Can you silkscreen something onto a kite? I would like to put some graphics on my
N-ARC and I am doing silkscreening for a school project.

U could but it won't last long { treated ripstop } better if you used paint master paint

The ripstop I bought is not treated, just ripstop. I am going to seal it with silicone tent sealer. So I could silkscreen it and then seal over it. Would that last?

how is your arc going. you need to post some pics of the build.

Here are some pictures, the picture w/ profiles is as far as I have gotten, I am held up as I need some nylon webbing for support and some mesh for my air intakes.

Here is the air intake:
(8" at front, 4" at back, and 10"long)


Here is the zipper up close:
(12" zipper)


Here is the zipper as it will be when flying:


Here are the profiles sewn halfway onto the lower skin:
(15 profiles spaced 1' apart, the three blue squares are roughly where the intakes go when I get my netting)

complete newbie question but what is the zip for?
and where do you get the designs and material for these?

Quote:

Originally posted by feral complete newbie question but what is the zip for? and where do you get the designs and material for these?

The zip is used as an air intake, so the kite is water relaunchable. Materials can be picked up from nice fabric stores if your lucky, or online at kite supply sites. Designs can be found all around, but the Foil Design group on Yahoo is a great source.

NPW is making his kite " closed cell " The intake sleeves ( the blue tapered pieces ) will resist air escaping after it enters the cells helping the arc maintain pressure . The zipper aids in letting air out of the kite when you are done and packing up.

Quote:

Originally posted by feral complete newbie question but what is the zip for? and where do you get the designs and material for these?

what is it about this design that makes it water relaunchable?

The magic is in those tapered inlets he is sewing in. They allow air in but scrunch up and resist air escaping = 2 " closed cell "

This way the kite will sit on the water and remain inflated for a while. Open cells kind of stick to the water like suction cups and won't reverse launch .

I way I heard it explained to me one time is imagine taking a ziplock bag, blowing it up (wind going into 1 way valves) zipping it (valve scrunching it up) and throwing it onto the water. It will just float. Now take that bag, blow it up, dont seal it and throw it onto the water, leave it for 20 someodd minutes and it deflate, take on water, and sink.

So the arc=sealed bag=closed cell foil
Open cell foil=open bag

Hope that helps.