How To Make A Rok Kite

1-Skewer Rokkaku: Template, Tips, Step-By-Step eBook

Here's how to make a Rok kite! The Template and Tips might be sufficient, otherwise try the step-by-step eBook containing the MBK 1-Skewer Rokkaku Kite instructions. In fact, the eBook covers the entire 1-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 1-Skewer Rokkaku will be a piece of cake! Everything you need, apart from the skewers perhaps, might already be lying around your house somewhere. I'm assuming you know how to make a Rok kite with low overall weight and appropriate knots.

The MBK 1-Skewer Rokkaku Kite is rather small at 29 cm (1 foot) across, with a tail. This Rokkaku is a very nice little light-to-moderate wind flier!

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

How To Make A Rok Kite - Tips

• 30cm bamboo BBQ skewers worked well for me. You might be working with 12" skewers, which is pretty much the same.
• 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 pieces of tape, wrapped around and stuck on both sides of the plastic sail.
• A simple 2-point bridle is sufficient for this kite. Attach the flying line with a shiftable knot to get an adjustable towing point.
• Tie a simple tail to the vertical spar. A length of about 4 times the height of the kite is a good starting point. Being an old hand, I'm sure you will experiment with more or less tail, depending on how the kite flies!

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 1-Skewer Series.

How To Make A Rok Kite - Flying!

You know how to fly, so I won't elaborate here. Except to say that we have had a number of enjoyable flights with this small but willing little Rokkaku kite! As long as you don't let out a huge amount of line, it will happily sail around at a 40 to 50 degree line angle in moderate winds. With enough tail, and accurate construction, it will put up with quite fresh winds too.

We have made a few of these, and have noticed that clear plastic really lights up around sunset! Even in sunny conditions, the sun will sometimes glint off the clear plastic. At other times, the kite becomes a bit hard to see against light gray cloud...

You'll probably want to try something other than clear plastic, or maybe keep a clear version just for late-in-the-day flying.

Here's a picture of the completed MBK Skewer Rokkaku Kite in flight, soon after launch. I forget why I was looking down, but it was a nice picture of the Rok on a short line!

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

By the way, if you would rather make a bigger Rokkaku that is twice as tall as the 1-Skewer design, why not try the 2-Skewer Rokkaku kite instead. Or, going twice as tall again, the nice big Dowel Rokkaku kite could be just the ticket!

Last updated: 4 Jan 2010