By Leslie Hunt
FIG. 47.
THE BUTTERFLY KITE
Outline of markings and framing plan. Remember the lower sides of the wings are the sides that are seen.
The Butterfly Kite is, in reality, a double Tetrahedral Kite appropriately colored and trimmed. Make the frame as shown in Figure 47. Study the common butterflies in your vicinity for suggestions on shape and decoration and fit the frame to conform to the shape selected. While the wings are attached to a hinge arrangement as in the Tetrahedral Kite, there is no need of having the attachment stiff and rigid.
Make the hinge of cloth, allowing plenty of play so the flight will be light and airy. The wings should be held apart by an elastic-stick arrangement as shown in Figure 49. This will allow the wings to flutter, and will give a fair representation of flying. A body with legs and feelers may be made if desired. Tie strings around the crepe-paper body to divide it into the three insect parts; head, thorax, and abdomen.
The legs and wings are borne on the thorax and the feelers or antennae on the head. Study a butterfly for suggestions.
Stiffening may be worked out according to Figure 4, and the suggestions given in the Introduction.
I have made butterfly kites with a twist in the sticks that form the upper tip of the forewing and the lower tip of the opposite hind wing that performed all sorts of zigzag motions. I usually make the tails of the butterfly's wing slender enough so they do not interfere with a steady flight.
FIG. 48.
THE BUTTERFLY KITE WHILE FLYING
The tips of the wings should be about as far apart as the distance from the wing tip to the body.
I made a butterfly kite after the Monarch Butterfly, and found it to be a good flier. Since the wings moved somewhat, offering a varying amount of surface to the wind, I did not attempt to rate it as I did the other kites. However, the longest sticks were 1/4 by 1/4 by 26 inches, and the completed kite weighed 3 ounces.
