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Wind Funnels, Tassels

Wind Funnels

These may be fitted to plane-type kites. They are obviously decorative, but also serve to supply a light current of air to the kite on a calm day. The air travels through them at increased pressure which improves the kite's upward movement. To make them, first form a circle of thin wire, 3 in. in diameter, and join the ends together with thread. The wire may be shaped round a tin or a bottle. Next, take a piece of fairly stiff paper, measuring 10 in. x 5 in., and shape it in the following way. Hold it at the bottom corners. Twist the left-hand corner over and downwards. Wrap the other corner over to form a funnel. Cup one hand round the funnel to retain the shape. The funnel may then be adjusted to a diameter of 3 1/2 in. at the top and 1 in. at the bottom. Having done this, apply glue to the overlap and stick down. Now cut the edges straight at the top and bottom, and make slits in the top edge to a depth of 1/2 in. Apply glue to this 1/2 in. margin, fold over the wire rim and press down.

Wind Funnels

Balancing funnels

Now add the fringe. Take a piece of tissue paper which is 1 in. square. Fold it down the centre and paste the ends together. Cut 1/2 in. slits in the paper along the pasted side. This forms the margin. Wrap the paper round the funnel, and mark the overlap, which is then pasted down. Apply paste to the top margin, fold it over the rim and fasten down. Now cut the tissue paper into fingers, 1/2 in. in width, to form a fringe. Next, pierce the top in four places, representing 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions. Insert thin strings which are 1 ft. 3 in. in length, and form them into loops. Tie the loops together at the top so that there is an equal tension on all of them. Attach the wind funnels to the kite by means of strings, as shown for the 'Star' kite. Please note that the funnels which have been described are intended for kites which are 2 ft. to 2 ft. 6 in. in size. The measurements given may be adapted for larger or smaller kites.
Tassels
Tassels

Tassels

These are illustrated in Fig. 26, and are designed to be tied to the end of the kite tail; to the backbone, or to the bottom corners of the framework. The appearance of the 'Festoon' or the 'Tonking' kites is improved by the addition of tassels. The method of making them is as follows. Cut a circle of tissue paper, 12 in. in diameter. Draw on it an inner circle, which is 3 in. in diameter. Fold the paper into four, as shown at A, with the marking for the smaller circle on the outside. Next, cut into fingers which extend to the circumference of the smaller circle, as at B. Take a piece of thin string, 6 in. in length, and tie it in the form of a loop. Glue one end of this to a segment of the inner circle, as at C. Roll the paper round at the top, and bind round with thread. The tassel is now ready to be tied to a trailing string by means of the loop.





19 Great Kites to Make