Hey all, VMAR is getting ready to release a new low-wing called the Escape. I know mention of VMAR starts a flaming thread but I am really interested in finding out what this plane is about. I love buying from the underdog. So, if anyone sees or buys this plane and flies it, I would love to hear about it. The plane looks great, and comes with hardware that sounds way improved over VMAR's offerings in the past. And if you opt for one of thier engines, I wanna hear about that also. Thanks

While I have no input on the particular model you mentioned, I do have some ideas about VMAR. I have purchased two of their ARFs, the DeHavilland Beaver and the trainer Discovery. They seem to be of different quality. The Beaver is of better quality, i.e. no gobs of glue felt or seen under the coverings and seems to be a solid construction. Not finished with the Beaver as I will be using it with floats.

The Discovery is another story. I modified it to a bolt on wing rather than the rubber band version and also put it on floats as water is my only source of runway. The covering is not so perfect and small lumps of glue can be detected beneath the wing's covering. It flies excellent, holds trim settings and straight as an arrow as most trainers should. I put it through some of the basics, e.g. tight and large loops, snap rolls, spins, inverted... and it is still together. This is with the extra weight of the floats. I would not trust the wings with a full dive though.

Perhaps trainers a built with the idea that they may not survive long and the quality is overlooked where as the semi scales are built to look nicer. Will the Beaver fly as well as the Discovery? It'll be a few months before I can test it.

I have no input on their motors, but why buy an unk. performer when you can buy just as inexpensive, e.g. Magnum/ASP, TT and the likes that have a proven reputation. I have OS, Magnum XLS, TT, Saito ASP, and all are well performers. From what I've read, VMAR engines are hit and miss.

By the way, I dont use any of their hardware, they still have a way to go. VMAR is made in Viet Nam, not China.

There is a product guide here on RCU http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_gu...product_id=353

I just bought one yesterday, needed a fun airplane between my scratch built and kit built "serious" scale models.
It's my first ARF, and I must say I'm impressed.
Build quality is one of the better ones I've ever seen, hardware is excellent - all clevises are METAL turned and no cheap plastic, wheels are metal with rubber tires, spinner is aluminum with epoxy paint, weight is very low, at first I thought my LHS owner gave me an empty box!
Manual is full color on chrome paper, haven't read it yet though, and probably will have no trouble even if it is not very good (I'm 25 years in the RC hobby).
I plan to have it ready for flight in two weeks or so (due to other commitments) so will report but first impression is very very good.
Prefabrication is also very impressive - engine mount and nose wheel mount are in place, tank is assembeled, plastic servo tray in place, canopy and cloth dressed pilot figure in place, wheels on the axles and wheel retainers already fixed, hinges glued and pinned in place, clean and accurate looking construction.

I just did a review of their Extra 330. It was my first VMAR and while I have heard all of the horror stories about VMAR, I have to say that the quality was outstanding.

OK so today I opened the box and started to work.
I apologize for not having a digi cam but will try and describe the process in the next week or so of assembly work.

First thing done was not in the instructions at all - I checked the covering all around. Quite a few edges were starting to lift away so I ironed them back with an iron with the triming shoe. No problem but the covering Polycote ECS seems very "cheap". It already looks a bit "used" and the color decorations although embedded within, are not at all fantastic in quality.

I also started fuel proofing the tank and engine area, and doping inside the fuselage where the RC will go (I do this to all my models).

Construction is very average, not rubbish but neither outstanding. It is certainly very light and the materials are in my opinion a little too soft in most areas. Already dented in a few areas, it came out of the box this way.

However, all this suggests it will probably end up a very light model, and with proper caring after it may be a good flier for quite some time, I hope.

The original wheels are already in the bin...the metal wheel and small rubber tier are neither light nor good. I substituted with slightly large dia. Graupner light wheels I had in hand (used a little). The axles are long enough to accommodate this, as if VMAR knew this would be done...

Oh, and there was a small crack in the back of the firewall - easy to fix but why was it there in the first place?

