Wing Sung 601 Flighter Vacumatic Unboxing, Review, Disassembly and Fude Nib Swap

[@InkquiringMinds]

At the end of this video I mentioned I would love to see a Wing Sung 601A flighter with the tubular nib, vacumatic filling system and an ink window. I just didn't search very hard because Wing Sung DOES make those and they ARE available on both eBay and Etsy. They do NOT have ink windows, but they have everything else. Looks like I'm getting another! :)

[@venger910]

Another option for the ink window-less Flighter is to change the section/hood from black to clear. It does, however, look pretty sleek with basic black.

[@martinlebl631]

@@venger910 I think the look would be too messy for their intended target, but I would love to see various inks making their way through the ink collector. Would kill two birds with one stone, and wouldn't need new tooling, just new resin to inject mold. Surely easier than trying to make leakproof windows in the steel body.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@venger910 Since you only see the ink collector inside the hood and that looks almost the same whether full of ink or not, it would still be hard to tell when the ink chamber is getting low.

[@meh8982]

They also have the flighter model 601A with an open, non-hooded nib. I do like that big tubular nib though.

[@martinlebl631]

@@meh8982 The open nib you can swap for others. With the tubular nib your options are a lot more limited, although it does have a unique look. And they are new old stock tubular nibs, so who knows if they have anymore left, or if they used them up on the plastic bodied versions of the 601A.

[@jeffroberts532]

Thank you, Doug. I visited an optometrist a few weeks ago and had a very detailed eye exam. I needed new glasses. So I looked through all the frame & lens styles, tried on demonstrators, and finally made my decision. The frames were made of very luxurious, and expensive, materials and I also sprung for various optics coatings and automatic tinting on the lenses. No expense spared, these new glasses set me back a few hundred. Within about two weeks they arrived. I was excited to be able to see clearly again with my new stylish specs! I put them on and everything was blurry & unfocused. Should I have been upset? I was. Upon contacting the doctors office I was told, "oh, that's a common problem. Our optics lab is hit & miss. Just bring them by and we'll ship them off to a lensmeister to have the lenses ground properly, for a small fee, of course. You'll have them back in a few weeks". This story is fictional, except when it comes to fountain pens!

[@InkquiringMinds]

That’s excellent Jeff!!

[@edisontrent5244]

Unfortunately as a long term glasses wearer I have had several experiences like this, the only difference being that there is no repair only new lenses. Also you are dependent on framemeisters of highly variable quality adjusting bows and nose pads so that they become wearable.

[@martinlebl631]

@@edisontrent5244 Sadly this actually happens with glasses more often than they would like to admit.

[@edisontrent5244]

@@martinlebl631 Yes, I agree. Your chances of success improve with some offices, but I have never had luck with the various commercial mall type stores.

[@martinlebl631]

@@edisontrent5244 I used to use Costco, but due to insurance had to use Lenscrafters more recently. Got the insurance freebie pair there as tinted driving glasses. Had to wait as they don't make the glasses in store anymore. Ordered my everyday glasses from Zenni online, and they work great, and are super cheap. Whole glasses (frames and lenses) can be had for under ten bucks. More feature full glasses are a bit more, but still super cheap. I got metal frames, with bendy titanium nose bridge, photograde color changing lenses in thinner plastic with anti reflective, anti scratch, and anti fogging coating, and it was all still under sixty five bucks. Takes about two weeks, and ships in hard case with nice cleaning cloth in plastic envelope, so the case is reusable, but also the shipping protection, which is clever. Have a couple pairs from them. My main glasses, and couple cheap spares just in case, and in the car. If you break the frame, but not the lenses, they will sell you just the frame for fifty percent off so you can just transfer the lenses over. (Didn't try this, as I haven't broken a set, but a nice feature to have.) After three plus years of everyday use my frames are OK, although the hinge is starting to go, but I need new prescription anyway, so new set it will be. Would have done it in the Spring if it weren't for the virus situation, but bumped eye exam and dental cleaning due to that.

[@jamesjacocks6221]

I remember my pen friends deriding my Parker 51 vac: "it has no nib" etc. When I argued that it was ahead of its time (and still is) they smirked, cocked their heads and turned away. Such is the fate of folks who go their own way. It's refreshing to find someone who appreciates what you like. Thanks for that Doug. I had my eye on the 601 Flighter and to my delight found that you reviewed it. Thanks again for the tip about the nib (!).

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you so much, James!

