stefmoris wrote: I've already ordered the material to sew up an 8 and a 15! It will take me all summer to really learn all I can from this design so I'm just going to scale it up and down.
Yes, don't rush it. Take your time and use your kite in different conditions and then think carefully what could be improved and how it could be done.
At hindsight I'd have done better if I had made very different kites from the beginning and learned more and had been able to isolate how different parameters affect. Of course I now know quite a lot, but it has been a long way.
But in practice it is almost impossible if your resources are limited like they are for DIY kite maker. It is just too much to invest materials and ca. 100 hours of work if resulting kite is an uncertain experiment.
However, if you Stef get too fixed in your current design it may limit your work. Scaling up and down is not optimal, because big and small kites are used in so different conditions. It is possible though and small race foils are among the most exciting kites. At least with Surfplan it is very easy to modify designs, so not much added work there.
There is nothing wrong to study what kind of designs are used in good kites. To make a good kite is very much to be able to make good and sensible compromises. DIY worker can then try to tailor a kite for some specific use: high wind, freeride hf, speed record etc.
I don't see it very reasonable to make simple foil kite like Access, at best it will be a mediocre kite. For first DIY kite it is a good choice, easy to do and it will work certainly.
After making a lot of kites during the years it is essential to keep record of your work, so you can really learn from earlier designs. Of course you will remember a lot but there is so much parameters you can easily forget something. It is very useful to compare different designs during the design work.
I'm constantly amazed how often I see design choices in new kites which I've leaved years ago or which are not justifiable. I must say many (foil) kite designers are sloppy, kites just don't look finished. On the other hand, the work of top designers is very high level. There is also cost/manufacture compromises which can be seen, but this must be accepted for ordinary kites.
I dare to say only race foil kites develop, other kite types are more or less finished. Single skins are developing too, but they have their limitations.
stefmoris wrote:Kitexpert I hope you develop that 80 cell monster of a kite I saw you posted in another thread! Then we can have a virtual battle of the gps tracks!
I'm working with a bit less extreme kite, but it's supposed to have very high performance. Specs are above Speeds, so very close to full race kites. Some details are even higher level, but I've tried to keep usability at acceptable level and also the amount of work. But it has very much details, so there is a lot of work. If it will be a success I'll post pictures and experiences, if not