Odd Ball Kites

This kite is special to me because my son had a hand in it. The initial design came from a drawing he made when he was 4 years old. He had been watching me draw up a kite design on my computer. An important aspect of his design is that it has to have wings. To him a kite flys better when it has them. It was built using wood dowelling, garbage bags and kitchen string. It measures about 6 feet across and 18 feet long tip to tail. With proper bowing it flys quite well in a light breeze. Someday I'll make a proper break downable ripstop version.

Is this one beautiful or what! this is a handmade painted nylon on bamboo frame Indonesian butterfly. This was the first time I got it out to fly and except for the turbulent winds shifting it around it was fantastic in the sky!



This is a top view of my waxing setup in action. Waxing some T7 Cotton.


An actual view of my waxing mechanism. Note the precision construcion. ;)


This is my line take up reel. Yes it is hand cranking at it's best. Not fancy but it works just fine.

Every good kite club needs a banner. The Renegade Strings is no exception. Here is our 20 foot version made from 3/4 oz ripstop spinnaker nylon. The logo is painted on a special "printable" ripstop in acrylic paint. Turned out pretty nice to say the least. Notice the grin? ;)