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Kites are made in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are conventional, such as the box and the pegtop; others are more original, and to this class the Happy Man Kite belongs. It is a humorous novelty and will cause some amusement when it is flying in the air. A novel feature is the imitation ladder, which takes the place of a conventional tail. The little man has indeed climbed to the top, hence his smile of achievement. Much of the appeal of the kite depends upon the making of the figure. To simplify this, a pattern for enlarging is given (Fig. 11).
Though the kite is unusual in form, the principle of sound design and structure have been kept in mind. First, there is a broad cover area for buoyancy. Secondly, the kite is bowed in the interests of dihedral, which improves stability. Thirdly, the ladder-tail is more than a novelty; it improves stability, by helping to keep the kite on the right course.
Begin by making the framework. The backbone, A, is cut from 3/8 in. square stripwood, which must be straight and free from blemish. It is 3 ft. in length, and is grooved slightly at the ends. The positions for the crossbars are marked on it. Measuring from the top in each case, these positions are: one, 51/2 in.; two, 1 ft. 31/2 in.; three, 1 ft. 81/2 in., and four, 2 ft. 61/2 in.
Now prepare the crossbars B, C, D, and E. All are formed from split cane, about 1/4 in. thick. They are grooved at the ends. B and D are 2 ft. 1 in. in length; and C and E are 1 ft. 1 in. Drill small holes through, 1/2 in. from the ends. Next, form them into a bow shape. Bend them into shape by firm but gentle pressure of the hands. The application of dry heat in the form of a gas jet or electric fire may also be helpful in conditioning the cane for bending. The curved shapes are retained by means of bowstrings which are threaded through the holes provided, and tied securely. Draw the bowstrings taut in order to achieve a proper tension on the canes. Leave a 5 in. tail to one of the bowstrings at F. The
depth of the curve at the centre of B and D is 21/2 in.; and there is a proportionate depth for C and E. This depth is achieved by bending C and E until their curves match B and D.
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