Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 04:58:53 -1000 From: mjpellet@mailgw.sanders.lockheed.com (Mark Pelletier) Message-Id: <4dln7d$nlh@news.sanders.lockheed.com> Organization: Lockheed Sanders Subject: Sputnik Hem Allowances I'm about to start building my first Sputnik. I've decided to start small with a 3m^2, which allows a single width of fabric for the top and bottom panels. I plan to use elliptical leading and trailing edges. I have the Icarex in hand and I'm ready to go! I do plan to build a 5m^2 next based on my experience with the smaller sput. I have a couple of questions before I begin: 1. I have the companion disk to Stunt Kites II. Do the dimensions from SPUTNIK.EXE include hem allowances consistent with those described in the book? 2. Do the plotted ribs from PLOT.EXE include the 10mm hem allowances described in the book? I have scalled the ribs to appropriately account for the elliptical leading and trailing edges. 3. What is the best source for screen material...i.e., should I hit my local hardware store and buy 3+ meters of fiberglass window screen material? 4. I plan to build a tiny Sputnik for my 6 year old son (45lbs). How small have you gone? I saw the plans for the 0.8m^2 Sputnik 3 in the book. Unfortunately the software does not support a 30 cell version, so I can't calculate the scalling factors for the PLOT program. Also the cell spacing is just 6cm - this seems too close. Anyone have experience with tiny Sputniks? See ya', Mark = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 20:40:11 -1000 From: dingbat@codesmth.demon.co.uk (Andy Dingley) Message-Id: <30ff3497.46081311@news.demon.co.uk> Organization: Codesmiths Software Development Ltd. Subject: Re: Sputnik Hem Allowances mjpellet@mailgw.sanders.lockheed.com (Mark Pelletier) wrote: >I have the Icarex in hand Is there much benefit in using Icarex for a Sputnik ? The book is keen on Icarex for everything in sight, but does it really have much to offer for a large soft kite with lifting power to spare ? BTW - I've decided to build a Krypton S first, then the small Sputnik with winglets. The Krypton is just _so_ simple that it would be a shame not to. -- Andy Dingley dingbat@codesmth.demon.co.uk If all it takes is an infinite number of monkeys with typewriters, how come AOL haven't written any Shakespeare yet ? = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 00:23:51 -1000 From: pdjnjvt@knoware.nl (Peter de jong) Message-Id: <4dnrgn$ii1@news.knoware.nl> Organization: Knoware Internet Subject: Re: Sputnik Hem Allowances mjpellet@mailgw.sanders.lockheed.com (Mark Pelletier) wrote: >I'm about to start building my first Sputnik. I've decided to start small with a 3m^2, >which allows a single width of fabric for the top and bottom panels. I plan to use >elliptical leading and trailing edges. I have the Icarex in hand and I'm ready to go! >I do plan to build a 5m^2 next based on my experience with the smaller sput. >I have a couple of questions before I begin: snip >3. What is the best source for screen material...i.e., should I hit my local hardware >store and buy 3+ meters of fiberglass window screen material? DON'T use it. It looks strong but it isn't. It rips easily ( I have 2 foils with ripped gauze like that) . Better use the cloth as used in mosquito curtains, but be sure it's polyester ( burn test ) or the similar stuff used by home decorators. Greetings from Holland Peter de Jong A&F Custom Kites Werkhoven NL = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 18 Jan 1996 21:07:35 -1000 From: mielse@euronet.nl (Emiel Stroeve) Message-Id: <4dng0e$h5t@news.euro.net> Organization: Euronet Internet Subject: Re: Sputnik Hem Allowances mjpellet@mailgw.sanders.lockheed.com (Mark Pelletier) wrote: >I'm about to start building my first Sputnik. I've decided to start small with a 3m^2, >which allows a single width of fabric for the top and bottom panels. I plan to use >elliptical leading and trailing edges. I have the Icarex in hand and I'm ready to go! >I do plan to build a 5m^2 next based on my experience with the smaller sput. >I have a couple of questions before I begin: >1. I have the companion disk to Stunt Kites II. Do the dimensions from SPUTNIK.EXE >include hem allowances consistent with those described in the book? No, I don't think so. I added them to both the skins. >2. Do the plotted ribs from PLOT.EXE include the 10mm hem allowances described in the >book? I have scalled the ribs to appropriately account for the elliptical leading and >trailing edges. Yes, they do. >3. What is the best source for screen material...i.e., should I hit my local hardware >store and buy 3+ meters of fiberglass window screen material? I don't quite follow this, obviously there's no hardware in the Sputnik, but you probably mean the gauze. Get some at Vlieger Op in The Netherlands ;-) >4. I plan to build a tiny Sputnik for my 6 year old son (45lbs). How small have you >gone? I saw the plans for the 0.8m^2 Sputnik 3 in the book. Unfortunately the software >does not support a 30 cell version, so I can't calculate the scalling factors for the >PLOT program. Also the cell spacing is just 6cm - this seems too