This is the start of my DIY full scale MIA Trike-A-Sail(TM). It is a creative build, first full size prototype, using steel perforated telescopic square tubing for the frame and Tyvek house wrap for the sail. These are materials I had readily, at hand, from other projects, and decided to use them to prototype the build. What is great about the perforated square telescopic tubing is that I can bolt easily brackets and make distance adjustments easily. Eventually, I will refine both the trike and sail and will be making a new trike, welded, and a new sail with Dacron, Mylar and Rip Stop.

The trike is, what I am calling, a micro trike, because of the wheel diameter size and compact design. It is pretty straight forward a T base with tubing for triangulation bracing for the axle to base and mast sections. The wheels are from Harbor Freight here in the USA, Arizona. Rear ones are 10" diameter and the front one is 8" diameter, they are the ones with the galvanized shiny rims and the only way HF sells these in these sizes and finish are as "Caster" assemblies for about $13 each. I removed the caster brackets for the rear ones, which are rigid, but left the front wheel with the swivel caster intact and that is how it shows in my photos and videos. I figured the front wheel swivel caster has the angled forward bracket already and it minimizes assembly. I don't know yet how long the front swivel wheel will last, but it looks promissing. I reused the two 5/8" Diameter hex bolt axles from the rear casters and attached to the front swivel caster bracket for foot rest extensions, after drilling two 5/8" diameter holes on the swivel bracket sides.

The first photo shows an RC Poly MIA Trike-a-Sail(TM) that I normally fool around with in the backyard, during lunch hours when it is windy. I thought I start this project with this photo for prespective.

On the sail, I may need to remove the lower 2ft length, as it looks a bit tall. Or maybe just leave it as is and run it in lighter winds. The sail is 14 ft tall at the Luff by 5ft at the Foot. All reinforcements for the mast pocket, perimeter edging and batten pockets are done also from the same tyvek material, 4 ply (2 ply folded in half) double stuck to the sail with tape and will be sewn for added strength. I did not want to get to elaborate with the sail shape and so for this prototype I kept it basic to speed up the process.

I designed the pulleys for the RC Model in the photo, the green parts, as 3D Printed parts and refined them and enlarged them for the full scale version. These will use sakeboard bearings for smoothness. The sail test mast on the last photo is an swimming pool skimmer telescopic FG 1.5" OD Boom 15 ft fully extended. OK for the trial test, but I will need to purchase 2 of these at $40 each to use the wider tubes for the mast. It is still quite cheaper than purchasing a real Sail mast , and I I will have a couple booms.