The BDub Mark 3 kite

This article first appeared in MKF news Spring 2003

I've tried building single line kites for some years, mostly disasters. This year I seem to have cracked the art of the rookie kite builder: plan, take your time, and have the right materials and tools. I was amazed in the summer of 2002 when I built a "Roller" that not only looked good and flew perfectly first time so.....

Time for a sport-kite!

Looking round for plans, Aiken's "Bdub" seemed to fit the bill. The construction was straightforward, with good pictures and instructions, the sail wasn't too complex, and it promised to be both precise and radical.

First the colours. I made the sail out of sizable scraps I had, but the colours seemed to go together well.


The instructions were followed as best I could, with reference to the FAQ section of the Bdub website, but I changed quite a few small (!) details to suit me.

The base of the spine was made using a velcro wrap-around. This is what I'm used to. The spine has ended up a little longer, bad planning by me, but it seems to work really well, and it is always easy to shorten it rather than lengthen it!


I have used bungees at the wing tips, despite the comments in the plans: again it suits me.

The original was for a light wind kite with a 4mm frame. I have made it using 6mm Structil Hi-Mod throughout. This seems fine, and makes it a very strong kite, hence the nose webbing.

The lower spreaders seem to be higher than in the plan, but once I'd cut the hole it was too late, so I've kept it as cut, thinking I could always try again later. After all, the sail is the cheap bit ,and I still need the practice at sewing.


So here it is, put together, bridled, and out to Sutton Park one very cold Saturday Morning in January 2003, 10 mph steady winds, not a radio controlled plane in sight.

Pull back... IT FLIES.

Axles first time, flick-flack (I've very rarely managed it before), but it wouldn't turn too well. A few adjustments on the bridle, and I'm smiling from ear to ear. Looks good in a winter sky, rock steady, silent, "feels" solid,and axles on demand.

I only had half an hour to play, and need to fiddle a bit more with the bridle to get a bit tighter turns etc.


I love it and haven't really got it trimmed yet. Thanks for the design. Now where is the eight-foot version?

John Williams
January 2003


reference: "The Bdubkite comes of age at last" found at:
http://homepages.tesco.net/~are/finalplan.html



Original article and web page © John Williams 2003
This version ©John Williams 2004