How To Make A Dopero Kite

Dowel Dopero: Template, Tips, Step-By-Step eBook

Here's how to make a Dopero kite! The Template and Tips might be sufficient, otherwise try the step-by-step eBook for making the MBK Dowel Dopero Kite. Every kite in the Dowel series is made to be transportable, rolling up into a convenient long, slim package like a Sled.

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 Dowel Dopero should be reasonably straight-forward. Mind you, it's a far cry from slapping together a Diamond!

Everything you need, apart from the dowels perhaps, might already be lying around your house somewhere. I'm assuming you know how to make a Dopero kite with low overall weight and appropriate knots.

The MBK Dowel Dopero is a large tail-less kite loosely based on the original double-roller design. Like the original, this kite is a great light to moderate wind flier.

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

How To Make A Dopero Kite - Tips

• 5mm oak dowels worked well for me. You might look at using 3/16" dowels, 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. Leave the long edges of the tabs, since they will be taped down later anyway.
• Cap each spar tip with a single piece of insulation tape, wrapped around and stuck on both sides of the plastic sail.
• A 4-point bridle makes sense for this kite, with 2 of those attached to the twin keels at the rear. Attach the flying line with a shiftable knot to get an adjustable towing point.
• Put about the same amount of bow into both horizontal spars. In light winds, not much bow is required.

The step by step instructions for this Dopero are also included in an eBook covering the entire Dowel series. It's a nice reference if you want to eventually make a whole range of different kites, of similar size. The info is pitched at the beginner, with very detailed instructions on a range of kite-making topics. Including the technique for making the kites transportable. This is explained individually for each kite.

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 Dowel Series.

How To Make A Dopero Kite - Flying!

You know how to fly, so I won't elaborate here. Except to say that we have had some really enjoyable flights with this home-spun Dopero. This kite will easily reach 400 feet above ground on a 50 pound flying line. If any thermal lift is about, this kite will waste no time soaring straight overhead! A sight to behold, particularly when it starts doing figure-eights seeing that it has nowhere else to go.

The video up there shows the Dopero on its first test flight, about 100 feet up in a moderate breeze.

In the close-up picture over to the left, you can see a fair amount of detail. The kite was on a very short line for this shot, before I let it out a lot more for some real flying up high! Most of the 4-point bridle is visible, as well as those twin keels which are billowing out sideways under air pressure.

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

By the way, if you would rather make a smaller Dopero that is half as tall as the Dowel design, why not try the 2-Skewer Dopero kite instead. Or, going half as tall again, the tiny 1-Skewer Dopero kite could be just the ticket!

Last updated: 9 Mar 2010