[@vageli]

Pens are meant to write...out of the box. No excuses. Especially in the few centuries we've been making them. There's a special Hex Tool that WingSung has, that fits in the back to remove the piston. I'm pretty sure Bobby sells that for a few bucks. His mini fudes are the only way to enjoy the hooded nibs we got these days. Thank you for your spritely Works, Sir Thespian Orphic Pen Barb Sir!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Vagelis. I've seen that little wrench. I have a small adjustable wrench that gets it started and then the light application with a needle-nose goes from there.

[@martinlebl631]

I think he is out of stock on that for the model. Wouldn't be too hard too 3D print. Chrisrap52 showed it off in some of his reviews of the 601s.

[@ichirofakename]

1. Looks like you have found your dream nib. Congratulations. 2. My handwriting is best with a pencil. 3. I also love that there tubular nib. I'm very glad someone is making them currently. 4. Of course every pen should work out of the box. It's a pen. It baffles me that companies are still in business that sell pens with unreliable nibs for >$100. I guess the draw of swirly plastic and lava are MUCH more important. In a way, that makes sense, since you can often fix a bad nib, but you can't change the swirls in the plastic.

[@InkquiringMinds]

That' s true Ichiro, regarding point #4. If you have a wonderful nib holder with a great filling system, putting a nib that works on it shouldn't be that difficult.

[@WMH98296]

Doug, thanks for another great fountain pen review. I only discovered your channel yesterday and want to thank you for introducing me to quality Chinese fountain pens after a lifetime (40+ years) of purchasing (and often being disappointed by) mostly expensive European and American pens. Accordingly, I ordered a PenBBS Moonman M600S last evening and look forward to trying it out when it arrives. I caught the "pen bug" at an early age since we were required to use fountain pens in elementary school for purposes of improving our penmanship. As of this writing, I have approximately 75-100 fountain pens, originally costing perhaps $30K USD, representing most of the major brands: Montblanc, Pelikan, Sheaffer, Parker, Waterman, Aurora, Cross, Sailor, Pilot, Dupont, Visconti, Yard-O-Lead, Lamy, and TWSBI, among others. With big hands, I tend to prefer oversized pens, but with fine (F) nibs. Some in my collection are limited editions, while others are flagship models for their respective brands. I generally prefer contemporary pens and avoid vintage models, which often require costly repairs. All of my pens have been carefully stored in large wood and glass pen cases, and I keep inked pens in leather pen pouches. Thanks to the rise of personal computers, and the convenience of disposable pens, some of my writing instruments have only been inked once or twice, and nearly all are still like new. Anyway, thank you again for the great reviews. I’m now a loyal subscriber. [ Bill, Washington State, USA ]

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Bill from Washington just south of me! That sounds like an awesome collection. With big hands, you'll no doubt enjoy the review this Saturday morning of the Opus 88 Bela. This is a BIG pen!

[@WMH98296]

I will mark my calendar!

[@Dobj319]

I have several of these 601s including this one - with chrome clip. They are all excellent writers. Regarding the question: if I buy a new car I expect it to work the first time I turn the ignition.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I agree, Darold!

[@JamesEck9095]

You are costing me money again Doug. I had never wanted a mini-fude hooded nib until this video. I am a lefty overwriter and this nib might perform for me like a stub writes for a right hander. I'm interested. I have the silver tone trim version of the Wing Sung 601 Flighter and I really enjoy it. As to my thoughts on a pen performing correctly right out of the box....Hell Yes it should! Especially in a premium tier pen, anything less is shoddy and unacceptable.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Then you're not getting the point of living vicariously James! LOL That's a fascinating point about lefty overwriters and stubs. I'd never thought of that. If you do get a mini-fude nib on a pen, be sure to let me know your experience. I think other lefty, overwriters would be keen to know.

[@monopolylife]

A pen I already own. As a matter of fact I own 2 601’s and 2 601 A’s. Love these pens. Remind me of pens I used in school with the covered nib. The flighter is in my everyday pouch. Glad to hear you like it also. Great review Thank You!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing!

[@monopolylife]

@@InkquiringMinds I never got the tool to removed the backend, so I use an extra 7/32 Socket and it works great!

[@stevecleary5149]

Thanks again for another useful and interesting review. Loved the nib swap.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for watching!

[@greatlakescruiser5720]

Great Vid Doug! Regarding nib tuning: I think I am in agreement with a sentiment you have expressed previously. I am much more forgiving of having to work on the nib of an inexpensive pen. The more I pay for a pen, the greater my expectation that it should preform well out of the box.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Right on! I agree, F! At prices north of $200 you expect that each pen at that price point to be individually checked.

