How To Build A Roller Kite

2-Skewer Roller: Template, Tips, Step-By-Step eBook

Here's how to build a Roller kite! The Template and Tips might be sufficient, otherwise try the step-by-step eBook containing the MBK 2-Skewer Roller Kite instructions. In fact, the eBook covers the entire 2-Skewer Series of MBK kites.

The Template and Tips below should be enough if you are keen kite person. If you have put together a number of kites before, with a few different kinds of bridles, the 2-Skewer Roller should be straight-forward. Everything you need, apart from the skewers perhaps, might already be lying around your house somewhere. I'm assuming you know how to build a Roller kite with low overall weight and appropriate knots.

The 2-Skewer Roller Kite is a medium-sized roller 58 cm across and 58 cm tall (2 feet). Some dihedral on the upper spar gives extra stability. Somewhat more dihedral on the lower spar plus a rear keel enable this Roller to fly without a tail.

This 2-Skewer Roller is an efficient light wind flier. Take it out when it's not very windy, and you won't be disappointed. Particularly if there is any thermal lift about!

The template shown above represents one side of the kite sail of course.

How To Build A Roller Kite - Tips

• 30cm bamboo BBQ skewers worked well for me. You might be working with 12" skewers, which is pretty much the same. Butt 2 skewers together for each spar, gluing on short lengths of bamboo to reinforce the joins.
• Try positioning the template so the edge of a bag becomes the center-line of the kite.
• For more durability, edge the sail with sticky tape. Over-doing it will increase weight and decrease stability though!
• Cap each spar tip with a single piece of insulation tape, wrapped around and stuck on both sides of the plastic sail.
• A simple 2-point bridle is appropriate for this kite. Attach the lower end of the bridle to the keel, which in turn is attached to the lower end of the vertical spar. Attach the flying line with a shiftable knot to get an adjustable towing point.
• For the horizontal spars... Build a small amount of dihedral (20 degrees) into the upper one, and somewhat more dihedral into the lower one.
• Tether the upper sail corners to the tips of the lower horizontal spar with flying line and sticky tape.

Just getting back to that eBook again, it's a nice reference if you want to try a whole range of different kites from time to time. The info is pitched at the beginner, with very detailed instructions on a range of kite-making topics.

However, the book is well-organized so the more experienced kite-maker can quickly scroll through and pick out bits of detail that are helpful or interesting. The long Table Of Contents helps too!

Click here for more info on the eBook 8 MBK Kites To Make - The Complete 2-Skewer Series.

How To Build A Roller Kite - Flying!

You know how to fly, so I won't elaborate here. Except to say that we have had a few really nice thermal flights with the 2-Skewer Roller! As long as you don't let out a huge amount of line, it will happily sail around at a 50 degree or more line angle in light winds, like a good Diamond. On a 20 pound line, this kite is capable of flying for ages between 300 and 400 feet. When rising air comes through, it will soar up to 60, 70 or more degrees of line angle, unlike a Diamond!

At this size, the Roller can be handled by quite small children in light winds. Here's a picture of this kite being launched, down at a local reserve. It was one of the first flights, in a very light but gusty inland breeze.

Have fun flying, and I hope you've enjoyed seeing how to build a Roller kite the MBK way!

By the way, if you would rather make an even smaller Roller that is half as tall as the 2-Skewer design, why not try the 1-Skewer Roller kite instead. Or, going twice as tall, the nice big Dowel Roller kite could be just the ticket!

Last updated: 6 Jan 2010