Does anybody else see that the Vmar Subaru Looks a lot like the
North American Navion?
I was interested in bashing one of these to look like the old Warbird wannabe.
If you have one of these and they are worth buying let me know.
Thanks Greg

I have one still in the box, and there is 3 more between two other people that I know of on the RCU fourms. First reports are great. One of the RCU members I talk about has 2 flying already in Thailand and he loves them.

Tom
Pearl Harbor HI

Tom,

Have included a picture of the Aero Subaru and a VMAR Tomahawk I have as well. The Tomahawk was easy to build. The cowl is thicker than the Aero Subaru one but doesnt fit as well. It needs plenty of weight up front to counter the large tail and rear elevator servo. I have an FS 70 installed. Covering is wrinkle free for now any way!

Regards

How is your subaru compred to the tomahawk....... looks, build,overall value,[sm=RAINFRO.gif] and flying????????? Thanks

Hi, it seems like you've not heard that Vmar uses hard balsa for wing spars; not hard wood. Trust me, I lost two 40 size Sticks due to in flight wing failure. Save your $$$. CKS

Tail dragger,

The two models both "look" good. I havent flown the Tomahawk yet but fly the Aero Subaru every week. It has about 30 flights on it so far. I am still surprised how good it flies. This is not a light plane. It needs plenty of weight in the front to balance the rather long tail. With a 46 2 stroke installed there is enough power for the sort of flying a plane like this is designed for. Landing and take off is easy. The quality is actually quite OK but I would not recommend these kits for first time builders. The faults are easily identified by an experienced builder. These kits are what they are. Some people like them and some people hate them. I just happen to be one who likes them and quality is getting better all the time.

I HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE OF VMAR AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THEY ARE JUNK !!!!!,I THINK THEY MAKE THEM OUT OF BANANA PACKING CRATES,IT IS THE MOST ODD,WEAK AND HORRIBLE WOOD I HAVE EVER SEEN,AND IT IS HEAVY TOO,TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP AND GET SOMETHING GOOD INSTEAD.P.S. HAS ANYBODY EVER READ A GOOD REVIEW OF A VMAR PRODUCT?SOMEHOW I DOUBT IT!

Well, I like it. Maybe the wood is not the best but the build ease is awsome. Its give and take.

Just thought I would throw up a photo of my Subaru. Wonderful flying Plane! Everyone says I should hate it because it is a Vmar, but I just can't help it..........this Plane is a ball to fly!

The best way to bash a VMAR is with a sledgehammer!

Don't need a sledgehammer with Vmar, just let them sit in the sun awhile and watch them warp....

I have a vmar subaru...Nice looking plane...for the money it flies great!!!!!! Have a SAITO .72 in it

I actually hope that VMars woudl read these post , I to have heard nothing but bad things about VMar but I also heard that they have changed .In-tern I hope they address these comments with facts .
Some the of the planes look great but i woudl never buy one based on the post , but hey I bought an H9 corsiar and if I did not make major changes based on this site it would probably be in the junk yard .

I would have to say for the price, the planes look nice. I had to make alot of hardware upgrades.

The Subaru does look a bit like the navion... I Love the looks of Vmar planes.. My LHS carries all of Vmars Planes, However I have not bout/flown one due to othe projects.. Right now scale only interests me if it's Giant Scale. But one of these days, Maybe the x-mas sale at the LHS, I'll pick up a vmar and test it out.. I know they are "Bad Quality" But the ones I've seen the problems would easily be fixed.. A little beefing/ modifying here and there is needed on basically every airfcraft.. Even My Trainer needed modification. maybe before you build it take all the covered parts out and let them sit in the sun for a couple hours, so you can straighten out all the warping that will occur before you even build the ARF.. If you really want to bash it into a SCALE navion. Check out bookstore/ Inter net, ect.. For Navion pics. My great uncle had a full scale navion, and I might be able to write my aunt in Cali. and get some pics for you... But I can't promise anything.

Regards, Cody

I hoped you beefed up the firewall on your Subaru with that .72 Saito on it. I have the .52 Magnum 4stroke on my Subaru, and it was more than the firewall could handle, and that .72 gots tons more power than my .52. I had to remove the engine, and add some tri stock back behind, plus a good heapin helpin of good 30 minute epoxy which was definately missing in my Subaru. Just a couple little spots of glue holding the firewall on originally, but she good and strong now. Also had to touch up all visable joints within view inside the fuse with some CA. Don't wanna think much about the places I can't see or reach. After this said though, I do enjoy flying the Plane and I like the way it handles. A person just wants to do a real good inspection while assembling would be my recommendation. As a matter of fact I would not recommend that anyone should purchase this Plane. There are much better quallity brands for the same money. All I am saying is that since I allready own one, and have doctored it to make it as flight worthy as possible, it is a fun Plane to fly, and really looks good in the air. I would put my money somewhere else though if I had to go back and make the decision again.

The firewall is beefed up..this plane like other ARFs do need a little modification such as the firewall. I have about 40 flights on this plane...Hoping for 40 more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Hey,

How are you guys doing. I have a VMAR Mach I skyraider. Overall i would say im fairly impressed with the arf. I know they had a bad rep in the past but i heard that have gotten better and i figured i would give them a try. I did notice a couple things though

1. The sheeting for the wing is weak and was accidently damanged in a couple spots even before the maiden.
2. Firewall next to motor needed to be reinforced.
I would have to say the balsa and would they used is somewhat weak and spots and needs to be reinforced. Im using a 46 ax. I have also seen people float these two and it worked out pretty well.

Thanks Scott

Hey,

How are you guys doing. I must have had a brain fart. I have a World Models Mach I skyraider.
Not a vmar. I must have vmar on the brain.

Sorry Scott

I am the owner of a vmar Bird Dog and a Subaru.
I am generally a foamy / electric fan cos I dont have much free time, and prefer to spend my time flying instead of building or fixing planes.
I cant comment on how they fare when powered by IC however I have been very happy with there flying characteristics and there repairability so far while powered by electrics.
They are a cheap plane to buy so do represent good value for money in my opinion if compared to more expensive brands that I have also owned and only noticed a modest improvement in quality.
So to all you vmar knockers out there who are so stupid to leave their planes and brains out in the sun all day ..... Find a shed or tree to put your plane under mate.
As for me I just got myself a new vmar twin otter and cant wait to build and fly it cos I know its guna fly great like my other vmar planes .

Hey knobulon

Welcome to RCU. Just wanted to let you know that sometimes you wanna check the dates on the post you are replying to. The last time this thread was posted in was 3 years ago. Just a tip to save you from typing out a long post, and then wondering why nobody else has responded. Again...welcome to RCU.

hey knobulon

I have an vmar.46 aero subaru, and its one of the best little arfs i have ever bought, it has over 100 flights, and been going strong for 2 years.. for $129 plus shipping its a good deal..