On my Bipe, all the X are 5mm light carbon, which is a little too flexible when the wind is strong. I recommend standard 5mm instead.

7. Coupez 20 barres de 82.5 cm en carbone de 5mm. (si vous utilisez des barres de 165, vous n'avez aucune perte )

7.1 Assemblez les X au milieu avec un fil de kevlar tel qu'indiqué. Enroulez le fil bien serré et sur plusieurs tours. Finissez avec un bon noeud. Quand tout est fini, mettez une goutte de super glue sur chacun des quatres cotes. Ca empechera le centre de glisser et, si quelques fibres venaient à se rompre, le reste demeurera bien solide.

7. Cut 20 pieces of 82.5 cm long in 5 mm carbon (if you use 165 cm bars, you have no loss at all)

7.1. assemble the X in the middle with kevlar as shown. pull the string tight and make several turns. Finish with a good knot. When finished, put a drop of super glue on each of the 4 sides. It will further prevent the center from slipping and, if a few fibers should get cut, the rest will still hold together.

8. Mettez le X à plat sur une table et percez un trou vertical de 2mm de diametre à 7 mm du bout des barres. C'est la que viendront se loger les goupilles

8.1 Par précaution, vous pouvez enrouler du kevlar de chaque cote du trou et le coller pour empecher de fendre le carbone, mais ce n'est pas nécessaire ici, puisque les noeuds qui viendront ici vont serrer le carbone de la meme facon

8.2 Inserez les goupilles et collez-les (elles doivent etre assez serrées dans le trou pour tenir toutes seules ; s'il y a un jeu, la goupille va bouger et la colle ne tiendra pas)

8.3 n'oubliez pas de mettre des protections au bout des goupilles, car elles pourraient causer des blessures si le cerf-volant tombait sur des gens.

8. Lay the X flat on a table and drill a 2mm vertical hole at 7mm from the tips to insert the pins

8.1. as a precaution, you may roll some kevlar on each side of the hole and super glue it to prevent splitting the carbon, but it is not necessary here, since all the knots that will go here will squeeze the tube the same way.

8.2. Insert the pins and glue (pins should be tight enough in the holes so they don't move, otherwise the glue will not hold.)

8.3 Do not forget to put a vinyl protection cap on the pins, as they might be dangerous if the kite crashes on people

Diagram (36 k)

Animation (85 k)

9. Assemble the X to the wing using the knot shown here. ( You can either load the animation if your computer handles it, or load the diagram)

9.1. make temporary vertical wires using rubber bands or adjustable knots

9.2. At this point, you may wish to insert a temporary spar to feel the size, behaviour and required tension on the beast. Use two complete tubes of 165 cm and, for the missing section in the middle, do not cut a tube now: dimensions will change. Use a long tube and tape it with the others.

9.3. You will not be able to move the wing unless you tie the spar to the centre of each X : This is the secret of that kite... long fine spars stabilised frequently onto the X. Big improvement already. Use short loops of line as indicated on the picture and slide the spar through it. NEVER forget a single loop before a flight, or the spar would bend and break.

Put a vinyl protection cap on your spar to prevent damage to the wing tip. You wil need to insert it in the tip joint first and move it towards the center though the loops. When all inside, pull it back a few cm into the wing tip pocket.

9.4. you should not worry about diagonals at this point

10. Measure accurately the length required for the vertical wires (between the pins is easier). Add the lenght needed to make an "8" knot and a hug knot at each end.

To measure how much YOUR string requires, mark a 50 cm lenght in a 75 cm piece of string. Fold the string ON THE mark and make the 8 knot ; this is the only way to get constant lenghts, independant of the knot's position. Attach it to an X on the kite and measure the distance left between the pins. As an example : if there is 47.5 cm left, it means that the knots use 2.5 cm of string ; this is how much you need to add between your marks.

10.1. Cut 2 strings and tie them to the middle of the wing (one in front and one back) to check the tension: it should be strong enough to compensate for the stretch of the fabric during the first flights. Don't be shy and watch closely the curve of the X as you add tension. The deformation should be barely visible. Once you have the proper lenght, mark 10 more strings and install them.

10.2. Once all verticals are in place, dimensions will not change anymore. You may cut a permanent middle section for the front spar and assemble them together with an aluminium pipe.

While you cut that spar, cut a few pieces of 4, 8, 12 mm that you will insert between the spars if tension should lower on the wing (typical on a sunny day)