Level One JTM Review. Options

[hiflistorr]

I thought I would post a couple of pics the JTM that I picked up over the weekend from The Kite Shoppe. :wink:

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...&p=68660486
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...&p=68660490
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...&p=68684164
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...&p=68684164
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...8684458&f=0
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...8684633&f=0

A full review will be in the works I just need some more time on the kite and to compile my thoughts.

As promised here is my Level One JTM review. I have added some new photos and some links to them.

The first Level One JTM's have hit the states I have bought one of the first three. So I thought I would give a review for anyone who may be in the market for one of these.

As usual I like to start off my reviews with construction details and specs. So here we go....

CONSTRUCTION

Spine=6mm and Sky Shark P100 x 86cm
Upper Spreader=6mm x 52.5 cm
Lower Spreaders=Sky Shark 3pt x 71cm
Upper Leading Edge=Sky Shark P100 x 60cm
Lower Leading Edge=Sky Shark P100 x 82.5cm
Inner Standoffs=3mm x 24cm
Outer Standoffs=3mm x 23cm
Nose Weight=6 grams
TWS in the spine=6 grams

Width= 210cm
Height=97cm

The fittings are a mix of Avia and Jaco the lower and upper spreader connectors are Avia I know some will applaud that choice over the FSD fittings. The spreader standoff connectors are by Jaco. It has yo-yo stoppers done with Excel fittings and they are tie wrapped to the leading edge. The center-T that they used here is new to me(check out the photos) I have not seen this one. It is made from a rigid hard plastic that has a hole in the middle a slot around the top circumference with two small access holes drilled or molded on the sides. The bridle line drops down through the middle of the T and out either one of the two holes on the side and then basically larks headed into the slot around the top. A very clean design IMO, unlike some kites your guessing if the center-T termination point should go above or below the lower spreaders. There is no question where it goes with this center-T. C-clips are present above and below spreader connectors and the center-T as well.

The spine is a full 6mm rod with a Sky Shark P100 slipped over it extending a little ways above and below the center-T area for added strength and rigidity and to possibly accomodate that new center-T

The glides for the upper spreader connectors are just a continuation of the dacron LE material Level One did a D shaped cut leaving the top dacron intact. Fit and finish are typical Level One quality but this one has a very minor flaw something I have not come across from all of the other Level One's I have owned. The D shaped cutouts for the upper spreader connectors they left behind a little bit of sail material hanging out the backside of the LE. It just was not fully cut away earth-shattering I know.[]

The JTM has a 3 point bridle with the typical quick adjust knots coming from the upper spreader connector.

FLIGHT

I am going to have to break up this Flight review into three sub-sections for TWS, no weight, and fixed weight. I wanted to see the differences in the results for reasons that will become apparent later

TWS

This kite is certainly a departure for Level One, the German's return to the French's volley.[] There is no question that this kite is happiest when it is on it's back which is not a common thing in the past with the Level One stable of kites. Okay lazy susans are no probelm with the JTM it sits in a deep turtle position. Multilazies really take some tending of the lines and if you provide too much slack you will most likely end up with a yo-yo wrap not a bad thing mind you just maybe not what you intended.[] Insanes are fairly easy with the JTM. The JTM does superstarts well. I even did a cool alternating cascade of them the other day but don't ask me to repeat it.;-)

The JTM pitch's quickly for flic-flacs if needed. The way the JTM performs it's flat spin tricks are akin to the Level One C21 from the setup to the rotation IMO. I think the TWS is mostly responsible for this character. The JTM though is a little less tolerant of sloppy setup or execution when it comes to 540's. You could end up with an entirely different result such as a turtle that goes into a yo-yo wrap. I find it rather difficult to perform wapdoowaps on a kite with TWS, this type of weight system seems to impede that trick. Axels are there they are not table flat but I think they look good or better compared to other kites of this style.

