Homemade Stratospool, photographed before straps and line attached. Weight with line 6.1 lbs or 2.7 kg. I've completed my Stratospool and a quick ten minute test shows it works well. Since this photo, I've added line and webbing, a loop to lock the handle from the carabina, another as a shoulder strap from the pointy end and a couple of loops that attach to the base carabina to a belt. This last needs refining. The main reel core is solid with a 50cm circumference, two turns to a metre or there abouts. Tested in 0 to 7 mph with my HQ2 Flowform. The line was pulled easy enough off the reel by the kite, the brake works better then expected, and as the wind dropped to 0 mph, I managed to keep the kite lofted by winding in. I brought the kite down to with in 2 metres of the reel. Update after another, higher wind test. I fitted my safety strap as an over shoulder type, sown loop at the Tee base as a permanent connection, then routed via a cord up at the pointy end and back over shoulder and neck, then down to tee base with a heavy duty horse clip. This sits very comfortably and makes it easy to carry. A triangle of webbing strap that can be used as WW showed in his Video or as a three point support. My next flying test almost proved too must for the kite flier! I had a couple of free hours this evening, light was poor so did not expect any good images. I measured the wind speed at the start at between 5 to 17 mph. This would have been PFK type flying, but I wanted to play with the stratospool and my HQ2 Flowform. Mistake or what? I got the FF up after a few attempts, once airborne, Iet it out until it settled down. Then added my rig and let out more line. Must have been only 10m or so and I hit the slip stream. Well it felt like it! I let a bit more line out and walked around for 3/4 hour or so, the FF pulling like a truck attached to a train, the line singing and could be plucked with a musical note or two. I'd used a loop of webbing to lock the spool as WW does, this worked well. That was until I tied to bring the kite and rig down? I had my line spooled the opposite way to Jim, I don't know if this make a difference but pulling towards me on the outter handle was a delight, however even with my left hand pulling the spool towards me the spool pulled away from me on the reverse stroke of the wind! I ended up sitting on the grass, the Tee end between my legs to stop it lifting on the return stroke, winding a couple of turns when the wind dropped a tad, 20 minutes later I had every thing down. My work out for the day, felt like bg game fishing. At least the Stratospool did its jobs very well, the brake allowed me to apply the stop strap and wind in when the wind allowed. Even with more then a few grunts from this unfit body that I inhabit, the spool preformed under excess stress. Which means I can trust it in lesser wind conditions. I did take the time, once I returned home to completely unwind the line and reverse the wind direction on the spool.

I never thought I'd do a Super Valkyrie conversion again, since I ran out of parts from convertible kits from the junk box. But inspiration struck again, and I decided to use a stock VF-1J Gerwalk kit from ARII, parts of a Super Valkyrie conversion kit, and turn it into an orbital use Super Valkyrie in Fighter mode, for which no kit exists. These are some Work in progress pictures, just to show how much and fundamental the changes are. The result will probably not be as good as the two former conversions of this kind, but the bulky look of a Valkyrie with FAST packages is worth the effort. If you wonder about the final livery... stay tuned, it is going to be something special ;) Or google the "Axoid" title. Stay tuned...