Diamond Kite Plans
For All The MBK Diamonds
These Diamond kite plans and hints are aimed at summarizing the more in-depth instructions to be found in the How To Make A Kite section of this website.
For each of the Diamond plans below, there are also a pair of plan view photos.
The one on the left is of the front surface. That is, the side of the kite which faces the flier. The other photo is of the back surface, which exposes the spars.
For all 3 designs, attach flying line to the bridle with a shiftable knot, for later trimming. Also, all 3 designs work well with light single-ply plastic for sail material. Many large plastic bags are suitable.
Try my Making The MBK Dowel Diamond Kite PDF, if you prefer to work offline or from printouts.
Dowel Diamond Kite Plans
Plan View Photos
Front
Back
Tips And Hints
- For a dowel length of 120cm (48 inches), 5mm (3/16") dowel works well.
- Reinforce the sail edges by adding nearly the full width of clear sticking tape inside the outline, then trimming back to the outline.
- Secure the sail to each spar end using 2 short lengths of electrical insulation tape. One length goes over and around the tip, the other at 90 degrees to the first tape, with corners folded back under the sail.
- Lash the horizontal spar to the vertical spar with tape or string, or any other method you prefer.
- Try a 0.75DL (90cm, 36") length of line for the upper bridle loop. Use about 1.0DL (120cm, 48") for the lower bridle line.
- At the bridle attachment points, a Double Wrap Slip knot works well, secured with a spot of glue.
- No tail is required for this kite.
There's our Dowel Diamond in flight, below...
Take a look at this Dowel Diamond in flight...
Don't forget my Making The MBK Dowel Diamond Kite PDF, if you prefer to work offline or from printouts.
2-Skewer Diamond Kite Plans
Plan View Photos
Front
Back
Tips And Hints
- 30 cm (12 inch) bamboo BBQ skewers work well as spar material.
- Reinforce the join in the middle of each spar with 2 lengths of skewer, each 0.15SL (4.4cm, 1 3/4") long, one on each side as in the plan. The reinforcers stay flat on the table, and glue is applied along their lengths, from above, to join the 4 pieces of bamboo together.
- Reinforce the sail edges by adding clear sticking tape over the outlines. Trim back to the outline, leaving at least 3/4 of the width of the tape on the sail.
- Secure the sail to each spar end using a short length of electrical insulation tape. Fold it over the tip.
- Secure the horizontal spar to the vertical spar with glue, or any other method you prefer.
- Try a length of bridle line about 4.0SL (116cm, 46") long.
- At the bridle attachment points, a Double-Wrap Slip Knot works well. Add a spot of glue if you want to.
- For a start, try making a simple ribbon tail about 8.0SL (230cm, 90") long and the width of 3 adult fingers.
- The tail can be attached to the vertical spar with a single Half Hitch. Trim off excess tail plastic above the knot.
Here's the 2-Skewer Diamond in flight...
Black tail, orange sail, blue sky - it works for me
1-Skewer Diamond Kite Plans
Plan View Photos
Front
Back
Tips And Hints
- 30 cm (12") bamboo BBQ skewers work well as spars. I work with 1SL = 29cm (11 1/2").
- Secure the sail to the spar ends using short lengths of clear sticky tape.
- After cracking the bamboo to get the dihedral angle, use a generous drop of wood glue to join the spars where they cross and hold the dihedral angle firmly.
- Try a length of bridle line about the length of one skewer. Let half hang out the front of the sail, and the other half out the back. Secure with a small drop of glue. The kite can now be easily included in a kite train.
- For a start, try making a tail about 8 times as long as the length of the kite itself, and 2 adult finger-widths wide.
There's a 1-Skewer Diamond in flight, below...
Knots in the tail only make it better
Out In The Field
Diamond kite stories of my real-life flying experiences are worth checking out!
Illustrated with photos and videos, of course.
I hope one of these Diamond kite plans is just right for you.
I can tell you love kites...
Otherwise you wouldn't be all the way down here near the bottom of the page :-)
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Looking forward to hearing from you...
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P.S. Keep an eye out for books by kite author Glenn Davison, a prominent kite person in the USA.
What's New!
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Global News Report:
How High Can You Fly?Mar 21, 19 07:32 PM
If the idea of flying kites as high as possible excites you, check this out. Written by a kite-loving meteorologist in the U.S.... ---------------------------------------------------------------- Wedn…
Wind Speeds
Light Air
1-5 km/h
1-3 mph
1-3 knots
Beaufort 1
Light breeze
6–11 km/h
4–7 mph
4–6 knots
Beaufort 2
Gentle ...
12–19 km/h
8–12 mph
7–10 knots
Beaufort 3
Moderate ...
20–28 km/h
13–18 mph
11–16 knots
Beaufort 4
Fresh ...
29–38 km/h
19–24 mph
17–21 knots
Beaufort 5
Strong ...
39–49 km/h
25–31 mph
22–27 knots
Beaufort 6
High Wind
50-61 km/h
32-38 mph
28-33 knots
Beaufort 7
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