Build a Mini Pulse kite

The Mini Pulse is a kite close to a Revolution 2 (183 cm long). The plans allow several models to be built according to the desired level of ventilation.

We’d like to thank Josh Mitcheson and Matt Constable for these plans and the tutorial videos!

The Mini Pulse

Who are the authors?

On The Line was an initiative led by Matt Constable and Josh Mitcheson, 2 experienced English kitefliers. They have produced 3 series of tutorials and podcasts, available on their Youtube channel.

On The Line teamed up with KiteTec for this series of tutorials. KiteTec was a company led by Josh. He designed the Mini Pulse based on his “Pulse” kite, close to a Revolution 1.5.

Materials and tools

To build a Mini Pulse with the instructions below, you’ll need the following materials and tools:

  • Materials
    • Icarex fabric
    • Dacron strips, 50 mm and 60 mm widths
    • Carbon rods, preferably Skyshark P100
    • Bridle, 150 lb dyneema
    • 3 mm bungee cord
    • 4 washers (preferably: 3 mm ID, 8 mm OD, “cup washer”)
    • 6 endcaps
    • Mesh
    • 6 mm wide double-sided tape (3M ATG recommended)
    • Polyester thread
  • Tools
    • A sewing machine
    • A ruler (preferably 1 m)
    • A sounding iron
    • Scissors
    • A scalpel or cutter 
    • A pencil
    • Coloured markers

Plans

Here are all the plans (in PDF format):

These plans don’t fit on an A4 sheet. We recommend that you

  • Print them at a printer in one piece
  • Or print them on several A4 or A3 and then stick them on with scotch tape (we are preparing a tutorial for this)

Which template to build?

The plans allow you to build several models: standard, semi-ventilated, ventilated and more. All you need to do is use mesh instead of icarex for some panels. Here are the panels to replace with mesh depending on the model:

  • Standard: /
  • Semi-ventilated: C4 panels
  • Ventilated: C2 and C4 panels
  • Ultra-ventilated: panels C1, C2, C3, C4
Minipulse panels

Tutorial videos

Josh and Matt show us how to build this kite in 7.5 hours! The videos are in English. You can enable subtitles in the youtube player if needed! (How to enable subtitles)

Part 1

This first 1:30 video explains how:

  • Cutting panels (from 4:20)
  • Pasting these panels (from 55:51)
YouTube player

Part 2

This second 2-hour session includes how:

  • Cutting the dacron reinforcements for the tips and center (from 6:03)
  • Sewing main panels (from 23:53)
  • Marking future hems along trailing edge (from 1:01:35)
  • Stickings the reinforcements on the tips and in the center (from 1:06:58)
  • Folding and sewing hems along trailing edge (from 1:14:34)
YouTube player

Part 3

This 2-hour third part explains how:

  • Cutting the dacron reinforcements for the leading edge (from 5:32)
  • Sticking these reinforcements onto the sail (from 12:23)
  • Attaching leading edge mesh (from 24:33)
  • Preparing and sticking the leading edge dacron tunnel (from 1:10:14)
  • Sewing this dacron tunnel (from 1:36:16)
YouTube player

Part 4

This last part lasts 1h45 and includes how:

  • Cutting holes for bungees (from 5:48)
  • Cutting the bungees (from 20:45)
  • Attaching the bungees and end caps to the sail (from 27:31)
  • Making the bridle (from 43:11)
  • Attaching the bridle to the kite (from 1:11:56)
  • Cutting the rods (from 1:21:57)
YouTube player

Bonus section

In this 30 min bonus, Josh and Matt debrief with some of the kitefliers who built their mini pulse.

YouTube player

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