Superficially similar, but differently sparred, is the Sode or Kimono kite, being a traditional Jananese design. The bridle is attached only to the forward section, so providing stability. Plans for a sode are available online. Charlie Charlton's entertaining Nosey kite for which plans are also available, is essentially a sode. Adding a third spar to the della Porta or classic diamond gives a three-stick or barn door kite.
Various configurations are possible, depending on the arrangement of the spars.
In the 19th century, Alexander McAidie used barn door kites for lifting meterological instruments, but they were hardly stable enough for the purpose and were superceeded as soon as better behaved kites were devised. The hexagon kite is a special case of the barn door, differing only in its proportions. As with the flat barn door, a tail is essential for stability. Whilst it impairs the efficiency, it can be turned to advantage by adding visual appeal. A plan is given by Pelham .