[@WhenDoesTheVideoActuallyStart]

One hour of work is worth from 10-15 dollars depending on the country. Maybe 20-30 for a nib technician in a pen company. It doesn't take an hour to floss some tines. The fact that people complain about their Lamy 2000 nibs not working is absurd to me, and definitely turns me off from high-priced pens. Have you seen Moonman's "full-Titanium" Parker 51 copy? Moonman Ti200 IIRC.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yes. Way too expensive but really cool looking!

[@WhenDoesTheVideoActuallyStart]

@@InkquiringMinds Eh, if it's really Titanium and the section isn't slippery it could be one of the best EDC pens, period. 51£ + Taxes from AliExpress makes it really attractive, especially considering that Titanium pens tend to cost 100 pounds or more.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I’m totally dubious it is titanium.

[@wittwittwer1043]

I have a Sailor 1911 with a zoom nib. I don't like having to change the writing angle to achieve the vaunted results, so I prefer a stub nib. I enjoy your videos and am sometimes impressed enough with the pen being reviewed that I buy one or two, as in the case with the Hongdian "Peacock" and the "Maple Leaf" models. Re writing "out of the box." I own quite a few Pelikans, the most expensive of which is an M700 Toledo, which cost $750 USD at the time. Ink flow was almost non-existent, and I returned the pen to Pelikan noting that it wrote "like a dry stick." Pelikan fixed the problem and returned the pen with the problem corrected. Since that day, I have felt that ANY fountain pen, cheap or expensive, should be tuned to write properly when it is received.

[@InkquiringMinds]

That's the best thing about some of these high-end companies, they stand behind their products. With Chinese brands, there is no contact at all.

[@cjpsmachado]

Yes I do have some improvements in my handwriting depending on the pen, but from my experience it as to do with the thickness of the section and not the nib itself. Obviously if you have a nib that give variation to the thickness of the line it will somehow also give character to the writing. And by the way I love to write with my Wing Sung 601, it came out of the box ready and swinging, no adjustments needed, very smooth writing. Use her daily, it's my all around, always with me since my Parker 45 flighter broke in half and while I can't get another one. I suspect that even after getting a new Parker 45 flighter I will still use my wing Sung 601

[@JoelTurrell]

to the question of the section/grip influencing one's handwriting, I find that I can write for very long periods with few, if any, mistakes and with consistent strokes, when I use a thick and girthy pen. When I use a thin pen, my results start to degrade after one page of writing. And though no one has asked, I find that weight has very little influence, 50 grams are as comfortable as 20 grams.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I agree. The better the pen fills my hand, the less I squeeze it and therefore less hand fatigue.

[@charlesburling2556]

Thanks to your videos, Doug, I found the Win Sung 601 & 601A. Both nice pens. I took your mini- fude recommendation for the 601. Followed your nib swap demonstration and successfully swapped nibs. Many thanks for your videos and all the great information you provide!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Good stuff!

[@edisontrent5244]

Excellent review Doug! I think in todays world with the manufacturing tolerances that are easily possible and repeatable every pen should write properly without any user work right out of the box. If you want to introduce a new user to the hobby you want them to have a positive experience at a low price of entry. If they need to fix nibs, wash feeds, and try 6 different inks to get it to work they have to be dedicated. When you can pickup any ballpoint and at least get some type of result 90%+ of the time at under a dollar, even the most entry level fountain pen needs to be at least a little bit special. I agree with all your points on the 601. I have the 618 and some Jinhao 51A models that are similiar. I like the easy maintance, and in some ways the nib setup is more user friendly than the Lamy 2000 - it usually takes me 2-3 tries to line up in the section properly after disassembly - at least you don't have to worry about nib damage with the wing sung settup. I think I will eventually have to try the fude style nibs, they seem to be good writers and more to my width preferences.

[@i.c.3157]

I agree that in this day in age every pen no matter how cheap or expensive should write right out the box. However I would say if you're getting into fountain pens in general you'll need some form of dedication to wanna use one, as if all one wanted to do is write then just like you mentioned pick up a rollerball. Flushing, tuning, and choosing a safe ink doesn't take much dedication at best only 5-10 minutes.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Edison! +1

[@InkquiringMinds]

But, if it writes on the paper without any unpleasantness, the new users might just get hooked on the experience. If it is scratchy, blotchy and uneven, then it would go into the drawer and back to the ballpoint, rollerball or felt pen they go.

