My Nieuport 28 build (sorry long winded)

All of my recent activity involving wasting money on mostly clapped out .049's in a learning process took time away from constructing my vintage Sterling model Nieuport model 28, a favorite of mine.  But, I'm getting back on track.







This kit had been somewhat bashed by a previous owner with all of the parts punched out and with some parts missing that I had to fabricate.  The plans and decals were missing too.  Not a problem with the plans as I had a spare set copied by Staples used to cut out templates..  

Having two more complete unmolested 28 kits I decided just to build this one as it came, using the fabric provided for the elevator hinges and the original but well wrinkled silk span.  A hot iron took care of the wrinkled hinge material and the silk span.  On my first 28 I used dubro hinges and a better quality silk span probably obtained from the LHS.

Since then (40 years ago) the quality of hinges and covering materials have greatly improved, but on this build I’m happily stuck in the past.  

Sterling marketed this kit as a “Stunt” model, but I’m not so sure.



I have done loops with my first one but never tried inverted flight or “patterns” with it.  While the lamented 21 series McCoy .35 pulls well there is so much drag with the two wings, struts, and “wires” (thread) that I never wanted to “rekit” it with extreme maneuvers.  

I’m sure there is some grumbling out there regarding the cloth hinges and vintage silk span (well justified)  but both seem to be working out well and I’m soldiering on.  

I still have to deal with the bell crank and lead outs, mount and true the wings, cover and select some sort of camouflage scheme using vintage aero gloss dope.  But that’s all fun stuff.  

Next and last 28 that I build will have all the correct bells and whistles, perhaps more up to date covering materials, and I will use my last set of treasured decals.