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At this point the covers may be decorated if desired. Suggestions for designs are given in Chapter 7. Use fabric painting oil colours for cloth, and lacquer for paper. Pin the covers to a board while the decorating is being done, and allow sufficient time for the paints to dry before doing anything else.
Next, glue the nose cover to the top crossbar and round the inner top bracing strings. Add the wing and tail covers in the same way. If cloth covers are used, then the margins are sewn down over the bracing strings. Like paper covers, they would, of course, be glued to the crossbars.
Two pieces of strong string are used to make the bridle. One piece, which is 2 ft. 6 in. in length is tied to the top crossbar, 5 in. from each end. The second piece, which is 3 ft. 3 in. is tied to the
bottom backbone joint and then to the centre of the other piece. Attach the kite line to the bottom bridle string by means of a bowline knot, and a reef knot.
The tail which is fixed to the bottom of the backbone is 6 ft. in length. If desired paper fringes may be run round the outer bracing strings. Use strips of paper, 4 in. in width, fold them down the centre, glue them round the strings, and cut in narrow fingers to form the fringe.
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