Kieron Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 (edited) I started this kite back in October 2010 and fresh from finishing the last in my Calvin & Hobbes series, was searching for a new look. As you'll know, if you've seen any of my previous kites, cartoons have a special place in my heart. But this time I wanted something a little more contemporary; something that spoke to a wider audience than Calvin. Of the plethora of choices Family Guy stood out head & shoulders above the rest: it has a synergy with the Calvin strips of Watterson, not visually perhaps, but more in the way it comments on our world. Perfect fodder for a kite then. I knew from a very early stage that there was only one image I wanted to adapt; something from a scene in which Lois, dressed in fetish gear, says "the safe world is banana", before smacking Peter, fully bedecked in a leather gimp outfit, in the mouth. That wasn't quite enough though. Great for one side of a kite; but what of the other? In stepped Quagmire: who better to be on the reverse of the kite, watching Lois & Peter at play?. Knowing what I wanted to do, I then needed to think about the kite to use as the basis of the build. My love affair with Ozone's snowkites is well known, and so it was only natural that I expand my quiver: this time though I evicted the moths from my wallet and splashed out on a brand new 12m Manta M3. Two days after the kite arrived it was deconstructed into its component parts (having never been flown), and adorned the every available space in my flat. Very shortly after dismantling the kite the delays started. I blame my friend Mark for the first of them. We were in my study one afternoon, looking at a few of the time lapses I'd shot for the early parts of Kite Making Three, and discussing our plans to visit Nevada in early 2011, when Mark pipes up "you should build one of these for the guys at NABX you know". That conversation was responsible for diverting my attention (I'm easily distracted) for at least three months! January rolled round as the NABX kite progressed and brought some excitement with it, in the form of an ambulance ride to A&E. A week in hospital, and strict instructions to take it easy after that, meant more delays. I finally finished the NABX kite in March, and was looking forward to getting back to work on my own kite, when yet more hospital time beckoned. Two weeks this time. My health improved to the extent that NABX was back on the cards and during the event I meet so many wonderful people, and started so many video projects, that it was not until the end of May 2011 that I picked up work on the Family Guy kite. All the delays proved a boon though. I'd been through a steep learning curve on the NABX kite, and with the video work, so much so that when I came back to this project I found that I was able to progress very quickly - whilst filming the entire process without undue delay. Even so, it was still several month's work until the day finally arrived when I closed the trailing edge. Now it's over I'm still glad I did it, still happy with the design and quietly proud of the result. I do think this is my last cartoon though. Time to move on I think! Edited September 18, 2011 by Kieron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 Just pure skill. Excellent work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay586 Posted September 18, 2011 Report Share Posted September 18, 2011 So good, well done on both the kite and the video. Love it! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlcostillo Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 When there's determination, there is transgression. Nice job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris S Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 Fantastic work again Kieron and another great video, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedatwgs Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 so did you make all the fabric? Or just stick on the patterns. It look liked you made the kite from materials - if so why buy the full foil in the first place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kieron Posted September 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 so did you make all the fabric? Or just stick on the patterns. It look liked you made the kite from materials - if so why buy the full foil in the first place? Yep, it's new fabric, sewn together as new panels, rather than stuck on top of the existing kite. You wondered why I bothered buying the foil in the first place? Well, apart from the fact that I don't know how to make a foil as good as the Manta M3, I didn't actually trash the whole kite in the process: the profiles, d-ribs and bridle are all from the original kite. All I've done is replace the upper and lower skins with ones of my own, then put the kite back together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobias Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 That is absolutely incredible, very talented. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedatwgs Posted September 19, 2011 Report Share Posted September 19, 2011 does it fly as well as the original? What was the total man hours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k.westfellows Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Great stuff! I can see loud of skills and passion in your work. Any other projects on the way? Do you do foils only or other kites as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kieron Posted September 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 does it fly as well as the original? What was the total man hours? This one took me about 300 hours in total - I started in October last year; but I've been so busy with other things that I've only just now finished. It's a joy to fly: just like the original really! It deals with gusts beautifully and is very progressive in its power delivery - for such a big kite it turns quickly too. Great stuff! I can see loud of skills and passion in your work. Any other projects on the way? Do you do foils only or other kites as well? My next project is a rebuild of a Blade VIP, which will be given away at NABX 2012. Thus far I haven't done anything other than foils, but watch this space as I might shortly be moving onto LEIs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k.westfellows Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Cool man, I look forward to see more of your work, but where?? Do you have you website or some gallery of your projects?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kieron Posted September 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Cool man, I look forward to see more of your work, but where?? Do you have you website or some gallery of your projects?? Click my signature image! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenedictB Posted September 20, 2011 Report Share Posted September 20, 2011 Another great kite and video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiteKim Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 That is beyond awesome.... Words cannot describe the talent ( in both kite and video making!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimmer Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Excellent work sir. Can I have it, please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kieron Posted September 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Excellent work sir. Can I have it, please? LOL, of course! That'll be, say, £250 for materials, and, oh, £25 per hour for labour, 300 hours, that's errmmmm... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimmer Posted September 21, 2011 Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Ha ha Seriously though, nice work and I doubt you could put a price on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckleheid Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 brilliant stuff m8,if i had a ton of cash would you make me one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kieron Posted September 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 brilliant stuff m8,if i had a ton of cash would you make me one? Of course! Might be a few copyright issues I'd need to resolve, but in principle it wouldn't be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kieron Posted September 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 Here are a few photos taken just the other day; the light wasn't great, but they came okay I think: http://kj-kites.com/forumphotos/Family-Guy-12m-01-low-res.jpg http://kj-kites.com/forumphotos/Family-Guy-12m-02-low-res.jpg http://kj-kites.com/forumphotos/Family-Guy-12m-03-low-res.jpg http://kj-kites.com/forumphotos/Family-Guy-12m-04-low-res.jpg http://kj-kites.com/forumphotos/Family-Guy-12m-05-low-res.jpg http://kj-kites.com/forumphotos/Family-Guy-12m-06-low-res.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter32 Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 mad skills ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckFickens Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 that is quite possibly the coolest thing I've seen for ages, I'd be scared to fly it in case it got damaged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bidello Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 Superb. I've been following your work, Kieron. When it comes to watch your videos, I'm unable to think whether it's all about sewing, computer graphic skills, video editing or even music choice. I simply stare at them speachless. Pure art. I'm actually worried I'm going to succumb to Sthendal Syndrome at some point.... I applaud you Sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crabman Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Giggidy giggidy!!! :D That is the most awesome kite ever!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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