Revell 1/72 Nieuport 28 civil livery

Did you notice that after playing a popular character or role, for some actors and actresses it becomes very difficult to be cast in another type of role?

Same for the airplanes. So I was pleasantly surprised when I found a photo of the Nieuport 28 as a post-WW1 sport machine parked (and possibly repaired/reconditioned) by the Rogers Aircraft Inc. aviation company. That would have been located not far from where I now live, close to the LA Farmers Market -a place I recommend if you have the chance-.

Anyways, this plane had a simple paint scheme which somehow delineates well the design shape.

The Revell kit was used but there are others around. The kit is nice, has certain detail, but not a good interior, so to the lonely kit’s seat some bits were added in the form of instrument panel, bulkhead, stringers, rudder bar, joystick, cushion, belts, throttle and other minutia. Some rigging –the kit’s instructions in that regard are kind of vague- is required but nothing that can not be endured with the help of a cup or glass of your beverage of choice. I cut out some openings in the front and side of the cowl as per the real machine and modified the mount of the rotary engine to allow for room for the detail inside the cockpit. The windshield was discarded and the stab struts were replaced by suitable brass Strutz. Control horns and cables were added to the rudder, all other control surfaces were torque rod-operated. The canvas-covered kit’s wheels were replaced with photoetched spoke wheels as per the real plane I was modeling, and wire snippets had to be inserted in the trimmed axle to locate them. The kit’s prop (with a sorta chunky hub) was also replaced by an Aeroclub white metal item. Home-made decals were printed. Regarding accuracy I can say with absolute confidence that the kit is identical to itself.

In my research I also found a number of French machines with civil registrations that looked enticing.

A relatively simple kit that has potential for alternate liveries, so the research is now up to you. Hint: Compagnie Generale Transaerienne.

References:

-Windsock Datafile 36

-Profile 79

-“J'aime que mes avions avec mono(soupe)pape”, Gremlin Editeurs, Canada Dry.