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Now tie a length on the bottom left-hand wing crossbar, 3 in. from the backbone. Bring it down to the top tail-backbone joint, loop it round the backbone, and then take it to its tying point on the bottom right-hand wing crossbar, 3 in. from the backbone. See Fig. 16 for details of the bracing. There should be an even tension on all the strings. The wing and tail units should be in the correct horizontal position, and the backbone in the correct vertical position. All the joints must be neat and strongly made.
The framework may now be covered. Use pure ribbed kraft (161b.) paper for the wing, body, and tail. Cut a piece first for the body. This is 1 ft. 4 in. in length. The width at the top is 7 in., narrowing to 1/2 in. at the bottom. Glue this to the bottom wing and the top tail crossbars, and over the body bracing strings, which are shaped like a narrow V. The wing cover measures 2 ft. 8 in. in length and 9 in. in width. Glue it to the crossbars and around the end bracing strings. The tail cover is 8 in. in width, and 1 ft. 81/2 in. in length at the top, narrowing to 1 ft. 5 in. at the bottom. Attach it in the same manner as the wing cover.
There may be added to the main covers a supplementary transparent polythene cover which fills in the spaces between the wing, body, and tail. Use very fine polythene and cut two pieces measuring 1 ft. 4 in. in length and 1 ft. 11/2 in. in width. The shape is given at G (Fig. 16). Secure these to the wing and tail, sides of the body and over the outer bracing strings with strips of cellulose adhesive tape, or one of the proprietary brands of adhesive. Add suitable wing and tail markings, cut from coloured gummed paper.
The bridle is formed from a 6 ft. length of stout string. It is attached to the backbone in the form of a loop at the points marked X (Fig. 16). The kite line is fastened to the bridle with a bowline knot and a reef knot. See Chapter 7, under 'Knots', for details of these.
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