Alright this is the part where I have an issue with the kite stock as it is and started me thinking about changing some things concerning the TWS system. The kite will hold a fade although it really can have a tendency to drop it's nose because of the nose weight and the sliding tail weight that travels to the nose. Also the problem becomes even more evident when trying to accomplish backspins the nose just wants to drop it out of the rotations. Even if you do keep the backspin going I found it hard to keep my timing in tune to the moving weight on the JTM. I did not really notice this problem on the C21.

With the TWS just put the JTM in a deep turtle and keep giving slack and it will controllably roll up for you. Also because of TWS I noticed the kite has a nice quick fade roll-out transition into the backflip for Jacobs Ladders, the JTM can keep them going for long periods of succession. I found it difficult to hit a yo-yo during a fade roll-out with the TWS system installed.

Precision is quite good as is typical with most Level One kites smaller inputs are the requirement for punching out turns. The JTM has what I would consider a light pull partly due to the shallow sail. I also found that the kite does not particularly take too well to gusty winds with it's shallow sail.

NO WEIGHT

I removed the TWS and left the nose weight on and found the fade stability and backspins improved in speed and timing. Flic-flacs slightly slower but don't take much space at all. Fade roll outs a little slower but all still good though. Yo-yo's are still there albeit the same method as TWS though. The flat spin tricks are quicker without TWS instead of the delayed quicksand feeling you get with TWS in.

FIXED WEIGHT

Ahh fixed weight now were talking my language.;-) I think fixed weight is the way to go at least for me you get nice stable fades faster backspins that are very consistant. The flat spin stuff is improved IMO over the TWS. You also now have wapdoowaps open up to you in this configuration. Yo-yo's are still there all the same and the nice quick and smooth fade rollouts. I first tried a fixed weight of 13.5 grams which I thought was little too much Jacobs Ladders suffered with it IMO. So I dropped down to 6.5 grams and I thought this was a nice weight combination and will leave it there for now the Jacobs ladders are much cleaner and easier now.

CONCLUSION

My review may not indicate it but I think this is a very good kite from Level One adding another dimension to their line of kites.[] It is a very tricky kite IMO and it may displace the JITB as my favorite Level One kite which has been for quite some time. The JTM would certainly hold it's own trick for trick against 7ft kites of this style. As too whether you would like to keep it stock you will have to judge for yourself. If you like to get some unexpected tricks and quirkiness by all means leave the TWS in. If you like tricks that remain consistantly repeatable go with fixed weight or without. For the time being I am squarely in the fixed weight camp on this one.[]

DAS ENDE

Lance

[Theresa]

I thought I would post a couple of pics the JTM that I picked up over the weekend from The Kite Shoppe. :wink:

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...&p=68660486

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?...&p=68660490

A full review will be in the works I just need some more time on the kite and to compile my thoughts.

Nice Kite Lance!

Could it be that it has you speechless! Same here though....and we agree...need more time on it!

[hiflistorr]

My review has been posted above.

[240zron]

Nice review, well done.

[hiflistorr]

Well I wanted to post that I have made another tweak to the JTM for those of you interested. So far I like the change it seems to make some improvements.

I have gone ahead and added activators and a cross-activator to the 3 point bridle. The dimensions are as follows...

Activators: 15.5cm
Cross-Activator: 50cm

The activators are attached to the upper outhaul and the inhaul and have been placed at 22.5cm respectively measured from the base of the tow point.

The improvements seem to be some increased precision and stability. Fade stability has improved a little more. The JTM flows/transitions from trick to trick much better with it IMO. The cross-active has not taken anything away from what I can tell so far. An improvement in being able to catch the yo-yo stoppers with the cross-activator keeping the lines in check and better placed to catch the stoppers.

I have flown it on all of the notches of the quick adjust without having to move the cross-active accordingly and they all seemed to work well. I thought I would have to move them as well when I needed to move the quick adjust bridle for different wind conditions but so far it does not seem to be necessary.