Fractured Axel

Anyone here fly a Skyburner Solus ?

My attention was drawn to this thread over on the sycophant forum:

http://www.gwtwforum.com/index.php?topi ... n#msg83202

its unusual for a kite to draw any sort of criticism over there - much less a US made one.

The criticism could well be unfounded ... prolly is in fact ... my curiosity has been piqued however.

-Frazer

Hmmm... I had a Solus, and sold it after only a few flying sessions. I felt it had an incorrectly set bridle fitted, and after a bit of tweaking I found a setting that was closer to my preference, but the kite was still not to my personal taste. And that's fine! Some kites I click with, others I don't. I still L-O-V-E the Skyburner Widowmaker (I just have to ignore the graphics!)

I contacted Jon T with my findings, and he confirmed his personal preference for bridle settings were closer to mine than the standard, but that the original designer preferred the "standard".

I posted my findings on the other forum http://www.gwtwforum.com/index.php?topic=6932.0 and was strongly criticized by one Solus owner in particular. It seemed I was committing heresy at the time....but now he has now changed his mind


and is quite happy to big himself up about it

I must admit I am slightly confused. I think it flies pretty well. It needs small hand movements for a big kite but it is reasonably stable, there is no dead spot on mine and it tricks well. I can understand if some had left Skyburner with the bridles off which would explain a lot.

I think people were also expecting the widowmaker v2.0 which was never going to happen. I like the widowmaker but one of them is enough anyway ... having said that a 7ft WM would be great and I think they have really missed a trick not producing one. It could do with a tweak but that's it. The frame and the build is up there with Benson, Jest of Eve etc and I think it's great.

After all the fuss I would be interested to see what the mods are

harveystubbs wrote:

and the build is up there with Benson

Steady now Harv ... this ain't GWTW remember ... I'm calling b/s on that

-Frazer

Still no mods posted ...... hhhhmm

I wonder if this was shot before or after the mods in question ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbZM0M79eWc

I sincerely it was before, because it certainly doesn't reflect very well on the kite.

-Frazer

... there appears to be some disagreement over on the Muppet forum

http://www.gwtwforum.com/index.php?topi ... g85163#new

Why don't they cut their losses and buy a decent kite which doesn't need [s]tweaking[/s] butchering ?

Something European perhaps

-Frazer

According to the Skyburner website...

"The changes include: lowered center tee, relocation of top and bottom connectors, length of top spreader, moved inner standoff in, longer standoffs, and change in bridle dimensions."



Not particularly confidence inspiring

It seems to be discussed on the other place like they are trying to crack cold nuclear fission. I don't think the kite needs any major surgery just a new bridle and a re-check on the weight balance. I have converted mine to a 3 point bridle and it's much better. It really is not rocket science. The only thing I can't do on mine is cynique properly. The new bridle gets rid of most of the spin stall. It's actually a good kite, tazes and cometes well.

I would be interested to see what they have exactly done and what people think of the results

Devin doesn't seem to like the mods and he designed the thing in the first place.

jaydub wrote:

Devin doesn't seem to like the mods and he designed the thing in the first place.

Devin (who can fly) on an original Solus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7DhLBBp ... lg&index=6

Gobshite Ca Ike (who can't) on his buggered about with version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbZM0M79eWc

I know which version I'd go for

-Frazer

fworley wrote:

jaydub wrote:

Devin doesn't seem to like the mods and he designed the thing in the first place.

Devin (who can fly) on an original Solus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7DhLBBp ... lg&index=6

Gobshite Ca Ike (who can't) on his buggered about with version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbZM0M79eWc

I know which version I'd go for

-Frazer

Frazer - With regards to the latter are they one and the same person?

harveystubbs wrote:

Frazer - With regards to the latter are they one and the same person?

Say what ?

-Frazer

fworley wrote:

harveystubbs wrote:

Frazer - With regards to the latter are they one and the same person?

Say what ?

-Frazer

Is that ca ike in the second vid?

harveystubbs wrote:

fworley wrote:

harveystubbs wrote:

Frazer - With regards to the latter are they one and the same person?

Say what ?

-Frazer

Is that ca ike in the second vid?

Indeed it is. Would you let him loose modding a kite of yours ?

-Frazer