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@westersIn response to your question I started another topic to cover my evolution as a kite maker. I started out with the intent of making my own and wanting a Shook Mesh I couldn't afford. Since I wasn't comfortable hemming and folding strips at the time I started out with Gomberg Skywriter tails. My first efforts are all in my HomeMade gallery. Older kites are on Page 3 (as of this post) In Fall 2017 I made my first kite that wasn't made from tails. I got some closeout material from one of the regular vendors and made my First indigo sunrise. I made to decision to learn the craft fully and in very Early 2018 and spent some time with Eliot Shook down at Flying Smiles Kites and he showed me the basics for the Leading Edge. I also started playing with Orange and Blue Nylon that was part of the same sale. The Perspective Stack, Midnight Royal Taboo, and The Jester followed very quickly. The Jester spawned the technique I refined to make the original Diamonds kite in Feb 2018. I then got up the nerve to order some Icarex and asked for all the scraps they were willing to let me have. I've been playing with color, designs, materials and refinements ever since. That pretty much sums up my personal evolution as a kite maker.

The first link was my Gallery. If you look through the Kite Making section of the forum, pretty much every build has been documented here in some way.

Thank you for sharing. The kites presented in the bottom two links are stunning! (I had trouble with the first link.) It boggles the mind to consider the intricacies of planning and execution involved with that diamond pattern. So beautifully done! Much respect. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello @John Manly, Welcome to KiteLife®! Although this is an automated message, it is written with heart - I love kites deeply, and I believe the KiteLife community represents this passion with a very friendly and helpful environment for everyone. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Need to tweak settings? Edit your profile here - View Member Edit your settings - http://kitelife.com/forum/settings/ Other than that, here are a few handy links that you might have a use for... Member Chat Member Map KL Shop And while it's never an obligation, we always love hearing about our new members if you'd like to share some of your kite stories, videos, and/or background... Tell us a little about YOUR kite life!

This is gorgeous. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Using the sewn pic above, I created a mirror image to plan the center panel. Thinking Silver, Charcoal and Black with White mesh.. I may add additional stripes. Just not wanting a plain center panel. Created the following concept image.

Very Happy with the way this one turned out.

Based on some recent conversations in chat (Yes, KiteLife still has an active chat!!!) I decided to show some of the advantages of the White Leading Edge. First advantage is it is very visible against the dark grass when doing very low inverted flying. It also allows you to easily see what frame you have in the kite, Next it makes it easy to see your spar alignment on setup and separation on breakdown when you are folding your kite. The biggest disadvantage is white shows dirt and grass stains. This isn't meant to be everything but should give some insight into the thoughts I go through when choosing LE Color.

John I had this one at S.P.I.. when you guys loaned me some super glue.Think I might have another yard of this fabric. 👍

Okay now I got to put together some kites side by side and REALLY look at the BMK Mongoose. Extremely pleased with it. The Mongoose feels very silky to me and haven't understood why.Now maybe I will 😊.Took awhile but I got a descent Pfaff 1122 for $58.00.Needed a good cleaning so I followed some you tube tutorials. Doesn't have the walking foot but that can be bought.I think a lot of the newer model machines plastic parts are to eliminate the need for most oiling. Some of it's cost but some makes sense ,weight etc..Some of the older machines(60s,70s) I researched that were on the list were White from England, Singers made in the U.S.and Canada and the Kenmores made in Japan.Some really nice ones in my area for less than $100.00. Going back to the 40s and earlier some are just stunning to look at.Went the Pfaff route because of the popularity amongst kite builders and not knowing a thing.The 1122 is considered fast for a newbie and have found controlling it a little difficult. Won't be long and that won't matter.Should last a good while. Been looking for a large sewing cabinet to make feeding easier. Lots of smaller ones at good prices. The bigger ones get a little pricey. My sewing room got delayed but it won't be long. Watch the classified free section. Amazing how much free glass pops up for your cutting table.

