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Masquerade 001

# 002 Click Here

# 006 Click Here

P200 Click Here

Optimal Wind Range (MHO) : 1 - 18 mph

Weight (my actual kite) 9.6 oz

Manufacturer:  Wayne Knott , Dream Weaver Kites

For information/pricing on the Masquerade, feel free to email Wayne.    Also I will be happy to answer any other questions you may have.   

Email: Kitefan

November 8, 2002

I drove to Wayne's house to pick up my Masquerade # 001.  I am extremely happy with it.  The construction is as good as any of the top kite manufacturers.  Here are some pictures of Wayne's work.

Frame Set: 001 is framed in Sky Shark 3pt Competition rods in the Leading edges & 5pt rods for the lower spreaders & upper is .2300 rod

Bridle is a Turbo (non active).

Appliqué Close Ups.

  Up close with my Centre Appliqué 

Tail accent work.  Gorgeous

Wing tip accents

Cool Kite Features

In the picture, Wayne incorporates a the stand off under the spine.  It makes rising/stable fades simple.

Back of the stand off is covered by material to reduce 'snags'.  In a word 'Professional' looking construction.

Upper bridle has quick adjustment for light wind.  1 adjustment & you can truly fly the Masquerade in 1 mph.  Bridle Material is Spectra cored Dacron, strong & elegant looking.

The bag is Named & signed by Wayne.

Original Test Flight of Prototype Masquerade

October 23, 2002

I had a chance to fly Wayne’s Masquerade kite.  I am not sure where I should begin this review.  Should I start with construction of the kite or flight characteristics or how the kite is going to change the face of my kite bag?

Construction:

The kite sail is made form ripstop nylon & has a simple turbo bridle.  I have another Masquerade to try with a funky activated bridle but  Wayne forgot the kite in his car so I will try that one later (note activated bridle kite is Masquerade 002).  The frame is Avia pultruded rods (.2300 & some .2200).  The workmanship is good & Wayne said that this was a prototype & the stitching has some errors that he will fix on later models.  The stand-offs use those jaco clips & will be covered in sail cloth to reduce any snags.

Flight:

Winds were up & down like a toilet seat.  I had my SUL Moondance out because the wind went from 2 mph to 0 to 9 mph in a matter of seconds.  Not to mention the direction was always moving.  We were flying at the edge of Lake Ontario but the wind was coming off the city.  Once the wind settled down a bit we went at it.

I launched the kite & I go through my regular process of feeling it out.  I do some precision moves to get the ‘input’ feel of the kite.  But after of a couple of minutes I start to trick. 

Axels:  Very good, not as flat as I like.  Wayne said the Sky shark framed Masquerade that I will try later flattens out better (pictured above).

Pancake: The Masquerade pancakes out perfectly.  Very little movement required & it will ‘pause’ in the pancake to allow a flip into a fade look very purposeful.

Flic Flac: Transition form a pancake to fade is quite good & flips either slowly or quickly

Fade: very stable & easy to get a raising fade.  Another strong point I like about the Masquerade’s fade abilities is that when the kite is in a fade it settles down & takes up any slack in the lines.  Meaning that at least with me, I get a kite in the fade position but the kite is a couple feet closer to me then it should be.  Thusly allowing slack lines & causing a premature exit from a fade.  Not so with the Masquerade, it pulls back & starts to rise.

Backspin: I have had trouble with the BS & consistently getting it.  With the Masquerade I not only got it, but, I did it 100% of the time.  I spun it around several times then stopped the spin & start it again at will.  BINGO.  PERIOD I want this kite. No more discussion required (for me).  Also I was able to do 2 BS & then pause to do several barrel rolls, pause then pull out to normal flight.  I was ……… VERY HAPPY.

Jacob's Ladder or Mutex: I did it on my first attempt.  After getting the BS, Wayne said do a Jacob Ladder.  Why Not?  So I axel to fade, pull a line, ½ BS then pull both to a turtle then tug 1 line, half way around pull both & I am back to a fade. I was so surprised.  I literally stopped flying to absorb the moment.

Turtle: The kite’s nose quickly settles back in a turtle to allow a Lazy Susan without losing much altitude.  Also if you give enough slack it will Yo-yo quite easily.

Flap Jack:  I couldn’t get them on the kite, wind was a factor (higher side) & I need more time on it.  I just couldn’t get the kite to jump up & settle onto its back.  Odd because in the air it will easily go on its back. 

Conclusion:  After flying this kite I told Wayne to make me 1, no I want 2.  I like this kite soo much because it propelled my flying to a place I haven’t felt since I did my first axel.  I decided on the spot that my kite quest had come to screeching HALT.  Wayne had to convince me not to sell off most of my bag.  I am not exaggerating, many of my kites will not see any air time at all once the Masquerade moves in.

Disclaimer: I consider Wayne a friend; however, I will not praise something I don’t like.  Plus when several of my kites go on sale you will know I wasn’t Bull S*^&ing.