riffclown Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 After the positive experiences with the Red White and Blue 96' Transition tails, I decided to branch out into slightly different spectrum.. I decided to get another 96' tail and make a small stack of 5 (Rev II-ish) sized kites. This will be a fixed stack of kites and will always be flown as such. I don't want to give away the finished version entirely but here is a quick spectrum layout for the 5 sails.. The Rulers separate the 5 panels.. Lots of sewing to do on these. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 Aha, another yardstick collector! Now I have company. This stack is going to be awesome. If they will be smaller than a B2, use lighter framing so you don't need gale-force wind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted June 28, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 This is just one of the 5 tails I received today. More cool stuff in store for the future.. I'm really enjoying the facets of how these tails come together to make some really cool designs.. When I sewed the first one a few years back, I had no idea that I would get to fly kites like these, much less make them.. Every kite is a slight modification and application of lessons learned from the predecessor.. I just wonder am I ever going to go back and correct the previous kites at this point or will i just make a new sail instead?? Seems to take about the same amount of effort.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul LaMasters Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 you can rebuild beginner projects, but nobody does. Make 'em modification testing and experimental stations since they will be replaced anyway. The whole "what happens if" becomes easier if you have sacrificial sails to play with during your design phase. Moving the the down-spars entirely, or only adjusting their angles? If you are making baby-sized Revs you should contract Harold Ames. Maybe not, if you don't want to be overwhelmed with information! Train lines that pass thru the whole stack, instead of connect each sail independently to the ones in front. Affixing the train lines to the bridle instead of end-caps, when/where to use a taped assembly method instead of sewing. Use of a one piece leading edge tube and reinforcing for higher wind (or more kites in the stack) by insertion of pultruded carbon tubes inside that LE. enjoy and keep sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted June 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 Thanks Paul these will be a 72" leading edge and I'm targeting B2 sized sails.. The Aspect ratio may be slightly higher. I plan for these to be permanantly stacked with no bridles on any but the front kite. Stack lines will be slightly shorter than standard but I also plan to throw launch this stack regularly. LE for all will be standard materials and construction. Framing will be heavier in the front gradually moving to a lighter frame for the rear kite.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted June 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2017 The Spectrum Stack is taking shape.. The panels are sewn now.. I need to make the LE Sleeve and screen. Do the edge trim and get the hardware I'll need. (already ordered, just waiting for the mail at this point.) Picture is just a mockup. Edges and final sizing are not done yet. LE's will be Black. This is a long ways from done but the piecework is done and It's ready for trim.. I plan to edge bind the bottom area since on this design there is no natural hem there. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted June 30, 2017 Report Share Posted June 30, 2017 That is going to be an awesome stack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted July 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2017 Here's the panels as they are at the moment. Did not want to give the impression they were near a finished state. Just close enough to mockup and get an idea of what they will eventually look like.. Spent the Evening making Leading Edges for all of them. This MIGHT be ready by the Wright Festival.. These 5 are the only kites I'm working on at the moment.. as always, that's subject to change on a whim.. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfish Posted July 1, 2017 Report Share Posted July 1, 2017 The last one needs more purple. Looking good though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted July 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2017 To completely balance it out there should be one more kite but not enough material. I have just over 3 feet of tail left and it's mostly the indigo. 7 colors over 5 kites was already a bit of a challenge. Good spot on the progression of colors. I did rush the spectrum a bit on the last panel to get more purple there. I could add a touch more but it isn't a significant enough amount to warrant resewing the panel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfish Posted July 1, 2017 Report Share Posted July 1, 2017 I was just teasing, not suggesting you should resew the panel. You know how much I like purple. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted July 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2017 I understand. My response was sincere and you were right on there being slightly less purple than the other colors. Just the way the tail colors fell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted July 1, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2017 Leading Edges are DONE!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted July 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Bungees, Caps and Framing remain.. Sails are completed.. I MAY just have to bridle all of these.. I like the idea of a stack but I also like the idea of separate kites as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHBKF Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 You continue to amaze me. My, you have been busy. They are all beauties. You must be full of KiteLife! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted July 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 I guess that is 5 kites in a week. That's a record for me.. Thank you for the kind words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photomom Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 They look amazing. It takes me weeks to do just one kite. I almost can't believe you've done five.Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted July 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Thank You.. I have to decide what spars I'm willing to cut to frame this set. I don't have any extra B2 Frames. I don't like cutting Rev or Skyshark spars because as soon as i do i end up needing what I cut later. Got my small box from OSK yesterday with the parts I needed to finish these sails..Enough materials for 16 kites.. The Current 5 plus the next 11.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Klaiber Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Very nice! Can't wait to see them "live". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted July 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2017 The Spectrum Stack really needed a bag. I usually make bags for my kites from the same tails I make the kites from.. It just makes it easy to know what's in the bag that way.. I decided to try something new to me using a strip left from the 96' and the scraps cut from the leading edge.. Definitely representative of what's in the Bag. The black material is the taffeta cheapie stuff FS #1 was made from. All of the color is from the Spectrum Stack Kites.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted July 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 I need to tweak the center lines and tune on first flight but they are stacked now... Tying the bridle for the front kite tomorrow.. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted July 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 Bridles are done this kite stack is ready for its flying debut. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted July 13, 2017 Report Share Posted July 13, 2017 That is definitely a colorful display. A welcome addition to any kite field. You will probably get requests to fly it at festivals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffclown Posted July 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 Looks like first flight for this stack is going to have to be altered.. I won't be able to make the Wright festival this year after all.. Hopefully I'll get out for a few minutes to my regular flying field.. If so I'll fly'em and get some footage there. Sometimes Life Happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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