Fig. 142. [↑]
Fig. 140. [↑]
A clever little messenger was described by Nungent in St. Nicholas, for October, 1900. This has been modified and used at a number of kite tournaments. It is in the form of a little yacht, and has a beam on which is attached two pulleys under which the kite line runs, a mast that carries the sail and that also extends downward thru the hull to carry a weight that holds the yacht upright. The mast slants backward a little so as to brace against the pull of the sail. The sail is held up by a string that is attached to an easy trip, and when released the sail drops and the yacht returns down the kite line to the operator by gravity. [Fig. 138] shows a complete model with sail up as it appears on the up trip. [Fig. 139] shows the various parts: the beam, a, is made of a light wood, ¼” × ½” × 15”, portions are cut away to reduce weight; the mast b, is round, ¼” in diameter at bottom, tapering to a point at the top, is 29½” long, 9” below the beam and 20” above; the mast is lashed to the side of the beam; c and d are yard arms, c being 16” and d 14” long and both about ⅛” to 3/16” thru; c is lashed above the beam, and d is hung by a thread 15” higher up. A thread is run from each end of both yard arms to the top of the metal loop supporting the back pulley wheel. The threads are for the purpose of preventing twisting of the sail. The sail is of some light soft material that is very pliable in the breeze. Some use silk, others soft cotton, and some paper. I used a Chinese tissue paper sail and found it very satisfactory; it lasted several seasons. The strong way of the paper should be put on up and down. The sail is pasted or sewed to the yard arms. The sail line is a piece of linen thread that is fastened to the middle of the upper yard arm, passing thru a loop made of small wire, u, which is lashed to the mast, see [Fig. 140]. The line then passes to the eye of the wire forming the trip on the side of the beam, see [Fig. 141]. t is a small nail in the side of the beam a; m is a long slim wire nail with an eye bent at the top and two bends at right angles about half way down. A piece of small spring brass wire will do as well as the slim nail. A small round wooden stick, e, not larger than ⅛” at the largest end and about 14” long lies loosely in the screw-eyes, r and s, under the beam. The end of the hook that the sail line is fastened to passes down thru a small hole in the end of the small stick e. A weight, p, is secured to the lower end of the mast to prevent overturning of the yacht, and a piece of light cardboard is used for the hull.
The pulley wheels can be turned on a lathe or small metal ones, especially aluminum can be used. Strips of tin make good frames for the wheels, and are attached to both sides of the beams. If wooden wheels are used, care should be taken to see that the holes are in the center. Wire nails make good axles. The kite line is liable to jump out the grooves of the wheels, so small screw-eyes placed in the beam just in front and behind each wheel will keep the kite line in place. It may be an advantage to press the eye together some so as to make an elongated hole, [Fig. 142]. Some care will be necessary to see that the screw-eyes are screwed in just the right distance so as to prevent the string from resting on the screw-eyes instead of the grooved wheels.
