Revolution Forum: REVflyer - Viewing Profile

Hi Terry,
You should also test out a set of magic sticks or a different bridle configuration, you could probably arrange for both bridles to be on the same kite, but ideally you'd have two identical kites for direct comparisons with only ONE variable between them.

You only need a few basic components to DIY (or you can do it thru Visa Card & airmail from Flying Smiles Kites). Someplace on this web-site are a few PDF diagrams if you do want to do it yourself. I get that a lot in our local kite club. It's a club of full of experimenters, builders and flyers, so if you ever get towards the USA, specifically Washington DC area, please let us know and we'll arrange for a gang to join you. Not much is more fun than testing everyone's different set-ups as we switch kites along the line. WE'll fly some team, so get busy on those 120's too.

After you fiddle around for awhile experimenting you may have a greater appreciation for how sweet Rev products are right out of the carton!
Enjoy and keep us informed
-plm

I've made a custom set, bought several more over the years too. But if you're going to all that trouble, your efforts should be superior to what you can buy commercially, not done in an effort to save a buck or two.

First off, I'm from the land of no wind. Many of my fellow local pilots (and myself included!) prefer a handle much longer than people on the coast-line would ever consider "normal". When I wanted a custom set for my needs I arranged for 3/8 inch diameter titanium tubes, about 19 inches long. I bent them with a pipe bender, but almost all of the bending angle is very high on the grip, towards the top.

Lots of the time you'll see two bend angles with your hand (grasping position) in between these bends. For my style, I prefer all the angle up high and gradually straightening out as it gets towards the bottom attachment point. The french guys (Crazy Drivers) use handles that I would consider inverted,.... all the bendy part in on their bottom part of the handle!

There's no one correct answer, you may want it completely different and that's the cool part about quad-lined kites, Revs in particular. You decide what is correct for you, nobody else's opinion really matters.

My titanium handles are lighter in weight with a set of 120s wound-around them than the stock pro handles without any lines at all! Of course you don't need anything like these to enjoy a afternoon of flying fun. My Ti handles have been run over by a police squad car on the mall grounds without any damage, so that light weight doesn't equate to a weakness in strength. Long throws with little mass means you can have a profound impact on the kite end with the tiniest thumb flick from the pilot's end, so older folks, like me!,.... can still flail with the youngsters.

there's pushing it and then there's the intentional abuse of your friend's kite, two very different things!

at one point the factory only came out w/products as full sails and we flew 'em regardless of the wind conditions. Maybe you flew up high or far out on the edges during big gusts, but you kept on flying.

I fly hard, (okay I flail) I'm not afraid to break stuff either pushing the limits, but it doesn't mean a complete lack of control. Some tricks that look real cool are abusive to your equipment, cut sail, cut bridles, broken spars, rounded-off endcaps, scuffs and wear spots, stress cracks and the leading edge mesh tearing away. Or you can fly all clean and safe, precision team style, personally I want to be capable of everything that the kite can do, graceful or forceably.

You can safely use a full sail 1point5 to the high-teens on a windmeter with a set of 120s and a 3 wrap frame. But you need to know when it's necessary to give ground. Don't just stand there lead-footed and watch damage occur to your new kite. Move the kite out of the center of power as the wind increases, add a big dose of DOWN in your tuning too, so it can't ever get fully powered up in forward flight. It's not a perfect solution, but it sure beats giving up and going home!

Eventually you'll own a full suite of kiting solutions for any weather condition, from indoors dead calm to hurricane strength.

I feel your pain, partner!

dugard & I arrive Thurs may 24th and depart Tues may 30, 2012,... host hotel ~ when we're not on the beach, ~ join us!