Date: Mon, 17 Oct 1994 03:08:10 -1000 From: d.j.evans@reading.ac.uk Message-Id: Organization: The University of Reading Subject: Rev questions - spars, bridling. I'm building a Rev - my first 4-line kite - having made quite a few stunt kites, in cluding La Hembra most recently. The kite will have an 8 panel custom sail of 2.4 m width (and about 80 cm high) which I reckon will allow me to use 5 standard 82 cm spars with minimum waste. I've read the 4-line section at hawaii and the FAQ's but still have the following unanswered questions : What should I frame it in - by scaling up the spars data at hawaii I think I should use SkySkark VIIP's. This is not an extremely low wind kite - I want it to work under a reasonable range of conditions. How do I attach the bridle - do I really need the 7 point attachment like a real Rev ? (5 on the l.e. and two at the bottom of the spines). Can I use the pierced endcaps and bungee cord used in the Quadriphant pattern in Stunt Kites II, or is there a better way ? What is the best way of attaching the spines to the l.e. ? I had thought of using a bungee cord loop through the dacron which should give maximum flexibility. But how do you stop the spines riding UP in a stiffish breeze ? Is a 3 cm gauze vent sufficient ? It's going to have one even though I know many fliers think it's unnecessary..... Thanks in advance Replies to the newsgroup if you think the questions are suitably interesting, otherwise e-mail them to me at the address below. Tight Lines David (d.j.evans@reading.ac.uk) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 17 Oct 1994 10:21:32 -1000 From: lord@eskimo.com (David Lord) Message-Id: Organization: Eskimo North (206) For-Ever Subject: Re: Rev questions - spars, bridling. Mr Evans I assume the spar chart you used is the one I prepared. You obtained a reasonably good answer although too conservative for my taste. The problem lies in your choice of reference for the Rev. True, it comes with 250/4 wrap spars but that is because a learner will punish the kite severly. Once you acquire a little skill the punishment falls off sharply and most prefer 250/3 wrap spars for normal wind range flying. Using the 3 wrap spars as reference your scaled kite would be somewhat stiffer than the full size if you used Skyshark IIIP spars. I would expect them to work well up to 15 or so mph. Concerning the bridle the factory version does two things. One, the longitudinal part helps limit the deflection of the main spar. Two, the vertical parts increase the senitivity of the handle movement. The bridle has the bad side effect of creating drag and thus degrading performance some. If you want to sacrifice some low wind performance then you can make the center section of the main spar a Skyshark VP and get away with out the bridle in the upper wind range. As for the gauze width all I can say is try the 3 cm width you suggested. The only way to tell is see how well the kite backs down when you are flying at near the upper wind speed you are comfortable with. At lower wind speeds the gauze should become increasingly less effective. In my Rev like kites that are the size you are going to make I use Clearwater 202/2 wrap spars for ultra light wind and Clearwater 250/2 wrap except for a 250/3 wrap center section main spar for the rest of the wind range. I must admit that I rarely fly above 10 to 12 mph though. In the states the Clearwater spars have the best prices but where you are they are probably not available. If you want to contact them they are at P.O. Box 672 10373 N.E. State Hiway 104, Kingston Washington. Phone 206 297 4184. Hope this helps. Dave Lord = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 23 Oct 1994 02:37:44 -1000 From: ellisjo@msuvx2.memphis.edu (John Ellis) Message-Id: Organization: Univ. of Memphis Subject: Re: Rev questions - spars, bridling. In article lord@eskimo.com (David Lord) writes: >Subject: Re: Rev questions - spars, bridling. >From: lord@eskimo.com (David Lord) >Date: Mon, 17 Oct 1994 20:21:32 GMT >Summary: Spar size for scaled Rev I found this discussion intriquing, since I recently purchased a factory Rev II. I would love to build my own Rev-like kite for extremely low wind situations here in Memphis. How do I get started? = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 22:59:01 -1000 From: raymiller@aol.com (RayMiller) Message-Id: <38t2sl$emk@newsbf01.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Re: Rev questions - spars, bridling. In article , ellisjo@msuvx2.memphis.edu (John Ellis) writes: ...I found this discussion intriquing, since I recently purchased a factory Rev ...II. I would love to build my own Rev-like kite for extremely low wind ...situations here in Memphis. How do I get started? I just finished a REV-II stack of five kites. I used 2300 Avia and the stack flies just great. I did NOT sew in the mesh found just behind the leading edge. I seems to make no difference at all. If there is a difference in flying, I am not good enuf to recognize it. I took one of the "home made" REVs and put in some super thin carbon fiber tubing I was given. Although seemingly flimsy, it worked quite well and I was able to fly in "no-wind" conditions. I then made another with half-ounce cloth and it flew even better. All in all, I have had a great deal of success in building these kites. The design is simple and everything associated with the construction went off without a hitch. I do recommend that you latch on to a graphics drawing program of some sort (I use Corel Draw) and pull together your own graphics designs -- those of the factory kites are without much imagination. Mine are much more aesthetic than one could imagine due to the ability to see the finished product BEFORE actually starting construction. That is it. Give a try and enjoy the fair winds. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =