| Miniature Dragonfly Kite |
Dimensions (4.25" W X 4.25" H) (104mm W x 104mm H)
| Colors Available Gold, Metallic-Green, Metallic-Red and Metallic-Blue. All With Irridescent-Clear Wings. |
The original prototype of this dragonfly kite had bamboo spars and a blue body. It took a respectable
second place at the masters' figure and novelty division at W.S.I.K.F. in '99, flying with full size kites.
The original sold at the World Kite Museum's auction for thirty-six dollars.
second place at the masters' figure and novelty division at W.S.I.K.F. in '99, flying with full size kites.
The original sold at the World Kite Museum's auction for thirty-six dollars.
I make these kites out of metallic mylar and irridescent/clear cellophane materials. The wings and body
are printed with my own decoration.
The spars are mono-filament that has been heated, straightened and given two different angles of bend,
again using heat. They are attached to the leading edge of the wings and to the center of the body, using
a rubber cement-type glue.
are printed with my own decoration.
The spars are mono-filament that has been heated, straightened and given two different angles of bend,
again using heat. They are attached to the leading edge of the wings and to the center of the body, using
a rubber cement-type glue.
The wings closest to the head are overlapped by
the leading edge of the second pair of wings, but
not glued together, giving the effect of the kite
having four separate wings.
the leading edge of the second pair of wings, but
not glued together, giving the effect of the kite
having four separate wings.
The tail is made of tissue, making it the least
durable part of the kite. The tail is also the only
givaway that this is a kite, while it's flying.
durable part of the kite. The tail is also the only
givaway that this is a kite, while it's flying.
For flying line, I use a monofilament that all but
disappears when the kite's being flown, requiring
extra attention to keep people from walking into
the line.
disappears when the kite's being flown, requiring
extra attention to keep people from walking into
the line.
Which brings us to flight! These are perhaps a curiosity while they are sitting on a shelf, but are a
novelty, when flying!
Flown outdoors, they require less wind (a breeze, really) than larger kites. They fly very much like a
dragonfly does, dipping and hovering, depending on wind conditions. I put about thirty feet of line on
each winder, which is enough to get them about twenty feet off the ground.
They can also be flown indoors by letting out a length of line and walking across the room, or attaching
the line to the end of a dowel, or yardstick and pulling it back and forth through the air in front of you.
One thing to keep in mind for indoor flying is to let out less line than the length of your arm, or the stick
to which you attach the line.
novelty, when flying!
Flown outdoors, they require less wind (a breeze, really) than larger kites. They fly very much like a
dragonfly does, dipping and hovering, depending on wind conditions. I put about thirty feet of line on
each winder, which is enough to get them about twenty feet off the ground.
They can also be flown indoors by letting out a length of line and walking across the room, or attaching
the line to the end of a dowel, or yardstick and pulling it back and forth through the air in front of you.
One thing to keep in mind for indoor flying is to let out less line than the length of your arm, or the stick
to which you attach the line.
These kites are packaged in a hinged, reusable and recyclable clear plastic box with flying instructions
on the inside label. They are completely assembled with flying line, winder and tail. Ready to fly!
on the inside label. They are completely assembled with flying line, winder and tail. Ready to fly!
These kites are available online, from these retailers
This page created and maintained by Tom Tinney 2006