REV Handles

[jasondarla]

Anyone know the best place to pick up some of the line for the handles. Lost a line the second time flying my REV B.

Thanks

Jason

[johnnmitchell]

My old Rev 1 winder has a stretch strap held in place by 2 press studs.

You are right. It did have those snaps where one end of the strap was fixed to the handle.

The velcro must have been later on the clear plastic handles.

[TGunn]

In the early 90's we did not know of each other. We did not go to the same festivals or competitions. There wasn't anyone at any festival we went to with the same idea. There was not anything in any magazines to influence our ideas.

So, it seems we all came up with the same idea independently at about the same time.

Good enough for me.

You're correct. No telling how may people come up with similar ideas at the same time, around the world. Like they say "Great minds think a like"! ; )

[Madquad]

Hi all,

(in first place i apologize for my bad english)

A couple of moths ago i changed the set-up my original rev handles as well

I removed the metal triangles, bought 4 new endcaps, drilled new holes and connected new pigtails to my handles.

Hans from the Team4fun team adviced me to use the pigtails from bruno bonino (picture shows original Rev-handles)

Before the change my lines sometimes were hooking behind the triangles but after the change that problem was solved.

[johnnmitchell]

Hi all,

(in first place i apologize for my bad english)

A couple of moths ago i changed the set-up my original rev handles as well

I removed the metal triangles, bought 4 new endcaps, drilled new holes and connected new pigtails to my handles.

Hans from the Team4fun team adviced me to use the pigtails from bruno bonino (picture shows original Rev-handles)

Before the change my lines sometimes were hooking behind the triangles but after the change that problem was solved.

Marc,

The next time you see Bruno, ask him where he got the idea of the straighter and longer handles along with pig tails.

[Madquad]

Marc,

The next time you see Bruno, ask him where he got the idea of the straighter and longer handles along with pig tails.

Well John...may i guess ???????......your idea ?!!!

For me it doesnt matter where the idea came from, i think its a good mod. for the original handles anyway.

bye

[johnnmitchell]

Well John...may i guess ???????......your idea ?!!!

For me it doesnt matter where the idea came from, i think its a good mod. for the original handles anyway.

bye

Not completely, but he did get the ideas from me.

The straighter handle is an idea I picked up from David Brittain in 1996. He said try it, you might like it and I did.

The pig tail idea came up at about, as I recently learned, the same time by Troy Gunn in the USA and myself in Europe in the early 90s. I published it in Drachenmagazin around 1995 or 1996.

The longer handles is something I got going in Europe in the early 90s. I had extended the REV I long SUL handles by several centimeters.

The Italian quad fliers picked this up from me during my many trips to competitions in Italy.

[jburka]

I don't remember when I started using pigtails on my handles. But I wrote about my various handle modifications a lot on rec.kites back in '93 or so. You can see a collection of relevant posts, archived by Andrew Beattie, at:

http://www.kites.tug.com/Archive/kites/pot...ev.i.and.rev.ii

I actually stopped using pigtails probably 13+ years ago, once I found a setting I liked on my modified Rev I handles; I found that having all of the extra knots on the pigtails caused tangling while flying 3-D on 50# line... it wasn't until I started collecting B-series kites that I ended up with a bunch of adjustable handles!

[Madquad]

Still i prefer the pigtails.

Changing the set-up is , especially when switching between flying alone or in team, very usefull.

I didnt notice the problem of tangling at all.

[johnnmitchell]

Still i prefer the pigtails.

Changing the set-up is , especially when switching between flying alone or in team, very usefull.

I didnt notice the problem of tangling at all.

I prefer pigtails except for indoor flying. As Jeff mentioned, they tangle too easy for 3D flying and 50# lines.

Outdoors with pigtails, I can adjust for the type a REV, I am flying and how I want to fly the REV.

For smooth easy going flying I will generally have the lower line a little longer then when I am working on tricks with my REV.

[jburka]

Changing the set-up is , especially when switching between flying alone or in team, very useful.

It certainly is...in certain situations. But my reputation as a rev flyer is built on being a short-line/3-d rev II flyer. I bought an 80' quad lineset this past May and it was the first time in probably 12 years I'd had a non-buggy-engine quad set over 50' long...and I stopped using those 50's at least 8 years ago! I'm usually on lines of 18'-25'. Shortest I've flown a II on was 6.5' (a 13' set doubled over so I could fly in a small rec room). Longest I've flown on was 150', with a Rev I.

The replacement of pigtails with static extensions is just one of the mods I've made over the years, along with extending stock Rev handles and using specially drilled end-caps to manage my bungee and line attachments (see the pekr fitting for a more modern and somewhat cleaner variant of my original method).

[DWayne]

Question, I put 7" pigtails with 5 knots top & bottom on my handles. I have to put the top lines next to the handles and the brake lines out at the 3rd or 4th knot. Is this because I don't know how to fly a Rev? Or is there something else that might be out of adjustment?

Thanks for any input.

Denny

[Jim Foster]

Put your bottom lines on the first knot from the end away from the handle. Put your top lines on the third knot from the end away from the handle and see how that works. If you don't have enough forward, move the top lines to the fourth knot from the end. If you don't have enough brake, move your top lines to the second knot. Keep adjusting until your kite flies forward and backward without the handles being in either extreme position. The kite should idle, that's stay in one place not going up or down with the handles in the neutral position or slightly in the forward or up position. With the kite inverted, you should be able to put on the brakes and the kite should stop and be able to rise inverted if you have enough brake. If not, you need to lengthen the top lines or shorten the bottom lines one knot. Make sense?

