This set of instructions on how to make a rokkaku kite assumes you know absolutely nothing about kite making. You might already have some of the simple tools and materials required.
Anything you don't have is easily bought. If not exactly what I used, then at least something pretty similar!
The MBK Dowel Rokkaku is a fairly large tailless design based on the traditional Japanese kite.
However, this rok will still fit into nearly all road vehicles, ready to fly—either just in front of the rear seat or flat in the trunk (boot).
Like the other Japanese design in this series, the sode, this kite is a light-to-moderate wind flyer.
Setting up on the flying field is just a matter of attaching the bow-line toggles to put some curvature into both the horizontal spars. Then the flying line is attached to the bridle.
At this point you are ready to launch! The method of attachment is illustrated further down this page.
I have chosen to make "One Dowel Length" equal to 120 cm for every kite in the Dowel Series. If you are in North America, 48 in. of 3/16 in. dowel is close enough to 120 cm of 5 mm dowel. This will result in a kite with similar flying characteristics to my original. Make sure to find a hardwood type for your dowel.
On this site, there's more kite-making info than you can poke a stick at :-)
Want to know the most convenient way of using it all?
The Big MBK E-book Bundle is a collection of downloads — printable PDF files which provide step-by-step instructions for many kites large and small.
Every kite in every MBK series.
Now's the time to read up on the kite-making tools and materials required for making a Dowel Rokkaku, if you haven't already. For this kite, you will also need some cheap thin shoe-laces.
The template shown above represents one side of the kite sail. You will now transfer these measurements to the sail plastic.
Like to see a video clip? Just scroll down to near the end of this page.
Note: In order to fit the length of an 80-liter garden bag, I made this design shorter than a traditional 4:5:6 rok of the same wingspan. You see, I'm trying to standardize on a 1.2 meter wingspan for all the Dowel Series kites!
When doing the following, most of the width of the tape should be inside
the kite's outline. Use a single length of tape for each line. Hold it
out straight, touch it down to the plastic at one end, then at the other
end, dab it down in the middle, then press down all along its length.
As mentioned earlier, there's more kite making on this site than you can poke a stick at :-)
Want to know the most convenient way of using it all?
The Big MBK E-book Bundle is a collection of downloads — printable PDF files which provide step-by-step instructions for many kites large and small.
Every kite in every MBK series.