can print a photograph on nylon. He also sells a kite kit that allows you to make the printed nylon into a kite. A one line kite that sits in the sky.
Ever thought about printing a photo on royal blue nylon and still be able to see the photo? Can't wait to see the end result.
The cost for a kit and 20x27 printed nylon is 89 bucks.

I think the customer that lost her son will be very happy with the idea of creating her own kite in memory of the young man.

Thanks everyone for the help.:saint: