HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gaffer@ibmpcug.co.uk (Andrew Beattie)
Subject: rec.kites archive?
Organization: The IBM PC User Group, UK.
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 16:26:07 GMT

Straight to the point:
Does anyone keep an archive of rec.kites?

Andrew
Newsgroups: rec.kites
From: sasaki@sasaki.zko.dec.com (Marty Sasaki)
Subject: Re: Hot Cutting
Reply-To: sasaki@tle.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Co.
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 15:01:59 GMT


In article <1992Jul21.171346.16543@amc.com>, marty@amc.com (Marty Akerman) writes:
|>Surface:  Two 2' X 3' pieces of formica bonded with contact cement to the sides
|>	of a thin piece (16 guage?) of sheet steel.  Fabric can be stretched
|>out and held in place with magnets.  This really works well.  The formica does
|>get slight grooves in it from the heat of the iron, but I have yet to see one
|>get so bad that it's unusable.

I experimented with Formica early on and with a really hot tip, the
Formica melted/burned leaving deep grooves and fumes. I really like
the idea of a sheet of steel and magnets though...

|>  Glass is nice, but it's not cheap unless
|>you can find scrap somewhere.  Glass also has a nasty habit of breaking when
|>dropped.  I know sooner or later I'd drop mine.

It is fragile, it is easily scratched, and if it isn't fragile, it is
really heavy. I bought a glass table top for strength and when it
comes time to move, I'll have some insured professionals box and move
the glass.

|>Cutter:  an old radio shack soldering iron with conical tip.  I even made a
|>	little thing with a lamp dimmer that allows me to turn the heat down
|>a bit.  Nylon melts at a lower point than solder, and turning down the heat
|>a little allows you to slow down and be more careful in following the template.

I'm just the opposite. I want the tip *hot* so that I can cut quickly.
I guess I'm just impatient.

|>Cutting wheel:  I'm surprised nobody mentioned this already.  This is a 3/4"
|>	diameter teflon wheel with a hole the size of the cutting tip in the
|>center.

I don't remember exactly, but I think Teflon has a melting point of
around 600 degrees F. I like to cut around 800 degrees. In any case,
the teflon wheels that I tried became soft with the soldering iron
that I was using.

Also, wheels require a bit of care while cutting and don't work well
with tips that aren't conical.

Look under "plastics" in the yellow pages. Most folks listed there
should be able to supply teflon for you.

|>	1)  Don't burn yourself!  I'm really surprised how easy it is to get
|>distracted while intently setting up the fabric/magnets/template/straight-edge,
|>and then reach over without looking and put my hand on the wrong end of the
|>iron.  I really need an iron that sits in one of those little protective cage
|>things.  Mine doesn't have one, and it likes to pivot itself around so that
|>the hot end is always easiest to grab.

Buy a soldering iron stand. You can get them for a few dollars.
--
Marty Sasaki                            sasaki@tle.enet.dec.com
Digital Equipment Co.                   Sasaki Kite Fabrications
110 Spit Brook Road ZK02-3/N30          26 Green Street
Nashua, NH 03062                        Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
603-881-0151                            617-522-8546
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Subject: Sky Dancer
From: ar12@quads.uchicago.edu (Richard Nixon)
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 14:48:02 GMT
Reply-To: ar12@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations

I was visiting home (Milwaukee) this weekend and spent all of Sunday afternoon
out on McKinley Marina flying my Bee. Well, there was a guy out there flying
what looked like an amazing kite- the thing was lightening fast (foreward
speed and turns) and made NO SOUND! Anyway, it made my Bee look like a giant,
flying Hippo! So, I asked the person flying it (a 3/4 size delta) what it was
and who makes it- the reply was "Sky-Dancer and I do". He insisted I give it
a try and of course I couldn't refuse- I was awestruck- this kite was 3/4 the
size of my Bee, pulled HARDER, and was completely soundless- besides the fact
that is was also about 3x faster and spun on its wingtip. Anyway, he gave me
his card- he was in Milwaukee for the weekend trying to break the market, and 
before I go out and buy one, does anyone else out there have any experience
with this kite? Apparently, the "noise fix" is a tension line in the
sail's trailing edge and the kite is normally sold without it since
he claimed it cut sail life down to about 100hrs. Buy the way, the name of
his company is Aerie Kites in case anyone has any info.
 
Andre
From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka)
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Subject: Re: Peels (was Re: Ultralight, slow, precise...)
Date: 29 Jul 92 20:41:35 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland at College Park

In article <1992Jul29.163100.12113@midway.uchicago.edu> ar12@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
>Ok, so, like, what's a peel? After following this thread I've got to have one!
>How much do they cost and where can one be purchased? Oh, and who makes them?

The Peel is a monster parafoil made by Peter Lynn.  They're a bit different
from your typical airfoil in that the ends of the kite are narrower than
the middle.  It is completely soft.  They come in two sizes--the 5m and
the 3.6m.

Lots of places should have them; you might try DJ Sport Kites in York, PA.
He has the 5m for $400 and the 3.6m for $255.  Dodd Gross, the proprietor,
can be reached at 2873 E. Prospect Road, York, PA  17402.  (717)-840-0308.

Yes, of course I have no connection with Dodd/DJ SPort Kites...

Jeff

-- 
|Jeffrey C. Burka                | "Show what you are / Be strong, be true  |
|                                |  Time for you to / Be who you are."      |
|jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu            |                         --Happy Rhodes   |
From: danr@crash.cts.com (Dan Rubesh)
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Subject: Report on the Berkeley Kite Festival??
Date: 27 Jul 92 03:18:04 GMT
Organization: CTS Network Services (crash, ctsnet), El Cajon, CA

Well, I _almost_ made it up to Berkeley this year.. I got as far as 150
miles south of San Francisco and the engine in the van said "We ain't
going any farther!" Damn.. It was gonna be my first major competetion,
too..

Anyone got a report on Berkeley??


Good Winds and Tight Lines!!

                           Wind Wizard

Purveyor of High Quality, High Performance Stunt Kites and Accessories
Newsgroups: rec.kites
From: sasaki@sasaki.zko.dec.com (Marty Sasaki)
Subject: Re: Advice sought on NBK & Lite Flight
Reply-To: sasaki@tle.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Co.
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 18:19:43 GMT


In article <1992Jul26.012104.19091@panix.com>, roy@panix.com (Roy Radow) writes:
|>Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!news.crl.dec.com!deccrl!caen!uunet!stanford.edu!rutgers!cmcl2!panix!roy
|>First of all I wish to thank all who have responded to my previous 
|>inquiry. Your input was invaluable.
|>
|>Now, to today's episode:
|>
|>I visited Kite World on Long Island (a very nice store with very
|>pleasant & helpful people) and the person there recommended a
|>British kite named Lite Flight ($188) for very low wings (2-15 mph)
|>and NBK ($185) for a slightly higher wind range (4-20 mph).
|>
|>She says that the Lite Flight is VERY slow, doesn't have that much
|>pull, and of course flies in VERY low winds.

Yes, the Lite Flight does fly slowly, even in high winds. It turns
slowly, but can be set up to turn sharply, and it is very stable. It
is considered by some to the be the ultimate ultra-light team kite.

The NBK has a bit of oversteer and can do a lot of the groundwork that
is now popular. It can be difficult to fly in low winds.

Commercial Warning!

I make an ultra-light version of two kites, the MDM-4, which is a
traditional dart shaped kite that my team "Storm Front" flies, and the
Katana II, which is a larger version of the Katana and is much tamer.

The MDM-4 flies slowly, althought not as slowly as a Lite Flight and
is stable with tight, slow turns. I think that it is a good second
kite and a good team kite.

The Katana II can be set up to no oversteer, to quite a bit of
oversteer. It flies a little faster than an MDM-4.

|>In the past I have bought kites without first flying them myself
|>and as a result am now a bit more cautious. 

Even though I would love to sell you one of my kites, I have to agree
with your caution, it is always better to fly a kite first. Some kite
stores take kites out onto the field for people to try out, maybe you
can find one of these in your area.

|>And, lastly does the price seem reasonable?

Prices are reasonable, but you can get better prices mail order.
Balance this against the service that a kite shop can give you that a
mail order company can't. I usually find it better to shop locally.
--
Marty Sasaki                            sasaki@tle.enet.dec.com
Digital Equipment Co.                   Sasaki Kite Fabrications
110 Spit Brook Road ZK02-3/N30          26 Green Street
Nashua, NH 03062                        Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
603-881-0151                            617-522-8546

Newsgroups: rec.kites
From: gaffer@ibmpcug.co.uk (Andrew Beattie)
Subject: Innovation
Organization: The IBM PC User Group, UK.
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 09:50:49 GMT

I don't have the details of the guy involved or the competition, but I saw
some amazing pictures last night of a UK kid (age 14 or so) flying Revolutions
in an innovation contest.  He flew them blindfold!  from take off, through
a display, with landings and everything.  He made one mistake.  When he picked
up his handles, he got them in the wrong hands, so he ended up doing the
routine upside down and didn't even know until he took the blind fold off.

