Evening star., 1937-04-11

Designs may be elaborate Or not,
materials necessary are simple These.
may be divided into three classes
sticks, string and coverings. Detailed
| information on the construction of
simple models given in the following is
from information secured from the
District Playground Department.
Sticks may be obtained by splitting
up straight grained boards or may
be secured from any woodworking
company or model aircraft supply
company, the department advises.
DoWel sticks from a hardware store
also may be used. Split bamboo is
ideal for small kites or, if you prefer,
umbrella ribs can be utilized for this
purpose.
String should be light but strong.
l For very small kites use linen thread,
and for large kites fishing cord or
piano wire are good.
THE covering should be of paper or
cloth. The later has the advantage
of being tougher than paper, but it
must be treated with starch, airplane
dope or rubber cement. 1t may be
glued to the frame and the strings,
but it should also be sewed.
AS for paper, tissue can be used for
kites up to 8 feet in length and in
moderate winds, but wrapping paper is
better for larger kites. The paper can
4 be glued to the frame and strings.
Once you have begun construction
/ there are several rules that should be
| followed
Take care to have the frame true
and rigid Be sure that corresponding
dimensions are alike. Kites that are
to fly at extreme attitudes should be
cloth covered. The tail of the kite
should provide resistance, not weight,
and can be made of pieces of paper
| tied into a length of string. Insert
such papers about foot apart for
as great a length as is required to
balance the kite in the air. The bride
is the method of connection between
the kite string and the kite surface.
1t is important that it be properly
made and adjusted to the amount of
wind blowing.
THE square kite is the simplest to
make. Two sticks of equal length
are needed. Join them at right angles
at their centers and frame them with
string A good size would be sticks
80 inches long and 5-l6 of an inch
square. The string should be wrapped
tightly around the joint at right angles
/ to the edges and finally carried around
the lashing on the plane where the
! sticks cross to tighten the joint Glue
can be used in such a joint. A cut is
made in the end Of the stick and the
framing string forced therein. The
string then is carried around the end
of the stick, again inserted in the cut,
| and carried on to the next end.
To cover, lay the frame face down
on the paper and cut out the shape
with 1-inch margin. Fold the margin
over and fasten down.
The eddy kite is more difficult.
Again, two sticks of equal length
are used. These are lashed together
at about * the length, at right angles,
and are bound by an outline string.
The horizontal stick is bowed back a
distance equal to the 15 measurement
and held in place by string. In
covering leave the cloth or paper
loose in the lower portion of the two
larger triangles. This type of kite
does not need a tail.
X TIES are supported by the air if
their broad or fiat surfaces are
kept turned to the wind Air offers
PERSISTENCE as well ss support how
ever, and if you try to fly kite by
running away from the wind it comes
f1uttering down. Pull it against the
wind and it rises, supported by the
wind pressure.
The Playground Departments annu-
al kite-f1ying contest. to be conducted
April "a, will be held at six points,
instead Of five as last year, due to in
creased interest in the sport.
Contests are scheduled at the fol-
flowing points: Anacostia Park, sec
tion D, east of the Eleventh Street
Bridge southeast; the Monument
Grounds, at the Sylvan Theater; Ban
neker Recreation Center, Georgia |
avenue and Euclid street. Garrett |
Park, Md, and Fort Barnard Hill, !
twenty fourth street and Eastern |
avenue northeast, and Anacostia Park, |
section c, west of the Eleventh street |
Bridge.
Each contestant will be required |
TO certify that he made the kite him. |
self and ready-made and assembled |
kites will be barred.
Girls and boys from Washington and |
che metropolitan area are eligible.