Introduction to Kite Designs and Materials
The flying part is not the only enjoyable thing when playing with kites. Making them is also a very enjoyable process. The first thing you have to do is to decide with your parent or friend what type of kite to make; is it an eddy kite, a bow kite, a simple flat kite, or an intricate box kite? The next thing to do is to plan out the dimensions of the kite. How big will it be and how do you propose to build it? Of course, the next step is choosing and buying your materials. The last important thing to do is to build the kite using these materials and then apply your designs. The big question is, “What materials and designs work best for kites?” Read on to know more about choosing the right kite materials and designs.
The body of the kite may either be made of plastic (polyester), paper, or silk. Depending on the type of kite you want to make, better be sure that the body of the kite is durable enough if the kite you want to build is quite heavy (i.e. box-type kites). Box-type kites are better built with silk or plastic bodies. The part of the kite which is easiest to design is the kite body. You have the option to buy printed materials or choose plain ones then personalize them with paint, colored glue, or any other decorative material. Bold and multiple colors are attractive to look at on kites, so opt for them rather than the pastel or light colors.
The frame of the kite can either be made using bamboo sticks, hard-plastic straws, thin metal wires, or even fiberglass. Bamboo sticks and fiberglass are the most recommended materials to be used for your kite frame because of their durability and flexibility. To secure your kite frames together, you may opt to use tape, chicken wire, glue, or even staples. However, staples and tape will only work well on light kites. On heavy kites such as box-type kites, better stick to using chicken wire or glue. Better yet, use a combination of both to make sure that your kite will not collapse while it is airborne. Since the frame of the kite is not often seen from afar, you may opt to leave the frame as it is, without any decoration. However, for people who want to go all-out with their creative talents, try to use accent colors such as metals, white, or black to add interest to your kite design.
Kite Tail/Kite Line
Many materials can be used as a kite line. You may choose from cotton, hemp, rayon, nylon, polyester, and even silk. You don’t have to worry about the strength of your kite line as long as it is sold as a kite line. Do not substitute this with any other available rope, as you risk losing your kite when it is airborne. The kite tail or kite line is often neglected when it comes to kite designs, but these things also contribute to the beauty of the kite. Use a transparent line for multi-colored kites, striped lines for simple designs, and even shining lines for intricately-designed kites such as dragon kites.