Hi guys - I like the idea of the Armstrong control bar, so figured i could make one. Here's how:

INGREDIENTS - FROM BUNNINGS:
Painters extension pole - $7
Furniture feet - $4
Velcro - $6
2 x pop rivets - $0.05

- Distance between handle centres on the A-Wing is 500mm. So I cut my bar 530mm to allow for the velcro fastenings at each end
- Add furniture feet to tidy up each end
- Cut one piece of velcro to 60mm and the other to 120mm. Overlap them 15mm and stick 'em together - one short and one long side
- Drill a hole in each end of the bar, 15mm from the end
- Pop rivet through the middle of the overlapped velcro piece and attach it to the bar
- That's it. Just wrap it around the wing handle
- Have a beer and relax

It look me 15 mins once I had the materials. Will it corrode? Eventually. But fug it... ;-)

Nice, thanks for posting. I would like to try to find some carbon fiber bars to do this with.

Carbon tubes for spearfishing guns are sold for DIY builds.
I have a 75cm ,24mm diameter tube that i might use for this.

can you drill a hole for the rivet into a carbon fiber tube without problems?

Thick very stiff rope, drill a hole through the rope attach cable ties then apply electrical tape for a neat finish.
Cutting rope to the correct length is important to get good tension.
Rope stays on permanently as still easy to pack up.

mcrt said..

warwickl said..


Thick very stiff rope, drill a hole through the rope attach cable ties then apply electrical tape for a neat finish.
Cutting rope to the correct length is important to get good tension.
Rope stays on permanently as still easy to pack up.

How does it work on the water?.
I might try this but maybe sewing a wide strap into a tube and some foam inside so it will not absorb too much water.
I think a single long handle with many attachment points would be a very good solution to the boom vs handles conflict :).

I've added this to my 4 and 5ms and soon a 6m.
If fitted correctly and very stiff thick rope as I have done its as good as the long strap handles on some windwings.
I have had several sessions on both sizes and all good.
The handles on my windwings are very stiff which helps to tension the rope and keep the tension.

I have an old titanium mountain bike handlebar (straight) that would work great for this. Thanks for posting.

emmafoils said..
can you drill a hole for the rivet into a carbon fiber tube without problems?

Yes no problem but the river will corrode over time and fail unless it's kept totally dry. Not really a big deal though..