Kono Flying Squirrel Kite - Drachen Foundation

MaterialsEach Kit includes:• Kite sail• 1 sheet of printed kite tails• Kite line on winder• 1 17” bamboo spar• 2 11” bamboo sparsKono Flying Squirrel KiteYou Supply:• Scissors• Tape (Scotch Transparent Tape is recommended)• Markers, colored pencils, crayons, and/or water based paints for decorationKite ConstructionDesigning the Sail Attaching the Tail Attaching the Spars123CRAYONFold the kite body sheetin half lengthwise alongthe dotted line. Cut outthe the square bridlehole, as indicated.Unfold kite body and cutout squirrel shape.Decorate the cutout kite body andthe tail page on theUNPRINTED (front)side, with crayons,markers, coloredpencils, and/or waterbased paints.Note: tempera paintwould probably makethe kite sail too heavy45Fold tail section pagein half along the dottedline and cut outline oftail and diagonalsbefore cutting the twotail sections apart.Tape the two tailsto the bottom of thesquirrel body, tapingone down and the otheron top of the first.67Tape the two11” stickslengthwisedown the centerof the printedside of the kitesail along thedotted line.Use 4-5 smallpieces of tapeas shown inthe diagram.At the top, foldtape over to thefront.Tape the 17”bamboo stickover the horizontaldottedline with6 small piecesof tape. (Makesure that thespar is alignedevenly acrossthe top.)89From the supplied kite line and winder, cuta length of string about 4” longer than thewidth of the kite (21”) With a secure knot,tie one end of the string to each side ofthe horizontal spar. Wind the string a fewtimes around the end ofthe spar to create a bowin the kite sail as shown.This is called the bowline.NOTE: You can increaseor decrease the amountof bow in your kite sailby winding more or lessbow line around the topspar to adapt to windconditions. Strong winds= more bow; lighterwinds = less bow.Attaching the Flying LineFrom the front of thekite, tie a secure knotaround the horizontalspars at the smalldiamond-shaped vent.©Drachen Foundation www.drachen.org10/22/2010

Telephone: (206) 282-4349Fax: (206) 284-5471Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 9am-5pmResearch Hours: by appointment onlyinformation@drachen.org 3131 Western Avenue, M321http://www.drachen.org Seattle, WA 98121The Drachen Foundation (DF) was founded in 1995 as a non-profit kite research and studycenter. The Foundation takes its name from the German word drachen, which can mean eitherkite or dragon. The Drachen Foundation houses a small library, slide collection, and kite archive,all available to those interested in increasing their knowledge of kites from historical, cultural,scientific, or artistic viewpoints.The Foundation collaborates with non-profit educational organizations to teach kite making to thepublic, and to showcase kites from around the world. In addition, the Foundation works to placeteachers in contact with area kitemakers to bring the experience of kitemaking to students andchildren of all ages. We offer several publications and kite kits for educators who are interestedin using kites in their classroom.THE DRACHEN FOUNDATION ONLINE STOREThe DF Online Store features kitemaking materials and inexpensive kite kits, designed by masterkitemakers from around the world. Many kits use traditional materials—bamboo and washi(Japanese paper). Kits include:• Bell Tetra Kite• Cambodian Kleng Bao• Guatemalan Children’s Kite• Kono Beetle Kite• Kono Box Kite• Kono Butterfly• Kono Catfish• Kono Chinese Emperor• Kono Cobra• Kono Dihedral Diamond• Kono Flying Squirrel• Kono Jellyfish• Kono Korean Bird• Kono Octopus• Kono Rokkaku• Kono Salmon• Toki’s Kaku Dako• Toki’s Koma Dako• Trepanier Bug Kite• Trepanier Trapezoid Kite• Yoshimi Paper Sode• Yoshizumi Fighter Kite• Yoshizumi Hu Sui• Yoshizumi Japanese Fish Kite• Yoshizumi Two-in-One Kite (Buka/Surugaor Rokkaku/Sode)Kono FlyingSquirrel KiteGreg KonoKono Flying SquirrelKite Designer:Greg KonoGreg Kono is a third generationJapanese American (sansei),who grew up on a farm inSacramento, California. Hestudied environmental design atthe Art Center College of Designin Pasadena, creates on-site andtraveling exhibits for museumsand organizations, and has runhis own design studio, KonoDesign, since 1991.In his kite making Kono exploresthe culture and materials—bamboo and washi (Japanesepaper)—used by his ancestors.His imagery is often playful,reflecting a childhood fascinationwith puzzles or his continuinginterest in anime. He has designeda series of “critter” kites for TheDrachen Foundation, in additionto this flying squirrel kite.Kono teaches a wide range of kite making workshops.Please contact him through greg@konodesign.comwww.konodesign.comThe DF Online Store also carries DIY kitemaking materials—bamboo spars and Tyvek TM —as well aspublications and media about kites, kite pins, gift items, and apparel.Order online at www.drachen.org, or call 206-282-4349.