Page:Kitecraft and kite tournaments (1914).djvu/56

CHAPTER VI.

COMBINED KITES.

COMBINING PLAIN SURFACES AND BOX KITES TOGETHER.

Fig. 89.

Straight Extension of Surfaces. One of the most efficient and popular kites in the combined construction group is the two spined tailless, called the house kite, and the triangular box-kite, as shown by Fig. 89. This is an easy kite to make and the proportions are easy to remember. The simplest plan is shown in Fig. 90. Three sticks of the same size are used; say, 3/8″×1/2″×41/2′. The horizontal stick is lashed to the two vertical spines down one-third the distance from the top, in this case 18″. The two spines are also 18" apart, which leaves the extension of the horizontal 18″ to each side of spines. Now run a string around the outside of the framework, and cover as in Fig. 91. The two cells are now built over the two spaces between the spines. There need not be any braces for these cells, but another stick of the same dimensions as the other three is used to keep the keel shaped portion in place when pulled out by the breeze. The whole framework can be built rigid, using two short braces about the middle of each cell out to the fourth stick or keel of kite; the best way, however, is to make the horizontal stick removable and without the short braces so that the kite may be rolled up. Remember there are only four sticks in such a kite and they are all the same size. This kite is sometimes called the "Coyne Kite," again the "French War Kite," and is a steady flyer and a strong puller. The bridle can be adjusted so as to give much or little inclination to the breeze. For lazy, easy gliding, the kite would be adjusted Fig. 92, or with the lower horizontal shorter, as in Fig. 93. The horizon-

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