I wish I'd been there to see it.

Andrew
Newsgroups: rec.kites
From: mjg51721@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Michael James Gebis)
Subject: Re: Sky Dancer
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 04:12:19 GMT

About silent flight.....
Another kite which is completely silent is the Radian.....uses a stiffened 
trailing edge.  I've never seen this kite in flight, but it looks to be
very difficult to construct, and I admire the workmanship that went into it.
This is definitely a kite that is easier to buy than to build your own private
version of.  This kite also has some nifty other innovations, such as a new
bridle system that 'eliminates picking at knots.'

Of course, the real question is, how does it fly?  Iv
I've never flown one :( so I can't say....sorry.

_________________ Mike Gebis                         /\        /\
\   re\/olution / m-gebis@uiuc.edu OR              /    \    /    \
  \    /^\    /   mjg51721@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu      /   uoi1nlo/\aj    \
    \/     \/     I can fly backwards-can you?  ----------------------
From: gig@cs.rit.edu (Gordon I Goodman)
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Subject: Re: Kite shop in NE USA
Keywords: store
Date: 31 Jul 92 00:44:01 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

Hi,
I didn't think that there were any decent kite stores around Rochester until
I stumbled on a neat one called Aogee Kites ("Your one stop rip-stop shop") in
Village Gate Square. The guy who owns it makes many of the kites; they looked
quite good - mostly stunt kites. Are there any other kite shops around the
Rochester area that anyone is aware of? Thanks...

Gordon
--
=== Gordon Goodman
=== Department of Information Technology
=== Rochester Institute of Technology
=== Internet: gig@cs.rit.edu
From: sasaki@sasaki.zko.dec.com (Marty Sasaki)
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Subject: Re: Theft
Date: 30 Jul 92 20:00:25 GMT
Reply-To: sasaki@tle.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Co.


In article <5831.2a77ad36@hayes.com>, dcommins@hayes.com writes:
> grantm@syacus.acus.oz.au writes:
>>I have been thinking about writing my details onto the kite, but have not
>>found a suitable marker that will write finely, not rub off and STAND OUT
>>on black/white leading edge dacron. Anyone had any success at finding a
>>suitable marker??
>
>How 'bout using one of those gold markers that people sign kites with. They
>produce a reasonably fine line and as far as I can tell, are permanent. I've
>seen artists sign autographs on the glass of framed pieces and it won't
>rub off. You can get them at most art/printing supply stores.

I use either a gold or silver marker to sign my kites. So far, haven't
seen any problems with them rubbing off.

I am also looking into getting a sewing machine that does letters and
sewing into the kite a serial number that can be used to trace a kite.
--
Marty Sasaki                            sasaki@tle.enet.dec.com
Digital Equipment Co.                   Sasaki Kite Fabrications
110 Spit Brook Road ZK02-3/N30          26 Green Street
Nashua, NH 03062                        Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
603-881-0151                            617-522-8546
Newsgroups: rec.kites
From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka)
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Subject: Followup on a theft
Date: 21 Jul 92 16:22:26 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland at College Park


A while ago I posted about a friend's Pro, which was stolen at 
the Summer Games at Myrtle Beach a few weeks ago.

The kite has been recovered.  A man named Ray Williams was in possession
of the kite, and while it seems likely that he was the one who stole
it, that has not been proved.  He definitely knew it was stolen, though.

The owner's sister happened to see the kite being flown in Charlotesville,
and nonchalantly went up and asked about the kite.  The guy flying it
said he'd owned it for about 6 months.  The woman surreptitiously checked
the serial number to make sure, and then told the owner.  After checking
around a bit with the kiting community in Charlotesville, he decided to call
this guy, who was anxious to mail the kite back, having been caught red handed.

Various event organizers have been notified to watch out for this guy...

