Captainbob Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Just got my new B mid vent this afternoon. Of course as soon as it was delivered the 8-10 mph wind that was blowing since early this morning, instantly went to 1 mph gusting to 0, so no flying anything for me today. Anyway, the kite looks awesome, Red/white and black complete with signatures and a very colorful bag... Here is my question, I ordered it with just a Race Rod set and since the usual strong wind around here is in the 8-10 mph at most, many days less, would it be a good idea to leave the race rod set in the mid vent so that I could try flying it in about the same wind condition as my Std 1.5 with the 3 wrap rods? If not, should I put the 3 wraps in the B, and Race Rods in the 1.5 std and only fly the B when the wind gets over say 10 mph? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyPuppets LimitVoodoo Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 I'd say you're thinking here is logical, but don't miss out on the chance to fly your midvent with the 3 wrap, its one of my favorite setups 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainbob Posted March 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 I found this video tonight, low wind speed 3-6 mph, B mid vent and race frame. So at least one person , JB, can get it off the ground 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHBKF Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 Despite considerable advice to put in the race frame I have flown my mid-vent B exclusively with the three wrap since I got it. I keep a race frame in my full sail B & fly it only with that set up. Well I did recently put 2 wrap verticals in the full sail while keeping the race as the leading edge. I might start a session in light winds flying the full sail with the light frame & switch to the mid-vent & 3 wraps as soon as the wind picks up a bit. Then I fly the mid until the wind drops off. As my skill has improved I have been able to fly the mid in lower speed air. By the time the wind slows below my mid-vent range I'm usually done for that session. I like the blue & gray mid-vent 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainbob Posted March 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 Despite considerable advice to put in the race frame I have flown my mid-vent B exclusively with the three wrap since I got it. I keep a race frame in my full sail B & fly it only with that set up. Well I did recently put 2 wrap verticals in the full sail while keeping the race as the leading edge. I might start a session in light winds flying the full sail with the light frame & switch to the mid-vent & 3 wraps as soon as the wind picks up a bit. Then I fly the mid until the wind drops off. As my skill has improved I have been able to fly the mid in lower speed air. By the time the wind slows below my mid-vent range I'm usually done for that session. I like the blue & gray mid-vent DSC07111.JPG What is the bottom of your mid-range with the 3 wrap? ( approximately of course) By the way that Kite-Car Combination looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 I found this video tonight, low wind speed 3-6 mph, B mid vent and race frame. So at least one person , JB, can get it off the ground JB could fly an "anvil", with race rods............... My set-ups are as follows, for B-series, B-Pros, and B2's: Standard Sail - Black Race Rods Mid-Vent Sail - 3-wrap Full-Vent Sail - 4-wrap That's just my opinion (set-ups)........Others will have other opinions, but don't hesitate to experiment ! It's all about what feels RIGHT - for you ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainbob Posted March 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 I found this video tonight, low wind speed 3-6 mph, B mid vent and race frame. So at least one person , JB, can get it off the ground JB could fly an "anvil", with race rods............... My set-ups are as follows, for B-series, B-Pros, and B2's: Standard Sail - Black Race Rods Mid-Vent Sail - 3-wrap Full-Vent Sail - 4-wrap That's just my opinion (set-ups)........Others will have other opinions, but don't hesitate to experiment ! It's all about what feels RIGHT - for you ! I agree wit you about JB. That video I posted of him flying the B with Race Rods, the kite looks like it is "alive"..... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHBKF Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 I believe I can fly down to about 3 or 4 mph with the mid & 3 wraps now. Of course that involves some footwork. Usually when the winds in this area are dropping off they become little puffs of wind 0 to 3. So you can set on the ground upright, wait to feel the wind on your neck, give it a few moments to get to the kite & launch. Fly around a little bit improving your light wind skills, land it & wait for the next puff. I do this when I don't want to quit flying quad even though the evening calm is approaching. You can prolong your flying session considerably if you want to this way even with the mid-vent Rev. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 I agree wit you about JB. That video I posted of him flying the B with Race Rods, the kite looks like it is "alive"..... It is alive - when he's flying it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystainedskin Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 When I was learning or starting, 3 wraps were my best friend. Then I got a set of black race..my low wind, standard sail flying immediately saw improvement. As recently as December, I was saying how I liked a stiffer sail..and flying JBs kites recently, commenting how much flex was there and didn't realky like it. As things progress, your flavors will change. I now run diamonds in low/no wind and black race in my full vent... the 3 wrap will only go in when the strong stuff is around. Even then...usually go to the B2 when it gets like that. Go with what works for you at the time..just don't forget to try it again later.. your views may have changed and it be the hottest set up since........ 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkieRob Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 I use Black Race Rods in my Mid and I find it perfect. Handles the severe gusts we get here and still be light enough when the wind drops out. Practice with what you have and let your hands tell you what you need. