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Ariel Mini Plan
Ariel scaled to 80%
| This is my response to the
Trick-Tac, and I like it even better. With a .080 frame and a
light sail, this kite loves to do tricks in light wind. The sail is too small
to be an indoor kite, but it flies outdoors when
only fighters are up. It is a durable little thing that only
needs an upper spreader in medium winds. Left off were knocks, elastic, trailing edge hem,
leech line, trick line, extra seams and reinforcements.
The sail is cut in one piece, the LE sleeves attached, and the
wingtips are sewn shut. Spars are inserted into the nose and a flap
of 3.8 ounce Dacron sewn over the spar ends. I did this by hand to feel
and apply the right tension to the spar. The dynamic bridle is
a bit thick and short-legged to reduce snagging, and could be much
lighter.
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A 10mm x 150mm strip of .75 ounce
nylon forms the spine pocket. It is folded in half, then re-folded
25mm from that fold. This wraps around the tail to form a pocket for
the spine
A 5mm vinyl cap serves as a T
fitting. The hole for it is strengthened with rip-stop tape.
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The wingtips are as simple as
possible to reduce weight and line snagging protrusions. A
trick line and leech line aren't necessary on such a tiny kite.
A friend liked this kite enough to swap a
Micron for it, and the comparison is interesting. This kite is very
different from the Micron, especially in the shallow sail and wider
stance of the standoffs. The simple wingtips are similar, which
surprised me.
The Micron has a higher wind range, but could
still be put on a diet, and the bridle invites experimenting.
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Spars are inserted into the nose
with a flap
of 3.8 ounce Dacron sewn over the spar ends by hand. A machine foot
would have a hard time with this lumpy juncture, and keeping tension
on the spars is easier this way.
I hope to expand this method to
full-sized kites using internal tensioning.
If you make one of these please let me know of
any mistakes in the plan.
Fair Winds,
Stan
|
|
Frame Dimensions |
| Leading edge |
080
Carbon |
24.6 inches |
625
mm |
| Spine |
080
Carbon |
14.6 inches |
370
mm |
| Upper Spreader |
050
Carbon |
10.2
inches |
260
mm |
| Lower spreader |
080
Carbon |
23.8
inches |
605
mm |
| Stand-offs |
.040
Carbon |
3.75 inches |
95
mm |
|
Parts and Materials |
| Leading edge strip and nose |
.75 ounce
Nylon 20mm wide |
| Sail |
1/2 ounce Nylon |
| Leech line |
None |
| Bridle line |
50 pound
Polyester |
| Nocks |
None |
| Leading edge connectors |
.080 rubber |
| Standoff to Spreader |
.080 rubber |
| Standoff to sail |
Smallest
possible |
| T-connector |
A 6mm Vinyl
end cap, pierced for spars |
|
Bridle Dimensions |
 |
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A prusik knot attaches the tow loop
(red) to the inhaul line (green), and another one ties the inhaul (green) to the purple outhaul (purple). |
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