Jeff
-- 
|Jeffrey C. Burka                | "Show what you are / Be strong, be true  |
|                                |  Time for you to / Be who you are."      |
|jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu            |                         --Happy Rhodes   |
Newsgroups: rec.kites
From: andy@osea.demon.co.uk (Andrew Haveland-Robinson)
Subject: Ultralight, slow, precise...) 
Distribution: world
Organization: Haveland-Robinson Associates
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 01:32:02 +0000


In article <14729@umd5.umd.edu> jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu writes:

>
>In article <1992Jul29.163100.12113@midway.uchicago.edu>> ar12@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
>>Ok, so, like, what's a peel? After following this thread I've got to have one>!
>>How much do they cost and where can one be purchased? Oh, and who makes them?
>
>The Peel is a monster parafoil made by Peter Lynn.  They're a bit different
>from your typical airfoil in that the ends of the kite are narrower than
>the middle.  It is completely soft.  They come in two sizes--the 5m and
>the 3.6m.
>
>Lots of places should have them; you might try DJ Sport Kites in York, PA.
>He has the 5m for $400 and the 3.6m for $255.  Dodd Gross, the proprietor,
>can be reached at 2873 E. Prospect Road, York, PA  17402.  (717)-840-0308.

STOP PRESS!!

I have heard from the chap who lent me his 5m Peel that there is a new
model on the market - wait for it...   *7.5* m2 or 6.4m wide...

This is getting to be a very large fraction of a parachute (20-30m2),

I'd feel more comfortable in an aircraft if I had a 5m Peel strapped to
my back... If an accident were to happen requiring bailing out, I bet the
landing would be a lot less lethal than without one!!

Anyone had any experience of kiting with or without water skis in expanses
of water?  I'm very tempted to have a go, with a stack of flexis or the
Peel seeing as I'm surrounded by a few miles of the stuff.

btw, the Peel is great for jumping off cliffs and abseiling back up them...
(and I'm not joking!)

Andy.

..they are little cliffs though, about 20ft... ;-)

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Haveland-Robinson Associates     | Email: andy@osea.demon.co.uk         |
| Pine Cottage, Osea Island, Essex |        ahaveland@cix.compulink.co.uk |
| CM9 8UH England.  0621-88756     | Also:  081-800 1708  081-802 4502    |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.kites
From: andy@osea.demon.co.uk (Andrew Haveland-Robinson)
Subject: Theft 
Distribution: world
Organization: Haveland-Robinson Associates
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 06:05:50 +0000


In article <1992Jul27.000252.682@syacus.acus.oz.au>
grantm@syacus.acus.oz.au writes:

>Theft is becoming a growing concern with me as well. There have been numerous
>occasion where someone has been eyeing off a couple of my kites. At the NSW
>Kiting Championship in Australia, one guy had his Phantom stolen and someone
>else had there parafoil taken.
>
>I have been thinking about writing my details onto the kite, but have not
>found a suitable marker that will write finely, not rub off and STAND OUT
>on black/white leading edge dacron. Anyone had any success at finding a
>suitable marker??
>
>Thanks, Grant..

You could try printing an outline of text, cut out with a scalpel and use
as a stencil with car spray paint of choice.

You could use this technique to make logos, sell advertising space, etc.

Andy.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Haveland-Robinson Associates     | Email: andy@osea.demon.co.uk         |
| Pine Cottage, Osea Island, Essex |        ahaveland@cix.compulink.co.uk |
| CM9 8UH England.  0621-88756     | Also:  081-800 1708  081-802 4502    |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.kites
From: sasaki@sasaki.zko.dec.com (Marty Sasaki)
Subject: Re: Scorpion Revue, and Lauds For a New Record, and *EXPERT* flyers.
Reply-To: sasaki@tle.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Co.
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 15:17:31 GMT


In article <13182@pogo.wv.tek.com>, daveb@pogo.wv.tek.com (Dave Butler) writes:
|>.  Now I would be the
|>first to admit that I am not an expert flyer, but that could be an advantage
|>in this case, as I doubt that the majority of readers are truly expert flyers
|>(apologies to those that are, eg: Marty and etc), thus a report from someone 
|>of about the same skill level seems appropriate. 

I can't speak for others but I don't consider myself an expert flyer.
If you look at my finishes in competition you will see that I am all
over the place in Experienced class, sometimes near the top, sometimes
near the bottom, sometimes at the bottom, often right in the middle.

I do fly a lot of kites. I can do most of the tricks, but not as well
or as consistantly as I would like. I too have found that if you have
an unusual kite in your bag you can often "trade" kites for a while,
my Big Brother and the various Katana's in my bag seem to work the
best. I report how kites seem to me.

Actually having an expert flyer review kites can result in reviews
that are a little deceiving.

