Anyone remembers this fantastic 80's hit? Zippy8 borrowed this review title from Pet Shop Boys of course. Click for more!

A new(ish) kite from Kitehouse available through FA with plenty of information available on it from Kitegarage. Kitehouse list it under "stunt kites" in their catalogue, whereas the Cosmic TC (which you

might know better) comes under "competition kites". So even though the Sin has been used in Tricks Party DE it is available in only one wind range/frame whilst the Cosmic TC comes in 6 flavours. You might think of the Sin as part of Kitehouse's diffusion range (if you know your fashion industry, darling) or even "My First Kitehouse". I know I do.

So what you get is all of a boutique kitemaker's knowledge and craft in construction, identical materials for the most part but a less exotic frameset and a lower price point (ie; the Sin is £125/179€, the Cosmic TC £200/299€).

And what do we get ? Well, it's a biggish kite at 230cm (nothing Midi, FX or 85 about this kite), the sailwork is very nice indeed (as expected from their good showing in the recent poll) and all the parts are brand name products that you'd expect to see on any top rank kite (Icarex, SkyShark, APA, etc.), all wrapped up with a Kitehouse velcro strap and housed in a tough sleeve. It's a slick package that gives a good first impression.

The actual design of the kite is nothing extraordinary - all the dimensions and angles seem conventional. It's neither high nor low aspect ratio, depth seems about right, etc., etc. Maybe the standoffs (two per side) are a little wider apart than has been common recently but still not strangely so. The wingtips are tensioned with an adjustable loop, there is an adjustable and active leech line, the upper LE connectors are covered (with just a hot cut slit in the LE dacron), a pocket for weights at the tail, a neat (if unusual) nose treatment, Mylar reinforcement across the standoffs and wear patches at the spine. The three-point bridle is adjustable at all frame connection points with a series of knots.

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