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 I use Black Race Rods in my Mid and I find it perfect. Handles the severe gusts we get here and still be light enough when the wind drops out. Practice with what you have and let your hands tell you what you need. Now that you mention it, I did, on occasion, use black race rods in my B-Pro mid-vent, but my normal set-up was 3-wraps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Dowler Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 My usual setup is: Std - black race Mid - black race F/V - 3 wrap X/V - 3 wrap I will put any rod set in any sail, at any time, if that's what I feel will work at the time!! (except the SLE rods)! YMMV 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul LaMasters Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 I run Diamonds in SULs, as well as the Zen. (3 piece leading edge) Diamonds in 1 mid-vent, Black Race in the other Black Race in the 75% shook mesh kites. I like a hybrid frame too, but my choice is unique to my personal preferences I'm sure. Rev's Diamonds (2) on the outer pieces with a green race frame center (4) formed as a six piece leading edge. 3 wraps in the full vent, 4 wraps in the 100% shook, on very rare occasions I've used the SLEs in the 100% also. I have a gibian masterpiece full sail that flies perfectly when others use 75% shooks or their full vent pros! It is built as heavy as a tarp but looks fantastic, many spots are 4 thicknesses. The point is,.... what feels right on the ends of the lines. That is a situation arrived upon after some personal experience. Using the French Bridle spreads the stress over a larger frame area, (many more bridle legs). It also bends the kite on the outer thirds, instead of the center of the kite. Adding magic sticks allows you to frame lighter (folks mistakenly assume you are ADDING weight). B2 has a P-90 frame as well as a black race (3 piece leading edge) Custom indoor (Ashworth's 2nd generation) has a P-90 leading edge center with "Breeze" tapered outers (orcon/icarex sail ~ down spars are point 125 carbon tubes). I will switch-out down spars depending on smooth or gusty wind conditions too,..... in everything except the Zen. I have cut-down 2-p tapers (inch short, frame ends at the sail edge now, must re-adjust lower bungies though). Response 12 (discontinued taper from SS, probably a decade ago), plus all the Rev tubes. With the sissy sticks on those vertical spars I can always go lighter than anyone else w/o 'em. Of course everyone switches frames back and forth trying to arrive at the perfect moment in flight, or loans stuff to those without. So sometimes you have to search for what you are seeking through several kite bags. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 Well, that ought to explain that ! ~ ~ ~ Great ideas Paul Pretty amazing too ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkieRob Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 I'm playing around with Franken Frames at the moment. I've taken my SLE Std from my 2-Stack for street use. Currently I'm enjoying a 2 frame on all corners and a Black Race in the centre. Quite a sweet feel, very responsive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barresi Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 My standard rigs these days... STD - diamond, black race or 3 wrap (no mixing) MID - black race or 3 wrap VTD - 3 wrap XTRA - 3 wrap That's it, 3 frames total. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northwavesailor Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 Welcome home, John! We are still very much the rookies, but wanted to know how the 'Diamond' frame differs from the others, particularly the black race frame? We fly our mid vent's the most and (at this point in our Rev flying) use the 3 wrap in those. We then have the black race frames in our STD sails. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainbob Posted March 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2014 Did 4 hours on my New B Series mid vent today, with the Race Rods. I can dependably launch it in a bit over 4 mph wind. I practiced horizontal flight, at lower and lower altitudes, slides up and down, a few tip landings. hovering both upright and sldeways. I built up up the courage finally and did some spins, first one each way, and then two each way. Easier than I thought. I also practiced keeping the sail full when there is a lull in the wind, by gently applying pressure and forward flying so I don't lose lift. Very productive day, no crashes, or even hard landings, and I am really starting to get the hang of flying the Rev. Waiting for some steady winds to work on inverted hovering, which I didn't do today because it was pretty gusty most of the day. The only thing that surprised me is the Race Rods. I had tried the 3 wrap in my SLE the last couple of times I flew it, and thought the Race Rods would feel the same in the B series, but I can only describe them as "rubbery feeling" Seems to be much more flex in them than in the 3 wraps in my SLE. Not sure if it just the rods, or the combination of the rods and the B series compared to my SLE 1.5. When I got to altitude today, I would guess the winds up there were around 12 mph or more so maybe the 3 wrap would be a better choice in that wind, but launching with the Race Rods and the mid vent is a definite positive when the ground wind is light, which it was today. The flex of the Race Rods does seem to make it easier to control the B, but that may in part be due to the mid vent too. Anyway it looks like I have 2 kites now that will work in low wind pretty well. Photo is just prior to First Flight 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted March 8, 2014 Report Share Posted March 8, 2014 You've only just begun So what's next, on the wish list ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainbob Posted March 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 You've only just begun So what's next, on the wish list ? Good winds, 8-14 everyday that I am not working, with good warm weather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Dowler Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 You know that isn't happening!!! Nice thought though!! 8 - 14 mph, eh? Sounds like that midvent is gonna see a lot of airtime if that wish comes true!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 Good winds, 8-14 everyday that I am not working, with good warm weather Now wouldn't 8 - 14 mph just be perfect, especially with warm weather ! YeeHa ! My kind of wind ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainbob Posted March 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 Good winds, 8-14 everyday that I am not working, with good warm weather Now wouldn't 8 - 14 mph just be perfect, especially with warm weather ! YeeHa ! My kind of wind ! Just got the wind forecast for today 12mph gust to 18 and 70 degrees F. Getting ready to swap the rods in my new B mid vent , from Race Rods to 3 wrap. Those RR were bending quite a bit yesterday, and I want to see if the 3 wraps are different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainbob Posted March 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 Flew about 4 hours yesterday with the 3 wraps in my Rev B MV. 3 wraps were much stiffer than the Race Rods, not nearly as much flex, especially in gusts. The wind was not what was forecast, more like 4-5 mph near ground, and maybe 10-12 mph at altitude, so launching with the 3 wraps was not as easy as with the Race Rods. I think I prefer the 3 wraps in the higher winds, and may use the Race Rods in my 1.5 Std for light wind days, and switch to the MV kite with the 3 wraps when the winds get above 8- 10 mph. Really starting to get comfortable controlling the Rev now, and many responses to what the kite is doing are stating to come automatically rather than to have to think about what I need to do next. Getting very comfortable with low altitude forward flight, hovering both upright, and with leading edge forward, and even leading edge at different angles. Made a couple of tip landings, and 3 turn spins in either direction. Loven, the Revolution. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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