close. Anyone have >experience with tiny Sputniks? As I wrote on my homepage, I'm thinking of building a 0.1 m^2 for my son. I don't how far you can go with the program, but I have them in a CAD program, so no limitations there ! check out my homepage (if not already) for lots of sputnik stuff emiel Emiel Stroeve The Netherlands miel@knoware.nl -------------------------------------------------------------- <<< http://www.euronet.nl/users/mielse/index.html >>> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 13:54:51 -1000 From: serack@zso.dec.com (Ken Serack) Message-Id: <4dpb0b$4rp@ninja.zso.dec.com> Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation Subject: Re: Sputnik Hem Allowances > >Is there much benefit in using Icarex for a Sputnik ? The book is >keen on Icarex for everything in sight, but does it really have much >to offer for a large soft kite with lifting power to spare ? > Yes there is at least one GREAT advantage of icarex! It flies much better when wet. I buggied for an hour in the rain last weekend and finaly had to quit because the kite would not fly, and then only because I dumped it and me in the surf. This stuff sheds water very well, and only after a serious soaking will it be to wet to fly. Ken = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 23:57:51 -1000 From: andrewh@hal.harvard.edu (Andrew Hawken) Message-Id: <4dqeav$7mu@epsilon.qmw.ac.uk> Organization: Queen Mary & Westfield College, London, UK Subject: Re: Sputnik Hem Allowances Ken Serack (serack@zso.dec.com) wrote: : >Is there much benefit in using Icarex for a Sputnik ? The book is : >keen on Icarex for everything in sight, but does it really have much : >to offer for a large soft kite with lifting power to spare ? : > : Yes there is at least one GREAT advantage of icarex! It flies much better I have built a 10smq icarex and a 5smq carrington. There may be a 5sqm carrington sputnik on the market soon. I want to remake it from icarex. Reasons:- 1. Water shedding. 2. Weight. 5sqm=1kg 10sqm 1.25kg! 3. Sewing. Icarex is (for me) much easier to sew. If you damp it a little then it sticks to itelf like glue making long seams easy. 4. Crisp. It seems to keep its shape well during momentary deflation. 5. It looks and feels good. Ok, this is subjective, but I think that the icarex soft kites look a lot smarter somehow. Andy -- __ Andrew Hawken ________________________________________________________ a.hawken@qmw.ac.uk __ As far as I can make out, *I* am responsible?! __ andiih@micromuse.com ____________________________________________________ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sat, 20 Jan 1996 21:25:38 -1000 From: Steve Bateman Message-Id: <4dsppi$m9r@hole.sdsu.edu> Organization: San Diego State University Subject: Re: Sputnik Hem Allowances dingbat@codesmth.demon.co.uk (Andy Dingley) wrote: > > andrewh@hal (Andrew Hawken) wrote: > > >4. Crisp. It seems to keep its shape well during momentary deflation. > > New Icarex does that. What's it like after some use ? Does it stay so > crisp ? > Only speaking for the 3/4oz Icarex, no. I have a 3m sput in 3/4oz Icarex that is almost as soft as Carrington, and the tips are almost bare fabric (no coating). I wouldn't use it again (I also don't fly near water a whole lot). For small sputs I would use Bainbridge, but for the larger ones 1/2oz Icarex. Use spectra for the bridle. Steve Bateman bateman@mail.sdsu.edu Flying along. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sat, 20 Jan 1996 16:40:42 -1000 From: dingbat@codesmth.demon.co.uk (Andy Dingley) Message-Id: <310149d5.105405619@news.demon.co.uk> Organization: Codesmiths Software Development Ltd. Subject: Re: Sputnik Hem Allowances andrewh@hal (Andrew Hawken) wrote: >4. Crisp. It seems to keep its shape well during momentary deflation. New Icarex does that. What's it like after some use ? Does it stay so crisp ? = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 11:51:38 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: Sputnik Hem Allowances dingbat@codesmth.demon.co.uk (Andy Dingley) writes: >Is there much benefit in using Icarex for a Sputnik ? Yes. Icarex is the fabric of choice for soft performance kites, primarily because it is both light enough and crisp enough to cary it's own weight (more so in the 1/2oz fabric). This means that when you luff, you stand a good chance of the kite just hanging in the air, waiting for the wind to resume, rather than collapsing. I kinda like the sound it makes when filling with air too. On the other hand, sometimes the noise is a pain. At El Mirage, I shared a tent with Dean Jordan. Due to an oversight on my part (I hadn't realised that the night-time temperature on the lake would be so much colder than it was during the summer), I had very little to keep me warm, so I slept under a couple of large, Icarex kites. The insulating effect of the trapped air was excellent, but for the rest of the week, Dean and Corey referred to me as "Russell". Andrew -- I lost a reel of 150lb Spectra (unflown, unsleeved, nearly 1000' of it on a white reel) at El Mirage. If it ended up in your bag, please drop me a line. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =