How to Make a Paper Sled Kite

Step-by-Step—Page 1 of 2

The MBK Paper Sled

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

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How to Make a Paper Sled Kite
The Sail

Tack Paper Sheets Together

• Bring four 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!

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Measure on One Side

• 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 centerline from top to bottom, or to the right of the centerline.

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Fold Along the Centerline

• Fold the four sheets along the centerline, 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 three dots that are not on the centerline 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!

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Draw Lines

• 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.

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Apply Tape

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

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

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Cut the Sail Outline

• 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.

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The Bridle

Attach Line

• Measure and snip off a 2 meter (7 foot) length of polyester thread.
• Find the middle of the thread and place it over the centerline of the sail.
• Position the thread across the corners of the sail as in the photo. Stick down three 5 cm (2 in.) 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.

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Adjust and Tie Line

• 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.

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• We'll treat the thread as two 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.

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The Spars

Tape Sheets

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

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Measure

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

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

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Draw Lines

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

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

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Tape Over

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

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Cut Out

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

 

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Continue to page 2

 

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