MBK Kite Plans

The Way To Go If You're In The Know!

Why build from kite plans? Well, if you've made a few kites before, it's just a bit quicker and more convenient than wading through a long list of step-by-step instructions.

There's another plus too. It's easier to substitute your own different materials or way of doing things, as you see fit. For example, you might use rip-stop nylon instead of plastic, or doweling for spars to make a much bigger kite.

However, if you think a few extra details would be useful, just check out those eBooks over there on the left. Printing out an eBook makes a pretty handy reference too.

New to this site? OK, let me explain about '1-Skewer', '2-Skewer' and 'Dowel' designs. These simply refer to the basic building block of the kite.

Except for the Delta, 1-skewer designs are no wider than the length of a single bamboo skewer. Similarly, 2-skewer designs are mainly constructed with 2 skewers joined end-to-end. Except for the Delta, these designs are never more than 2 skewers wide from tip to tip.

Finally, all the Dowel designs except the Delta are 1.2 meters (4 feet) from tip to tip.

Kite Plans For All The MBK Kites

The links below take you to plans and tips for the 1-Skewer, 2-Skewer and Dowel version of each kite type. Put one together, go out and fly it really high and join the MBK Kite Club!

Plans For Sled Kites

Plans For Diamond Kites

Plans For Barn Door Kites

Plans For Sode Kites

Plans For Rokkaku Kites

Plans For Delta Kites

Plans For Roller Kites

Plans For Dopero Kites

Between the plan and the list of hints, 90% of the kite's construction should be covered. If you're a 'plan builder' then the remaining 10% shouldn't worry you!

Flight Reports

Every now and again, I pick a kite and go out to fly. See below for some actual flying experiences with these kites! In each report, there's a short video and a photo of the kite in flight. (Just the 7 reports so far, but stay tuned!)

Further Comments

My ultimate goal is to have a large collection of kite plans and instructions that have been refined and standardized through lots of building and flying! Small design changes might creep in too, as I experiment and improve the flying characteristics of these cheap kites, so you have a better chance of success.

If you are curious, I've written down a lot of recollections and comments on how the MBK kite designs came to be.

Finally, the kite drawings here are not intended for just printing off and enlarging. The result would be stretched a little in the horizontal or vertical direction. However, if you went ahead and built a kite from such a plan, I'm sure it would fly! Nothing a bit more tail and/or dihedral wouldn't fix, don't you think?

MBK Flying Skewers And Plastic is a fun publication for kite lovers. Particularly single-line fliers! This FREE monthly newsletter will help keep you in touch... There's always something new being built or flown at MBK!

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Last updated: 15 Jan 2010