[DWayne]

Put your bottom lines on the first knot from the end away from the handle. Put your top lines on the third knot from the end away from the handle and see how that works. If you don't have enough forward, move the top lines to the fourth knot from the end. If you don't have enough brake, move your top lines to the second knot. Keep adjusting until your kite flies forward and backward without the handles being in either extreme position. The kite should idle, that's stay in one place not going up or down with the handles in the neutral position or slightly in the forward or up position. With the kite inverted, you should be able to put on the brakes and the kite should stop and be able to rise inverted if you have enough brake. If not, you need to lengthen the top lines or shorten the bottom lines one knot. Make sense?

With the top lines on the first knot (about an inch from the handles) and the bottom lines on the 3rd or 4th knot from the handles I have plenty of brakes but have to point the bottom of the handles at the kite to launch. If I move the top line out 1 knot the kite backs itself down to the ground after launch unless I put 2 fingers over the top of the handles and pull the top lines with those fingers.

Denny

[johnnmitchell]

With the top lines on the first knot (about an inch from the handles) and the bottom lines on the 3rd or 4th knot from the handles I have plenty of brakes but have to point the bottom of the handles at the kite to launch. If I move the top line out 1 knot the kite backs itself down to the ground after launch unless I put 2 fingers over the top of the handles and pull the top lines with those fingers.

Denny

If you have short handles, you might need to give the REV a quick yank on the top lines using the handles to get it to let off.

When it is off the ground it should fly okay.

The REV when on the ground is laid slightly back. That is why you need to give it that quick yank. A dual line kite is different in that when the lines are taut, it just lifts off the ground by itself. The REV doesn't lift off so easily.

When the REV is in the air, how well does it fly?

I fly with a lot a of brake(lower lines shorter) most of the time as I like to work on tricks. For more relaxed flying I take off the brake a knot or two.

There are also a number of times where I change my line connections to the knots. You will, in time, develop your preferences.

[Jim Foster]

With the top lines on the first knot (about an inch from the handles) and the bottom lines on the 3rd or 4th knot from the handles I have plenty of brakes but have to point the bottom of the handles at the kite to launch. If I move the top line out 1 knot the kite backs itself down to the ground after launch unless I put 2 fingers over the top of the handles and pull the top lines with those fingers.

Denny

Too much brake, not enough forward. In this case, you need to shorten the top lines a knot or two or lengthen the bottom lines a knot or two.

You'll get it.

[Morrunya]

1. What size handles are these? Rev II handles, 9" Handles, 13 " Handles? If you have Rev II handles, you want to swich to 9 or 13 inch handles.

2. Have you hecked that your top and bottom lines are the same length?

This soulds to me like you are either using small handles, or your top lines a longer than your bottom lines.

[DWayne]

1. What size handles are these? Rev II handles, 9" Handles, 13 " Handles? If you have Rev II handles, you want to swich to 9 or 13 inch handles.

2. Have you hecked that your top and bottom lines are the same length?

This soulds to me like you are either using small handles, or your top lines a longer than your bottom lines.

I've got both 9" & 11" handles. The first thing I checked was line length thinking the top lines must be longer than the bottoms. But they're the same length. I finally got the full sail in a neutral setting with the top lines 1 knot closer to the handles than the brake lines. I'm starting to think it's just my lack of expertise.

Denny

[johnnmitchell]

I've got both 9" & 11" handles. The first thing I checked was line length thinking the top lines must be longer than the bottoms. But they're the same length. I finally got the full sail in a neutral setting with the top lines 1 knot closer to the handles than the brake lines. I'm starting to think it's just my lack of expertise.

Denny

I think you need some "hands on direct advise" from one who is well experienced with REVs.

There should be a number of New Years Day Kite get togethers on the West Coast.

San Diego is one of the larger, with plenty of REV fliers. However, it is a bit distant for you.

[DWayne]

San Diego is one of my favorite spots. I'd really love to spend the day at Mission Beach or Coronado flying Revs with people that really know what they're doing. Unfortunately it's just not in the cards this year.

Denny

[johnnmitchell]

San Diego is one of my favorite spots. I'd really love to spend the day at Mission Beach or Coronado flying Revs with people that really know what they're doing. Unfortunately it's just not in the cards this year.

Denny

Check out the kite club in the Bay area. It is a bit closer to you. Maybe they have something on.

[KiteLife]

http://www.baskl.org

Or in San Diego... http://www.sandiegokiteclub.com/

[Morrunya]

Is your kite used? It could have something to do with the bridal.

[DWayne]

Is your kite used? It could have something to do with the bridal.

Nope. Both are brand new. But the bridle was something I checked closely. They're the same on both kites.

Denny

[Jim Foster]

This may sound like a silly question, but, are you sure your handles are right side up? Don't laugh....I saw a guy trying to fly his 1.5, having difficulty, and that is exactly what he was doing wrong. It doesn't sound like that is your problem, but I just had thought I would ask.

[Morrunya]

Huh. That sure could be a problem!