Swallow Kite Plans?

by Eric Lemay
(Tokyo, Japan)

Q:

I was wondering if you might know where to find plans or any information that could help me figure out how to build a Swallow kite that is shaped like the ones that you can see in this YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbndHqhmiV8

It does not have to be exactly this type of kite, but I would like to make something that is roughly shaped like those swallows. Just by looking at videos and pictures on the web, I have some basic idea of how it might be done, but I am not sure about the spars that seem to run from the middle of the wings down to the tips of the tail?

I am also hoping to build some kind of wooden spar and plastic bag Swallow kite first...

A:

This was surprisingly hard! Even the great Kite Plan Base had nothing to offer except a Swallow fighter kite which it is in name only! Not what you are looking for.

However, here are 2 possible avenues for you to pursue...

A New Zealand kite-maker called Robert Van Weers might be able to help, since he has designed and tested a range of Swallow kites.

http://www.softkites.com

A good hardcover book is available which contains a Swallow kite design...

THE GREAT KITE BOOK by Norman Schmidt

Available from Barnes and Noble, and others. At a great range of prices, depending on condition!

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Great-Kite-Book/Norman-Schmidt/e/9781895569360

Hope you can get somewhere with one of these directions!