Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / June 2004

Durability / RC Model?  Hummm, do these two go together?
In my experience, if they don't crash they slowly fall apart given
enough time.
Also Hanger Queens don't count. Ya gotta fly em or they ain't no good.

Get ready for all the cusing,complaining,flaming and whatever when you
ask about VMAR. Most of the net is negative when it comes to this make..
HOLD ON!! not everyone....
I'm very satisfied with my VMAR planes.I've had an Edge for three years
with mucho' flights on it and it's still going strong.Kinda heavy but
flies very solid.

I bought the Arrow Tiger about 6 months ago and it's a real looker (red)
and a nice plane for the price.You'll like it. It looks a lot better in
person than on the Richmond site for sure.I had a Irvine 53 with a 12X6
and it was a very good flier. The only thing is that it stalled to the
rite on landing if you slow down too much.I fixed that by raising both
ailerons two clevis turns up.That did the trick.It was a fun flier after
that.
It met its demise when the engine quit,

I don't know if I still have the letter from Richmond r/c, but when I
put mine together the CG stated in the manual is way off (incorrect for
dang sure) I wrote them and they sent me a message of
corrections....Just don't go by the CG stated in the manual unless of
course they've corrected it.

By it you'll like it
Happy flying.

I just bought a Dornier DO27 from them. I have not flown it yet.

Comments:
The plane looks great. Seems heavy, but I'm going to use a Saito 72, so it
should be OK.

There were a few small parts missing, but I called them and they said they
would send them to me. Assuming the parts get here from Canada, I was
pleased with their service.

The manual has full color pictures, but is lacking in how to mount the
engine and trim the fiberglass cowling. I'm relatively new and have never
had to deal with a cowl yet.

I used polyurethane to seal the fuel tank area, and its solvent casued the
polycote to release outside the sealant. At hot iron studk it back down to
the balse sheeting though.

This plane looks REALLY good. Nothing like it at our club. I'm really
looking forward to flying it.

I did a search before buying my VMAR Edge and if I'd listened to that,no
way would I have bought it but I like to judge things for myself and
went ahead and bought it ($169)..Glad I did...It's been a nice plane.
The quality is a lot better. I called Kelsy at Richmond and ask him what
I was getting for $129.That's awful cheap.He said that was an
introductory price and that it would go up.

The covering on any VMAR is better looking than anything I've seen in
arf's.If you crack it up bad,it'll be hard to match the covering after
repairing it due to the many graphics.You can order new covering from
Richmond R/C. Maybe not perfect but even if it didn't fly well (and it
does),it's always the prettiest plane at the field..Bar none.An eye
catcher.The covering on both of my VMARS are just as tough as Mono or
any of the others. NOW,if it sits in the hot sun,you'll have bubbles for
sure but you can let it cool and iron it down,and if you let any ARF sit
in the hot Texas sun,you'll have the same problem.Not a biggie..
The VMAR line of planes have NO balsa in them at all. It's something
like tung wood.A bit heavier but tuffer than balsa.
The wing is built up,not foam..

It's demise was my fault.Initally the engine died on take off and took a
hard landing. The fuse was pretty messed up and I repaired that,The
wings sheeting was cracked and I shot CA in on the cracked sheeting with
a needle.It felt like I had the wing repaired but making a turn for an
approach,I lost eight inches of the wing tip rite where I had repaired
it.The rest was history.I guess the spar was cracked and I didn't know
that.The wing tip went one way and the rest the other.It was destroyed
so that wasn't the planes fault.
The plane is like any plane.It'll stall if it goes too slow.
Hope this helps.
Walt

Messenger/Cain
I sent yall email on the VMAR Arrow Tiger