next time you get a chance,... examine one of the master's kite building effort up close & personal,.. see how Ron Gibian does it? What is his seam width,.. how many stitches per inch, .... do you want "black" on both the front and the back sides, like him? The Randy Tom method (sew all the fabric colors together for the entire sail, then front and back cut out the appliqué pieces until you're left with just a single thickness). Wastes huge amount of fabric, but nothing can slip/slide/or wiggle out of alignment, there are no hot tacking holes either, no gummed-up sewing machine, your efforts are expensive but completely perfect, like your own national entry into the AKA building comps? Some folks (Lam Hoac) "mount" all the colors onto a white carrier piece of fabric, easy to see the lines, simple to butt the pieces and an accurate fit of the appliqué based upon experience. Now you have to hold those pieces in position as you slide thru the sewing machine. What is your solution?, masking tape, hot tacker, spray-mount adhesive, water adhesion thru a capillary action? You do NOT back-cut out the backing layer, the white stays one piece. Ask Lam for a black kite and oh how he howls, back-cut out the backing layer yourself and now he's concerned if you did a good job,... "cause his name is on it!" Did you know you can make the entire kite with no sewing at all? 3M's 9460 VHB adhesive tape,... I've flown single skinned quads of this construction method for 3,000 hours. Guess what?, no weight of the thread, no excess overlapped seams, no perforations (sewing needle holes) to promote early failures. It is not faster, just another choice to be made as a builder. Here's a word to explore,... if a dualie sport kite is your interest: catenary cut,.... that's where you adhere a curved surface to a straight edge, thereby making a 3 dimensional shape w/o any framing to force that shape. Like a tent instead of a tarp. Who's the master of this technique?, Ken McNeill, blue moon kites. Until you have personally experienced a kite built this way, ...... anyway, more options to consider as a builder. If I wasn't so impatient I'd be making my own kites too, alas I know my own serious flaws and deal with 'em, accordingly. I will pay for expert production by a true master class builder who signs their work and backs the product.

Overkill but I got 80' x 150# Laser Pro Competition. Old but I think they are in good shape. Will work well for a Djinn Hard Core I hope. You are like a hurricane there's calm in your eye 🎶, wow I gotta stop!! Fly mostly on 100' with either Sky Dog 80# or HQ 130# lines. As I am getting better the switch to my LPG 120' and 125' is getting pretty dramatic.A lot smoother feel.ALWAYS seem to be adjusting my Prism lines and don't use them much anymore. Will be shopping for a spool of the 80# Shanti Speed. Think that will work best for the duels and for now the quads. When I get better Sky Bond for the quads is the plan. That's my thought but it is subject to change 😊.

In short, this kite is as responsive as advertised.. The biggest leap forward is the Sync Bridles.. Not conventional, nor is it a turbo or french bridle. It literally makes the whole wing a lot more of a cohesive unit while maintaining the independence of the inputs. For those that fly with a lot of brake (and I do mean a lot) you might have to back off that mindset a knot or two for first flight. The design of the bridles seems to have the the extra brake so many of us desire already incorporated to a point. That being said, control feels familiar but at the same time, almost enhanced in the responsiveness. Bottom line, a true quality product that's a significant step forward, right out of the bag. Everything you would have considered adding before is now already there. Looking forward to more time on the handles with this sail..

Wait!! IS there a colorizer for the djinn? Oh no, that would be dangerous... Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using KiteLife mobile app

I don’t sit in an office pushing kites, nor am I landlocked in a low kite activity region of the world... Between on field time, web presence, training programs and everything else, it probably wouldn’t be a real good idea for any company to copy my stuff outrightand expect to go up against it - just saying. The blur happens with the B and Eyes because Rev did originally sell them under their label, not in the case of the Djinn. Also, you’ll notice I haven’t posted a full pic of the current build - that’s so I can stay ahead of any nefarious activity by putting kites on the ground. And even if someone does copy, they still gotta deliver and keep up with my sincere, natural promotion. No slime, no bull, what I sell will always be real and field-proven. ❤️