Sorry you are having so many problems with your Maxford Neptune. I will be curious how the two compare with each other. I have been Flying my Maxford version a lot this summer without the camera, and I am very happy with it so far. Even without using a towel on the wood dock, the orig covering is still holding up fine. I am using electric though, so if something comes a little lose, I can just dry and re-iron. Back when I was using Glow, the combination of oil and water really took it's toll on covering.

After flying it this summer, I can really see how the Seamaster got to be so popular. It's the only seaplane I have seen than just won't ground loop, is almost imposible to nose in on a skipped landing, If built light, it slows way down on landing. I spend half a battery yesterday trying to get a tip to grab, I landed at a 45 deg tilt in a turn to catch a tip float, and the float just pushes the wing level. I took off in a skid turn, leaving the tip on the water, still wouldn't grab. I can see how in bigger waves, or with wind it might be possible, but compared to my Lanier mariner, this is so much more forgiving.

While no expert at 3d, I am getting some knife edge flight that actually looks like knife edge, and I am getting braver at inverted. I don't quite have a 1-1 ratio, but it's pretty spirited, and will fly a good long while on a cheap 4X5000 20c and a .32 eflight with a 12X6 APC.