As an example, the Katana was reviewed in the recent issue of "Stunt
Kite Quarterly" by Bob Hanson. Bob is an excellant flyer, he is
currently leading the American Kite Magazine circuit in Master's
Individual Ballet and I think Precision. Bob says that the Katana
would make an excellant precision kite. Bob has the reflexes and the
skills to fly such a kite in precision. I would never fly a Katana in
precision competition (well, I did once, and finished near the bottom
of the standings).

Basic disclaimer: I'm the designer, manufacturer, and marketing guy
for the Katana, and the Katana II, and go by the business name of
"Sasaki Kite Fabrications".

|>...  I also think my judgement on the
|>Scorpion, was helped by being allowed to borrow a Scorpion for several days
|>from my kite local shop "Paint the Sky" (What can I say, any kite shop that
|>will let you take out a kite of this class for several days, has a lot of
|>class).

Kite shops that do this should be rewarded with business. The only
real way to determine if you like a kite is to fly it.

Why not write up a short (a few line) review and submit to the kite
review FAQ?
--
Marty Sasaki                            sasaki@tle.enet.dec.com
Digital Equipment Co.                   Sasaki Kite Fabrications
110 Spit Brook Road ZK02-3/N30          26 Green Street
Nashua, NH 03062                        Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
603-881-0151                            617-522-8546
From: pcaplan@ccvax.ucd.ie
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Subject: Fly-in in Ireland
Date: 27 Jul 92 15:00:54 GMT
Organization: University College Dublin

Hi There!
Just a brief posting to let any Irish readers know that various Kite events
seem to be happening in Dublin over the next three weekends in almost total
secrecy.

Venue: Royal Hospital Kilmainham,
       Dublin.

dates: Sunday 2nd, 9th & 16th August 1992.

The first sunday apparently includes a stunt kite workshop and demonstration
flights by the "Decorators" display team.
I'm not involved with the organization of this and so have no more details.
However if anyones interested mail me and I'll get more details. I'll certainly
be there so say hello if you see me I'll be on the bottom end of a pink &
Purple Flexifoil. 
See you

Peter Caplan


NB Overseas visitors; Be aware that Condom Kites arn't available in Ireland
                      

=============================================================================
|      Peter J. Caplan.             -,   /|         pcaplan@irlearn.ucd.ie  |
| Department of Food Science        \'o.O'                                  |
| University College, Dublin        =(___)=                                 |
|    Tel : +353-1-7067788              U  Q. Why are Flexifoils Rectangular?|
|    Fax : +353-1-2837328                 A.   Because they are perfect.    |
=============================================================================
Newsgroups: rec.kites
From: sasaki@sasaki.zko.dec.com (Marty Sasaki)
Subject: Re: Hot Cutting
Reply-To: sasaki@tle.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Co.
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 15:10:26 GMT


In article <17160015@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com>, bingham@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (David Bingham) writes:
|>  One note about holding fabric down while working with it. Buy some 1"
|>nylon tube webbing. It's just like flat tubing but... It's a TUBE.
|>Sew one end shut. Fill with lead shot which you can buy rather cheaply
|>at a gun store. Sew the other end shut. You can make various lengths.
|>The tubing is also available in 2" width. Check your local climbing
|>outfitter. It's pretty cheap.

I like the rolls of pennies idea better. They are cheap (50 cents a
roll) and if you need more weight, use more rolls. You can rubber band
them together to keep them from rolling around, and if you ever give
up sewing kites you can sell the rolls for your initial investment.
--
Marty Sasaki                            sasaki@tle.enet.dec.com
Digital Equipment Co.                   Sasaki Kite Fabrications
110 Spit Brook Road ZK02-3/N30          26 Green Street
Nashua, NH 03062                        Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
603-881-0151                            617-522-8546

Newsgroups: rec.kites
From: ncrwater@watserv1.waterloo.edu (Latala - ICR)
Subject: Re: Hot Cutting
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 16:37:04 GMT

In article <17160015@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com> bingham@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (David Bingham) writes:
>  One note about holding fabric down while working with it. Buy some 1"
>nylon tube webbing. It's just like flat tubing but... It's a TUBE.
>Sew one end shut. Fill with lead shot which you can buy rather cheaply
                             ---------
>at a gun store. Sew the other end shut. You can make various lengths.
>The tubing is also available in 2" width. Check your local climbing
>outfitter. It's pretty cheap.

I'd wonder about handling the tubes for any length of time with lead shot in
them. Is this going to cause any problems?

I know that the shotgunners also use steel shot. I'm not sure if it's cheaper
or not, but it might not be as hazardous as the lead shot (if indeed the lead
shot is hazardous).