The fun goes on. Although the model is progressing nice and quick, quality is not there.
There were 6 wheel retainers in the kit. All of them had the thread stripped immediately the moment I tried to tighten them a bit. All had to be replaced.
The manual shows a white tape for covering the wing centre joint. In the kit it is a simple transparent tape. Why not white? still it works ok, the wing joint line is clean anyway.
It does however look a rather "cute" model with nice colours.
The manual is not very good. Some steps not mentioned at all e.g. the front dowel in the wing l.e. - there is one dowel provided and one hole, the manual show two in the photos, but does not mention them at all. If it is your second model, have a friend help you ansd supervise your progress. If like me this is just a fun model between more serious stuff, throw the manual away.
Wing-fuselage fit is accurate.

Sounds about right, I had a Discovery, beat flying, bad build. But the Beavers look nice. I also bought a VMAX 52, and I musta got a hit, lol. Mine is hauling my PA BAd Boy around nice, hovers at 1/4 throttle, goes vert for days. Sounds mean too, Im happy with it.

I seem to think VMAR are somewhat underrated.

Ive seen an escape too, nice loking little sports plane.

Fly-guy

all their recent models are realy not that bad, most people just refere to the older ones, and they are tough, including the older ones (another reason for them being called a brick).

Got the wing all finished with servo and landing gear and all.
Looks quite smart with the red and white colours.
Although I mentioned some quality issues, at least the wing-fuse fit is 100% accurate from all angles.
But why are the wing root ribs of different thicknesses on both panels? one is 4 mm one is 7-8 mm. Still - a perfect fit between both panels and wing to fuse.
OK, on to the rest of the model now.

Only the tail servos and Rx to install and we're ready for takeoff.
No further problems, but I'm using an OS46FX which means I have to place the Bat behind the servo tray to get it to balance on the front CG location. Good enough for testing.
Haven't used the spinner though, it weighs a ton!
May eventually replace the engine with a 40 LA.
Currently the weight is going to be 2450 gr dry, ok for the size of the model and engine.

Whitehorse, this is really great stuff to hear for those of us who are inclined to maybe try a model from the under-dog. There have been posts about the arfs sometimes warping in the sun and some problems with covering fit after exposure to sunlight. Please keep posting after the build please. I think this is great stuff.

Well, basically the model is finished, with all my extra work of doping the RC bay and tank bay, changing hardware etc., I still can say that I opened the box Friday late afternoon, and the model is flight ready Saturday evening, and no, I didn't work all night at all.
I plan to fly it end of next week.
In summary so far I'd say the following:
Quality is not outstanding at all, it is down to a price.
It is acceptable I guess for this type of model/price/etc.
It is probably better than previous VMARs from what I've read.
All the stuff I replaced I had at home, but it should be added to the total cost really.
While quality and materials seem rather cheap, it is very accurate. Tail surfaces, wings, everything fitted dead accurate with no need to sand anything, that's why I got it assembled so fast I guess.
It looks quite cute, even spinner-less.

Comparisons:
It doesn't even come close to a kit built or scratch built model, but how many ARFs do?
The only other ARF I ever assembled is Hangar 9's Solo Trainer, with my son, for him to train on.
I consider the Solo better quality, and it has already flown some, it flys superbly in my opinion.

I guess it is also a matter of price. I paid about 140 US$ for it in Israel, at my LHS. I do not think it is worth more than that. The aforementioned Solo cost me about half of that, and I consider it was better value for money.
But, I wanted a sport aerobatic model for my FX 46, and wanted it quickly, I also wanted to try an ARF.
Would I buy another one or recommend it to others? Well depends how it will fly, and at what price you can buy it.

Check in a week or so for a flight report.

OK, so as promissed here's an update following the flight tests of my new VMAR ESCAPE:

Quite simply - this model flies superbly!
I cannot fault any flight characteristic!
It is very easy to handle, aerobatic, very very smooth and predictable, quite simply a beautiful flyer.

I recommend it as a second model with no hesitation.
I recommend the dual setting up of the controls as per the instructions, it is simply one great flying model.
Low rate makes it a mild aerobat, very easy for low time pilots, high rates make it more aerobatic for more advanced and quicker reactions.
I had some issues I did not like in the assembly, but the bottom line is - the model is an excellent flyer!!!

Some pics of my ESCAPE - enjoy! I do!

Thanks for the review. I am inclined to take what a user reports more than any review in a mag that VMAR advertises in. I have been looking at some of thier newer stuff. I may have to take the plunge.

Just a few more updates:

I have flown my ESCAPE quite a lot during the last weekend, and really am very happy with it.

However, I do recommend more UP elevator throw than is suggested in the manual (though could be my CG) since I felt it a little limited when flaring during the landing. No problem during flight however.
Also, increase the rudder throw to as much as possible otherwise the stall turn is a bit lacking. I increased a bit more than the manual calls for, and then you just have to make sure you really let it stop completely before kicking in the rudder. A little too soon and it looks awful. When you do it at the right moment, the stall turn comes out beautiful.

So far the structure, and covering, and landing gear, are holding up very very well, and this is in the hot Israeli summer sun!

WHITE HORSE
ON THE STRENGTH OF YOUR REVIEW, OF THE ESCAPE I ORDERED ONE,IN SPITE OF THE NEGATIVE STORIES I READ ABOUT VMAR. HOPE I DIDNT MAKE A MISTAKE AS IT LOOKS VERY NICE IN YOUR PHOTOS.
BEST
LEN

Flyman 1
It'll be interesting to read your comments - I wonder if there is significant variation in quality between individual models of the same design and manufacture.

Read carefully all my notes on the construction and what to check and what I replaced.

I have so far about 20-25 flights on it, and am very happy with it. I have long since forgotten the small issues in the construction and simply enjoy flying it.

One more thing I added - a tail skid. The design is such that when it rotates the bottom of the rudder T.E. is the first point to contact the ground so to avoid damage to the rudder in a nose high landing etc. I simply fixed a plastic control horn at the extreme bottom end of the fuselage to act as a tail skid.

By the way - may I ask what does this model cost in the US? I paid around 140 US$ in Israel.

WHITE HORSE.
I ORDERED THE MODEL MAY 20 FROM MY LHS, SHOULD TAKE A WEEK OR SO TO GET FROM CALIF. TO N.Y. THE MODEL HERE IS $IOO. I WILL HEED YOUR ADVICE. AND LET YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS OUT. IT WILL BE A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE I POST ---DUE TO ON GOING THINGS--THANKS AGAIN
LEN

WHITE HORSE
MY LHS TELLS ME VMAR IS ON BACK ORDER,MAYBE SOMETIME IN MID JUNE. NOT SURE IF ILL WAIT---------IT SURE LOOKED GOOD-----OH WELL
LEN

Hello Guys,

I got my VMAR Escape model few days back and i completed the same just too fast. Yesterday it was completed without any hassle.
The only thing i got annoyed was the too much slack on the covering which took me long to stretch with hot gun as the covering did not stretch well even with plenty of heat.
But now it is all done. The overall ARF kit was well built, good hardware and accessories. Looks Great. No Cowl :-(
Nice pilot figure - well dressed !!!

I will soon upload my pictures and review test flight after Sunday !!

Hemal

Just finished assembly of my new VMAR Escape 46. Looks great !!

Had my maiden flight last sunday. Was up in the air in few feet. Very little trims. Good for moderate aerobatics. Performed all aerobatics 9 types. Knife edge was not so good as the throw or i would say the control surfaces are not large.

Overall a lovely bird.

What's in :
VMAR Escape 46 ARF Kit
O.S. 46 AXEngine
Hitec Aurora 9 Radio
Hitec Optima 2.4G - 7 channel Rx
Battery :NiMH 2700mA 4.8V (placed back to Servos)
Servo :Hitec Digital HS5845Karbonite gears - 3 nos.
Throtle :Hitec Standard HS325
Prop :Master airscrew 3 blade 10x6

I am modifying to increase the control throws. and will try again soon.