Kitecraft : $b and kite tournamentsMiller, Charles M.
Philosophy
Kitecraft : $b and kite tournaments
Miller, Charles M.
Kites
For the model that is thrown like a spear from the hand, wood is used
for all parts. The spine can be ¾” × ¾” × 30”, the fore plane ¼” × 2½”
in widest part × 8”, and the rear plane ¼” × 4½” in widest part × 20”.
Bevel off the under side of the front edge of both planes. Fasten the
planes to the spine with rubber string, rubber bands will do, this
will allow easy adjustment back and forth on the spine. There are many
experiments that can be tried with this model. Move the foreplane back,
try; move back plane foreward, try; move foreplane foreward, try, and
so on. This model and all other models are just the opposite of teeter
boards. If too much pressure comes at one end, up it goes, if too much
at the other, up that end goes, while the same thing applied to the
teeter, that end goes down. It then seems clear at the start that we
must have balance fore and aft, as well as right and left, with the
kite we must balance right and left, but if the up and down does not
quite tally we can counteract by adjustment of the bridle, but on
gliders and model aeroplanes, there are no bridles. The little ship
must go “all by its lonely”.
[Illustration: FIG. 218.]
[Illustration: FIG. 219.]
Another adjustment is possible, and probably will be necessary, and
that is tipping of the planes. By the use of little wedges, the front
edges of the planes may be tilted up, and by trial we can decide
what we think the best angle, which should not be great. Possibly ¼”
might be used under the front edge. It will pay to spend much time in
experimentation on these gliders, and it should be carried on until
long graceful glides are accomplished.
It will be discovered long before this, that in a very large percentage
of cases the arrangement of planes is reversed in model aeroplanes
and the large machines. The small planes are placed forward and are
used largely as elevating surfaces. A few models have the large plane
forward. It will also be noticed in looking over plans of model
aeroplanes that a large majority are monoplanes, while in the large
machines there are more biplanes.
=Warping.= No warping of the planes is necessary in the glider that
has been discussed, but it is well in the lighter models to have some
warping called camber, in the larger planes especially. Another warping
is from end to end of the plane, that is, the ends tip upward, never
downward. Sometimes models are made with the large plane warped from
front to back, and with the small plane bent upward on each side, and
again the large plane is sometimes bent in both directions as it is
made. The last is more easily done when wire frameworks are used in
the self-propelling models. In Fig. 217 the model is made lighter, the
spine being a heavy piece of reed with a hook bent on the end and the
planes ⅛” or 1/16” veneer wood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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