How to Make a Rokkaku Kite

Step by Step—Page 1 of 3

The MBK 1-Skewer Rokkaku

This set of instructions on how to make a rokkaku kite assumes you know absolutely nothing about kite making.

Learn how to make a Rokkaku kite like this one!

MBK 1-Skewer Rokkaku

You might already have some of the simple tools and materials required.

Anything you don't have is easily bought. If it's not exactly what I used, then at least something pretty similar!

These instructions on how to make a rokkaku kite might look a bit long, but each step is quite simple to do.

Just steadily work your way through from top to bottom, skimming over any detail that you don't need.

At 29 cm (11 1/2 in.) across, the MBK 1-Skewer Rokkaku is a rather small rok. This kite has dihedral, a two-leg bridle, and a long streamer tail that keeps it stable in moderate winds. Feel free to experiment a bit with the amount of tail; you can fly in stronger winds with even more tail.

On this site, there's more kite-making info than you can poke a stick at. :-)

Want to know the most convenient way of using it all?

The Big MBK E-book Bundle is a collection of downloads—printable PDF files which provide step-by-step instructions for many kites large and small.

That's every kite in every MBK series.

How to Make a Rokkaku Kite
Sail

Now's the time to read up on the tools and materials required for making a skewer kite, if you haven't already.

Sail template for the 1-Skewer Rokkaku kite.

The template shown above represents one side of the kite sail. You will now transfer these measurements to the sail plastic.

Like to see a video clip? Just scroll down to near the end of this page.

The 1-Skewer Rokkaku - template shape marked on plastic bag.

First, take a light plastic bag that will fit the entire template shape within one side, and lay it flat on the floor.
Mark dots on the plastic, corresponding to the corners of the template. There is no need to use a T-square, since any small error will be duplicated on the other side of the sail.
Using the marking pen, rule lines between the dots as in the photo.

The 1-Skewer Rokkaku - complete sail outline marked on plastic

Flip the plastic bag over, and trace over all the black lines using your marker pen and ruler.
Cut out a rectangular section of the bag containing the kite sail; open it out, and lay it flat on the floor; you can now see the complete sail outline as in the photo.
Cut along the black lines with scissors to create the sail.

How to Make a Rokkaku Kite
Vertical Spar

The 1-Skewer Rokkaku - vertical spar join

The vertical spar is 1.4 SL (40.6 cm, 16 in.) long, so two 30 cm (12 in.) bamboo BBQ skewers need to be glued together:

Snip the point off one skewer.
Lay down another skewer, butting together the two flat skewer-ends.
From yet another skewer, cut off two lengths of 0.15 SL (4.4 cm, 1 3/4 in.) each. Place these beside the join as in the photo.
Lay down a line of wood glue on each side, and leave to dry.
Get down low, and look along the skewers to ensure they make a straight line before the glue sets!