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How To Make A Paper Sled Kite

Step-by-Step - Page 1 of 2

The MBK Paper Sled

MBK Paper Sled

Learn how to make a Paper Sled kite with these easy-to-follow instructions. Fully illustrated with close-up photographs, every step of the way.

MBK Paper Sled

These instructions take you step-by-step through making a small but high-flying Sled kite. All from several pieces of A4 or Letter size copier paper and some sticky tape!

This kite performs well in gentle to moderate wind speeds. That's from 12 to 28 kph or from 8 to 18 mph. Even quite a small child should be able to hang on to the winder once the kite is up.

Consider using my e-book Making Paper Kites to try any of the 5 all-paper designs in there. Hi-res, close-up photos help you through.

How To Make A Paper Sled Kite...
The Sail

Tack Paper Sheets Together

4 sheets of paper tacked together

• Bring 4 sheets of paper together and tack in place with short strips of sticky tape. Yellow lines show where the tape goes.
• Orient each sheet so the long sides are at top and bottom, as can be seen in the photo. The paper colors are up to you!

Measure On One Side

Sail corners measured and marked

• Using a pencil, make dark dots on the paper, according to the measurements shown above. I have added yellow dots to make the positions clear.
• Note how dots are placed either on the center-line from top to bottom, or to the right of the center-line.

Fold Along The Center-Line

Paper sheets folded

• Fold the 4 sheets along the center-line, leaving the dots on the outside. A small dot on the yellow paper is visible in the photo.
• Place the paper up against a window while there is some light outside.
• Trace the 3 dots that are not on the center-line onto the unmarked side.

Note: What if the paper is too dark to see through? Just poke a hole through a dot with a needle so you can see where to put a dot on the unmarked side!

Draw Lines

Lines drawn between dots

• Unfold the paper and lay it down.
• Using a pencil and ruler, connect the dots as shown in the photo.

Note: The lines in the photo are enhanced so you can see them easier.

Apply Tape

Tape laid down

• Apply sticky tape as indicated by the yellow rectangles in the photo.

Note: Along the top 4 lines, overlap the line so most of the tape is inside the sail shape.

Cut The Sail Outline

Sail cut out

• With scissors, cut all around the sail shape. There it is in the photo.
• Now flip the paper over and lay it down so all the tape is hidden.

The Bridle

Attach Line

Bridle line centered and stuck down

• Measure and snip off a 2 meter (7 feet) length of polyester thread.
• Find the middle of the thread and place it over the center-line of the sail.
• Position the thread across the corners of the sail as in the photo. Stick down three 5cm (2”) strips of sticky tape as indicated in yellow.

Note:

• Make sure the thread is as straight as possible while the paper remains flat.
• Where the corners of tape overhang, fold around to the other side of the paper.

Adjust And Tie Line

Bridle line adjusted

• Flip the sail so the taped thread is against the floor.
• With the sail flat on the floor, bring both ends of the thread up above the center of the sail, and pinch them between finger and thumb.
• Adjust until both side tips of the sail move at the same time, when you pull the slack out of the thread.

Bridle lines tied

• We'll treat the thread as 2 separate lines now, since that's what it looks like from the front...
• Tie the free ends of the lines together, with a Multi-Strand Double knot.

The Spars

Tape Sheets

2 sheets taped

• Bring 2 sheets of paper together, at the shorter ends.
• Tape straight across on one side, as indicated by the yellow rectangle in the photo.

Measure

Neasured and dots marked.

•  Measure, and mark dots where indicated by the yellow dots in the photo.

Note: If you have a longer ruler than the standard 30cm (12”), you might be able to skip those 4 dots in the middle!

Draw Lines

Lines drawn between dots

• Using your ruler, connect the dots as shown. The lines have been edited to make them easier to see in the photo.

Note: The 2 rectangles are away from the paper's edge in preparation for the next step...

Tape Over

Rectangles taped

• Lay strips of sticky tape over the 2 rectangles as illustrated in the photo.
• The strips of tape can overlap slightly and should cover the rectangles completely.

Cut Out

Rectangles cut out

Cut out the 2 rectangles, which will be totally covered in tape on one side. A little bit of curl is OK.

Step-by-step DIY
Printable

Step-by-step DIY
Printable

Consider using my e-book Making Paper Kites to try any of the 5 all-paper designs in there. Hi-res, close-up photos help you through.

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