Double Diamond
Construction Plans
By Tim Salazar & Dave Gross

Overview

To build this kite, you'll need:
2 sq. yard of cellophane
4 - 36" x 3/16" wooden dowels,
scotch tape, marker, scissors, razor blade,
yard stick, and kite string.
Tubing - 3/16" inner diameter (optional).

Note: Plans will work with dowels up to 1/4" diameter.

(click on image)

Cut cellophane 27" x 27" (square).
Fold and tape down corners about 1 1/4".
Cut out 1" square in CENTER, reinforce with tape on both sides to prevent tearing.

Tips:
When folding the corners down and cutting the center, it's ok to make them bigger. Making them bigger will allow for more error during construction.

Save left over cellophane for tail.

End of dowel preparation:

Use 1/2" of tubing to prevent splitting.
Cut cross slits in dowel as shown.

I used oxygen tubing, but any tubing that fits snug will work, or wrap tape around dowel.

Tips:
Cross cuts on dowels should be the same direction on both ends.

Cut slits wide and deep enough to allow string to pass though it 5 times.

Tie dowels together in center.
Wrap string around dowel through slits to form a square. On each end wrap string around dowel and through slit again to prevent string from slipping. To square up frame measure 25 1/2" from end to end of dowels.

Hint: Make sure frame is square by placing it on cut square of cellophane.

Scotch tape down outer seams around string.

Hint:
Use one long piece of tape per side.  keep cellophane tight, neatness helps.

Cut cellophane 28 1/2" x 28 1/2" (square).
Diagonally cut cellophane in half.
Fold and tape top and bottom corners 2 1/4". Fold and tape outer corner 1 1/4" ( see picture )
Cut center out as shown above.

Tip:
Reinforce center cutout with tape on both sides before cutting.

front view of completed kite

Important step!
This can be tricky.

Dowels A & B from step 3.

Slide dowel D through hole in center of surface 1 so that dowel C is flush with dowel A and surface 1 is sandwiched between them.

Center C with A, center D with surface 1 and tie them all together.

Note!
Your kite will not look like picture.
Surface 2 in picture is not attached yet. (see step 7)
See diagram below.

Wrap string around dowels D & B.  Square up like in step 3.

Note:
diagram not to scale.

Completed kite views

Front View

Back View

Note: Dowels are all behind cellophane from front view and in front of cellophane from back view.

Back of kite

Slide surface 2 (blue) between doubled up dowels and surface 1 (red).
Scotch tape inner seam around center dowel.
Scotch tape outer seam around string of frame from step 6.
Flip over kite and do the same for surface 3.

Note:
Make sure surfaces are on correct sides of dowels by laying down surfaces exactly as shown in picture. (Surface 2 is lying flat on 2nd half of surface 1.)

Tie string as shown by red and yellow lines.
Connect kite string somewhere along red line.

Hints:
Attach kite string at fixed point to control angle of attack or allow string to run freely along red string for an active bridle.

You can also adjust bridle to make up for any horizontal asymmetry.