Page:Kitecraft and kite tournaments (1914).djvu/58

50 so as to be nearer horizontal. This kite can be modified by a lower horizontal two-thirds down of the same length as the upper horizontal, as in same length and one short brace placed centrally in each cell to keep the fore and back sticks apart. The short braces can be notched to slip into place and on being removed will let the kite down flat. This kite will need to be more rigid than the one just described. A hexagonal box-kite could be made with side wings by extending one of the braces at each end, Fig. 96, and the pentagonal form could be similarly modified. Fig. 97 has a little different plan of extension that looks more like wings. A triangular box-kite is used as the main structure to build on. Three long sticks are required with four short braces on each side, eight in all, with eight wing sticks, four long and four shorter, that are attached to an inner long stick of the box-like portion and extend across to the short brace of the opposite side. When a pair of the extension sticks are fastened to place, they are lashed together at their crossing point. The slanting extensions are strongly built and add poise to the kite.

The poise of a rectangular kite may be increased by the addition of slant extensions. The extension pieces start from the lower corner pieces, pass under the upper corner pieces, lashing fast at both places, Fig. 98. If a little variety in outline is desired, split bamboo or reed could be used to make such forms as are desired; even string connections can be made.

In making hollow form objects both patience and skill are necessary. A form that is interesting but not representative of any real object is shown in Fig. 99. Another is the arrow kite, Fig. 100. The flying bird kite should make a good problem for some ingenious chap. The framework and stringing is shown in Fig. 101. The cross-section of the body of the bird is about the shape of a tailless kite. The plan gives such good bracing construction that very light material may be used. Four feet would be