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stevef · Last edited by stevef on Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:47 am; edited 1 time in total

by Ray Bordelon

See tech sheet #69

Ray was an invited guest to an early 1990's Maryland Kitemaking Retreat. He discussed several topics one of which was "Making Your Own Plastic Parts" tech sheet 69 is a copy of his handout.

He uses automotive "Bondo" to make the model. Silicone to make the mold, and then Epoxy to make the fitting.
_________________
Steve Ferrel
Go Build a Kite!
Measure once, buy twice!

KiteSquid · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:59 am Post subject:

Didnt he run Big Easy Kite Company and produced the MEFM????

Custom fittings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

stevef · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:04 am Post subject:

yep, that would be him!

Ray made the EFM - "Excellent Flying Machine, and the MEFM - "Most Excellent Flying Machine" In it's time, the MEFM was one of the most advanced stunt kite designs.

At the retreat he also taught a very unique stunt kite. Who has one? Adam and Scott entered them at the 2001 AKA Kitemaking Competition.

Pictures are here:
http://www.kitebuilder.com/billings/stunt.htm
_________________
Steve Ferrel
Go Build a Kite!
Measure once, buy twice!

stevef · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 1:44 pm Post subject:

wow... looks like the MEFM could still be available via Australia:

http://www.mefm.com.au/
_________________
Steve Ferrel
Go Build a Kite!
Measure once, buy twice!

KiteSquid · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 1:55 pm Post subject:

That is one expensive kite.

I would prefer an original MEFM if I were to buy one...

But this thread is about custom molded fittings...

I saw some two part molding compounds that I would love to expermant with, but that is for future projects...
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

CJQ · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 3:32 pm Post subject: Ray Bordelon M K S

Ray is a very talented guy He did lecture on moldeing fittings and also showed us samples of his molding work. He was a presenter and taught a stunt kite he spicifacely designed for the retreat, He called it his
Q36 Illudium Wind Modular Ver. 3.11 UL . My wife and I both made one .
I was lucky to get templates that Ray made . Ray built his own plotter cutter computor driven . Ray supplied us with the skins for his project that were laser cut . Am not a good stunt kite flyer but the Q36 flys well.

BTW another do it yuorself molding guy is peter Rondeau . Peter will be in O.C. this weekend

CLIFF

marty · Joined: 22 Jan 2004 Posts: 128 Location: Arlington, MA USA

The fittings on the MEFM/EFM were wonderful. They clamped around the leading edge spar and didn't require a cutout.
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Gentle breezes...

Marty Sasaki
Arlington, MA USA

Spence602 · Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 354 Location: USA TX Houston