18th August 2019 Blackheath

Rhombus-Shaped Kites 1985
81 kites each kite measures diagonally 48 x 80 cm
total length of the chain: 158 metres (16 square metres)
Weight: 3.6 kg complete train
after Eiji Ohashi design

Windspeed10mph Blackheath 27/10/2022.

The office at The Japan Kite Association kindly sent a pdf copy of the Eiji Ohashi book which illustrates the basic design.

I wonder if the drawing of variations here ultimately inspired the design of the Asymetric Kite Stack 1995?

Wolfgang Schimmelpfennig, Phantastische Drachenwelt 1991/2
Illustrated Page 39

Perished rubber bands have been 'replaced' by drilling the rods and then sewing the tails on. (as at 28th March 2019) Some spare long rods are available, ready coloured. Spinning sections put multiple wraps in the line as seen in some of the sets on arrival... Undo top spar pockets, unhook loop and pull twists through to resolve. Eyelets have been replaced where missing using white dacron. (repair tape not sufficient!) 40 spare spreaders made 09/06/2020.

The connecting lines are graded so the order of the colours is partly predetermined:-
Black 5mm, JMH logo printed on front kite.
Dark Green 5mm
Yellow 5mm
Purple 5mm
Pale Green 3.5mm wire like now 4mm 09/12/2019
Pink 3.5mm wire like now 4mm 09/12/2019
Red 3mm
Blue 3mm
Orange 2mm

Jørgen had re-made some of the sets and so preparations are in hand to repeat the process.
The red set are quite a new set so are being used as the model.

February 6th 2022... A template has been drawn for the main sails but the colour strips will be drawn directly on to the fabric.

Colour strips drawn and cut.

Cutting template windows.

The template is intended to be used to outline the individual sails with hem allowance and for marking up the cutaways for the sequence of colour strips.

Preparing to set a colour strip.

The main sail strip is cut out.

Transfer adhesive is being used to hold the fabric prior to sewing.

Progressing sails.

Colour strips sewn.

Reinforcement templates cut and dacron marked.
All set for reinforcing and hemming the nine sails.

All set 15th February 2022.

All sewn 16th February 2022.

Details.

Eyelets set.

Eyelets checked with spreader.

Pockets cut and folded.

Pockets, pre-stitched.

Pockets sewn, one corner.

Pockets sewn, the stack.

2m ramin sticks and previously cut spreaders.

Not quite the right colour...

Doubled up, taped and cut, 52 out of the width of fabric.

Cut into groups of eight for ease of finishing.

Nine sets sewn and secured. Each element 115 x 2cm.

Preparing the main flying line.

Production line.

Dihedrals and sail loops.

Lower corner spine attachments.

Looking like a stack of kites.

All Done 22nd February 2022.







Show less

Ready to go 23rd February 2022.

Sewing in progress.
The nine sets are sleeved in colour marked bags made by Jørgen. The new bag holds all of them and also the Peter Malinski train from the same period plus some pilot kites.

Replacement sails set test flight.

Thanks to Marian Linford for these additional images catching the pilot kite, the replacement Eddy Kite from the Peter Malinski train c1985.

Still from video.
Train in flight, mostly.

Still from video.

Video from 14th June 2020 Blackheath.
Seven sets of the nine flown today.

The fourth last orange kite dihedral has been replaced with a Lindsey Wisdom-Johnson 3D printed version

First time out for one section of the 81 kite JMH Rhombus-shaped kites 1985

The kites descend when there is too much wind speed so walking forwards caused the train to ascend