I have used every common type of hinge or hinging method out there and each has its place. I would never suggest one size or method fits all. However sewn hinges have one advantage over all other types that the others cannot even touch. And that is ease of rapid field repair. This is a huge asset when one travel hundreds of miles to an event and you suffer a broken hinge of any kind.

It takes only perhaps fifteen minutes to do a sewn hinge repair to get you going agine and it makes no difference controlline, RC or whatever the other hinges on that surface may be. All you need is some heavy thread a small drill bit in a pin vice and some CA. Doing a sewn hinge does not require complete removal of the surface like most other methods do.

As all other types the sewn hinges do have some disadvantages as well. First depending on the type thread, cord used they are subject to rot over time. Use of fishing line helps in this regard but make the assembly and sewing process much more difficult. Also they are most usefull on two surfaces that are relatively flat in nature, for instance use on ailerons is not practical where the wing is very thick at the hingeline.
Here are pictures of my very elderly little Ringmaster Jr where the cloth/doped hinges have failed and it was very simple to sew the surface back on and the freedom of movement is just as good or better than the cloth/doped hinges.

As far as the uglies go, well to each his own, I love the look of sewn hinges that are not painted over in an attempt to hide them. Even have used them unpainted over new surfaces that are monocoated.


John