Lighting Bolt

Lighting Bolt Lighting Bolt

By Dennis Ische

January 2004

"The Fighter"

The Plan
Materials

The sail can be made from lightweight Mylar gift-wrap for light winds and orcon for stronger winds.

The Bow can be .04 CF for light winds and .05 CF for stronger winds.

The spine can be either .06 CF with a tension string to make the bend or bamboo of approx. 2 x 1.5mm or 3/32" x 1/16" thick.

The battens are .03 CF.

The bridle is either T13 cotton or 12 or 15-lb. Fly line backer.

Building Instructions

This is a fighter that is smaller than most so keeping the materials light is essential. Building accurately is also a must. Making sure the kite is balanced across the spine is essential. That said here is some tip's for building…. Gluing flaps for the bow should not be any wider than 3/16 or 5mm wide. The stiffener along the leading edge should not be any wider than the glue flaps. Hot cut the sail so no treatment is required along the trailing edge. Glue and tape the battens on the sail. Make the bridle as per a typical three-point bridle.

Enjoy the new model year fighter! ;)

d.i.

the mad scientist…