Anyone out there with experince with Vmar products engines and more importantly the ARFs. I'm considering either a stick 40 from em or a Doriner Do-27. Any info regarding any aspect of Vmar planes, engines or service please do not refrain.

Thanks

BTW if you havent heard of em heres a website that has em:

http://richmondrc.com/

I've heard a LOT of bad, but some have been saying their stuff is improving.

Would I risk it? No. Mainly because the covering can't be repaired; the graphics are under a clear skin, so damage can not be repaired to like new condition.

But they're inexpensive, so....
Dennis-

I haven't flown one, but I saw one of the Stik ARFs as someone was taking it from the box. The quality looked very good and the kit was very complete including things that normally are not included like the tank and wheels. First impressions of the flying characterics were good, but I haven't heard anything since the first flight.

I have been thinking of getting one myself, but I am planning out planes that I want to build and don't have the cash to buy ARFs and build kits.

Hope this helps

Tom

I've only owned one ARF and it was a Vmar stick. In my opinion, they are junk. Just my opinion.

the opinions of vmar goes back and forth. I dont have any but I dont plan on it. Some of the newer stuff is supposed to be pretty good and quality has come up from what I have read.


choose wisely and good luck

matt

I've been thinking and read a lot that indicated they are junk, but a member had a PC9 which was difficult to assemble He wasn't impressed and gave it away after minor damage. He now has a V sstick?? that he has assembled and is enjoying it, so it appears to be a mixed bag.

I have flown most of the VMAR line of ARFs b/c there is a dealer close by and lots of people buy them around here and since I am the local test pilot I get first shot at them. In all honesty if your just looking for an airplane to fly around the VMAR line of airplanes will do the trick. However they remind me of planes that I flew 8 years ago. Though the weight on the box seems to be reasonable the airplanes dont fly with that "light" feel that the new age airplanes have. There have also been problems with shabby construction on a few of the models and I cant stand that crap they are covered with. If your looking to buy an airplane just to fly around then the VMAR line would be ok but if you want performance look elsewhere.

BUT!! Dont hesitate to buy the VMAX motor. The VMAX .46 is a motor that is put out by the same company. I have seen 6 of these run and I am impressed. I wont say that they will keep up with a Pro. 46 as far as power goes but they arnt far from it, plus I have NEVER seen a dead stick that wasnt a result of an empty tank from one of these motors. We put one on a plane mounted inverted, ran 3 tanks of gas through it this way and took to the sky without a single fuel bubble.

I have a vmar apache iii and i like it. i was a cheap traine r and went together fairly easy for a beginner like myself. it took some help to adjuct the throws and i reinforce all the seams with more ca but it flies slow when i want and will turn on a dime if you want. i will probably look to them again when i finally fly the wings of this vmar.

chris

I had a Vmar Arrow 40 and was happy with it. It is an OK plane for the money.
The covering and hardware sucks......... but for an inexpensive trainer, or first low wing, (which this one was for me), it was OK. I won this plane....... I don't know if I would buy one, mainly because of reading reports, and the other choices out there that are covered in Ultracote and $kote!! The bottom line was it flew just great!!! An experienced pilot flew mine once and was shocked at the Arrow 40's performance. He put it though it's paces!!! It had an OS .46FX on it and I sold it when my other 2 planes were finished and did their maiden flights. ......lownslo

heavy, ugly, bad hardware, hard to repair, heavy, ugly, heavy and ..........ugly

I had a Vmar arrow 40 as my first low wing

It really is an excellent flier with great flight performance and looks the goods

However, the build quality was lower than poor.

The VMar Extra 300 is very sturdy and flies quite well. After more than 300 flights with mine, it is still nimble and will do all the ordinary aerobatics. Lands very nicely, once you are used to how fast a little taildragger with a symmetric airfoil lands. I understand the newer ones have an extra inch or so of wingspan.

The covering on mine is quite faded now. I have secured the loose front edges with CA. Should have done it right away. I tore the landing gear out twice, fixed each time in a half hour (even when I tore the blocks from the fuse.) Not the plane's fault, mine. I'm thinking about recovering it. A fellow club member has done that with his.

If you want an inexpensive third or fourth plane to learn four-point rolls, rolling circles, etc, this is a nice choice. Plus, if you augur it in, it's only $130.

Can't speak for other VMar products, but the Extra's great, in my book.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

I wouldnt get the VMAR extra I would spend another $50 and get the Aeroworks .40 size Edge 540 or something from a reputable company. If you want something to just fly around then VMAR is alright but if its performance you want then look elsewhere. Almost ANY airplane can do point rolls and rolling circles. I have done them all day long with a 1/4 scale cub and a LT-40. While these airplanes are hard to point roll they are easy to do a rolling circle with. Just stay ahead of the airplane and you can make ANY non electric park flier, non glider type of airplane do a rolling circle. Anybody got one they want me to try to do it with then come visit

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I was wondering more specifically about the Do-27 and 40 stick, if anyone has info on these please do not hesitate.

Thanks again

The 40 ugly stick is what I had, and believe me, it was ugly. There wasn't a straight piece of wood in it! I bought that back in about 96 so maybe like all other ARF's these days, perhaps it had improved. I really like building so even the new generation ARF's don't interest me too much so perhaps my opinion is biased. I really like one fellows signature I read somewhere on RC universe "If you didn't build it, it's not really yours"

Well ARFS are fine as long as you get them from a reputable company. If you dont think so then ask Chip Hyde. His 42% AW bipe is now an ARF. In all honesty the new line of ARFS (from reputable companies) are built better than 90% of can build. I look down the fues. of my 33% Sukhoi here and I dont see a gap or a flaw the whole way down. To get back on the subject, Billy is right about VMAR Arfs. They have improved from '96 but they still lack quality craftsmanship.