Wayne Dowler
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Posts posted by Wayne Dowler
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John - how many previous clinics have these folks been to at this type of training?
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Skybond is definitely coated. LPG - ? Tighter weave might be a better word. Speed has been around a very long time, got sets nearly 20 years old and still fly them. All 3 are really about the same strength, but still kite design and pull will dictate what line works for which kite. not poundage. I try using 90/100# line on my Stranger and it breaks nearly every time. Not every kite will work best on lighter line...... IMHO YMMV
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The Kite Shoppe uses smaller diameter sleeving, otherwise it is a tossup between the stores. Either Speed or Skybond will work for your dual line kites. Speed has been around longer, but Skybond is good stuff too. LPG is good too, but preferred for quads. Can't go wrong with any of the shops I mentioned, but my local store is The Kite Shoppe.
Just remember to match line strength to kite pull. Sometimes you need 150# line on certain kites or the kite will break it. You just have to know your equipment. My Prism Ozone flies on 50#, but my Stranger(middle wind range) uses 150#. My higher wind kite, a Prism Alien flies in higher winds and uses 90#. Design of the kite plays into line choice. There is no "one size fits all".
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Any decent lines are made of spectra, dacron is for SLK's. Several shops near to choose from - The Kite Shoppe, The Kite Connection, Into The Wind, and A Wind of Change. Almost all handle LPG and/or Shanti Skybond, you'll need to look around for Shanti Speed. Pretty sure ITW carries it in bulk, not sure about sets. Same with AWOC.
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Pull tabs on the loops can be made from other line and added to, or make the loops long and tie them into the setup using the ends of the loops. Either way works.
The only set to be fairly accurate with is the 120's if you plan on flying with others. Everything else is fair game ......
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Kite Shoppe uses LPG bridle line and pulls out the core to make sleeves.
You can make those short sets with no sleeves, just add a knot to the loop for undoing a larkshead.
I use an old Shanti Spleever for sleeving. A guitar high "E" string works too. Just fold it in half and away you go! Others have used floral wire!
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Over thinking!!! A difference of inches really doesn't matter at 120'. But most will say measure to 50;' and add extra for loops and knots. In the end, it should be 50' overall.
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Nice to see a 3 digit number again in the winner's circle ........... But it wasn't MINE!!!!
Congrats!!
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SHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!! 😇
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21 minutes ago, riffclown said:
You have a database for your kites..
Long past "kite nut" and into something else ...........not sure what that is .....!!!!!
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Good stuff!!!
One of the things we learn is not how much it takes to do something, but how little. Ease into those turns. Small corrections to trim and control. Work on keeping the kite "balanced".
If the kite is going to crash - Let it! Do not pull! All that does is drive the sail even harder into the ground. Learn to "Give to the Kite!" Better to go straighten it up, than to find it broken and your day cut short.
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No kite is suitable for light winds - unless the flier's skills are up to it. It takes a lot to learn light wind flying and do it right. Skills - not equipment is the single most important thing needed. Too many have chased that demon and lost.
Does this mean that the proper equipment is useless - of course not! In both dual line and quads, there are models for light wind. Quads also offer you a variety of rods to choose from to meet your goals. But the finest equipment means nothing if you don't know how to use it. All about skills ......
There are countless options on a good beginner quad. Most have already been posted here.Any good quad with maybe 2 frame choices, would be a very satisfactory starter kite.
Take the time to learn the basics in decent winds, then attempt light wind flying. No fun trying to learn control, when you are fighting to keep the sail aloft. Look for a 5-10 mph wind and get those basics down!
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I'll pop in with this: The Stranger was among the first "stunt" kites. Have one that I don't fly often, but is a blast when I do. Son has my Psycho. The Psycho is a 3/4 Stranger, faster and even more maneuverable. The Stranger will do all the tricks singly, but won't do the combos well. The Psycho is just a faster version. Both will almost always recover from the most ridiculous situations. Takes a bit of getting used to - you just wait a second and - voila, you're saved. Learning to wait that second is the hard part.
After my stroke, I gave the Psycho to my son and got an Alien. Not quite as fast, but pulls a lot less and I can keep up with it better.But the Psycho was the only kite I ever got a double axle out of without trying! I pulled that line and the thing just kept spinning around. It can be a bunch of fun!
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Just what I needed - another colorizer!!!!! TIME DRAIN!!!!!
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A company called - 3 Winds Kites from China. Theresa at The Kite Shoppe Is handling them. I believe there is a colorizer setup, and there are several levels of venting available.
Just looked on her website and it hasn't been updated to include this - yet!
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Just got off FB chat with Patrick - his suggestion is that the "z" line may have come untied and doesn't create the dihedral the wings should form. Since you're on FB, try reaching him on chat and leave him a pic of the kite assembled, from the nose, on its back. He should be able to help!!
Added you to our FB chat - feel free to ask questions there!!
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Make sure to check both end caps where the spreader goes for twists or ?? Make sure they lay straight and are not all fudged up, forcing the spreader to lay funny.
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OK, so mine's a bit shorter, but not much. Have you tried re-centering the endcaps for the spreader? Make them more equal side to side, leftside, right side? Not offset on the wings?
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Have you replaced the spreader - it looks much too long! Mine is a shade under 9" long, metrics would tell exactly. Or pm Patrick Tan and ask. That looks much too long from the pic. While you're at it - ask him the diameter of the spreader too. From the pic it looks a bit thick.
Did you center the line from spine to spreader? The spreader should form a straight line wingtip to wingtip about 1" off the sail.
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I NEVER bash my kites - even when they don't do as I want!! Spoiled they are!!!! 😇
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Several different views too.
No bashing please!! 😁
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OK - Measured mine - about 1" off the sail for spreader. Above and clear of bridle. Line centered. Mine sits pretty straight, maybe leans to nose very slightly. Top leg of bridle about 2 1/4", bottom leg 4 1/4". All measurements approximate. Don't know if yours was marked, but I made a Sharpie mark to indicate "home" and use it as my baseline on the bridle. I can always return there if any adjustment doesn't work.
PS: #154 white sail here. Don't know how many 1000's he's made, but mine is one of his early ones!!!
If you are on FB, Patrick does have a page setup - iFlite the windless wonder. Lots of pix, not sure on a setup video. Dedicated page to his iFlites.
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Yes - the spreader should be separated not tangled in the bridle. Remember to center the line from the spine holding the spreader. I think it should be pretty much straight across from the wingtips and not leaning towards the tail though. Check that both attachment caps are free and not twisted. There should be a smooth bend to the spreader. Let me get mine out and measure how far from the sail it is after assembly. Sorry no pix - my 'puter skills are crap.
Are you on FB?? I use the same screen name there. Send me a pm there and I could use my phone to share pix?
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Common modifications to Rev and similar Hadzicki-wing kites
in Adjustments and Modifications
Posted
A little note on bridles - the Indoor doesn't use one at all. There are only pigtails attached to the top and bottom of your verticals. A common mod is to lengthen the top pigtail and add knots to adjust it to your taste. Some shorten the bottom or at least add a few knots for further adjustment.
Also we add some bow to the LE by tightening the bunjis at the end caps. Then remove any wrinkles caused from it, by tightening the tip bunjis til the sail is pretty smooth.
Another little thing I do to an Indoor - I add small pieces of insignia tape to reinforce the bunji holes. Prevents elongating from stretching those bunjis and caps tight.
Pretty much all this info is in an article by Watty on here.