[@i.c.3157]

@@InkquiringMinds I'm going to assume this comment was addressed to me. For one I agree with the statement that a pleasant experience will probably get a noobie hooked on the experience, what I disagree with is that tuning, flushing, and choosing a safe ink, takes dedication.

[@WhatIInk]

Great timing. I have a review of the 601A demonstrator dropping on Friday. I have the flighter (in a 601A) as well, and I LOVE it! Great video as always! PS: The 601A is also available in a "conventional" nib in addition to the tubular nib.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for that Alan! I’ve searched for a flightier 601a with no luck. Edit: okay I found it and the regular nib version. But no ink window version.

[@i.c.3157]

Awesome pen but since I already ordered a Jinhao 911 I think I'll skip this one, for now.... Something you mentioned which interested me was the question should a pen to write right out the box without any tweaking needed. For me I would say the bare minimum for a pen at any price point is to come without any defects like unaligned tines, baby's bottom, uneven tipping, damaged feeds, inconsistent flow, etc. Since the feel of a nib is very subjective I wouldn't want to be charged an unnecessary fee just for someone to do some simple figure 8's which I could do myself, plus it really isn't that hard to adjust a nib and you can even get it to your liking. Lastly at 4:18 I couldn't help but notice the Opus 88 Bela, does this mean we should expect a review coming?

[@InkquiringMinds]

Good eye! Yes, you'll see a review on the Opus 88 Bela this Saturday morning!

[@JamesEck9095]

For what it's worth, I have the Jinhao 911 and the Wing Sung 601 Flighter in silver trim. I like both, but greatly prefer the Wing Sung! The 601 is slightly gitrthier and has significantly better fit-and-finish. The Wing Sung feels more solid and substantial.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@JamesEck9095 I've found that to be true in a number of cases. The Wing Sung 699 is an extremely well-built pen for example.

[@martinlebl631]

@@InkquiringMinds Those are my favorite Wing Sung pens, great shape they "borrowed" that fits hand well, and can be held anywhere, and plenty of ink for a long while. Nearly perfect.

[@i.c.3157]

@@JamesEck9095 I appreciate the input, I still haven't received the 911 even after a month so if it doesn't arrive this may be a good exuse to get the 601a w/a #5 nib, as for the longest time I wanted to use the 601 but with an exposed nib, plus I found that the 601 and 601A have interchangeable sections, my hope is that's the same with the "new" 601a as it would give the pen some variety, not only looks but in writing too.

[@mcw0530]

I have had Baystate Blue eat the plastic section of two Hero 100 pens. This is finally a Baystate-proof Parker 51 copy, as it comes in a metal-section version as well.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I love my all-steel Wing Sung 601 Flighter. It has not been without ink since I bought it.

[@jacobus57]

Doug, this was one of your best reviews! The pen isn't my style, but I learned a lot and it was very interesting. Thank you.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks, Jacquie!

[@chrisrap52]

Fountain pens have much variety & most can be customized. They should write when you first ink them but unlike other pens, few come with ink so the user must ink them up, with all the varieties of ink that introduces variation, before even considering paper. I like the nibs in most 618s & 601s. I have a few inked up for years & are great EDCs. I also love Bobby's custom nib & have put a few in my pens. For me the original nib is great for writers who want a consistent line. For quick notes, that's what I want. I'm surprised you like the 601a tubular nib, a very stiff boring nib. Wing Sung 601s use a piston filler which is not a vacumatic filler. The original 601s had a diaphragm like Parker used. If you ever tried to restore a vintage vacumatic, I'm sure you'd prefer the improved Wing Sung piston filler. When I compared them, the piston took 3 pumps to fill, the diaphragm over 8. The tube attached to the feed is a breather tube, when you fill ones with transparent barrels you can see how it facilitates filling. When ink reaches top of the breather tube, pen is full. Thanks for another in-depth look at a very good pen.

[@InkquiringMinds]

The 601A tubular is my wife's and she loves it. I was thinking of how the tubular nib might look in the Flighter version. I'm still undecided as to whether I'll get one of those. It is in my eBay cart. And yes, you are right of course about the original vacumatic mechanism being different than the more modern push piston. Thanks so much for your comments as always Chris!

[@tpaynemm]

A year or so ago, I picked up about 5 of these 501A's [edit - very similar Jinhao 51A's apparently] from Bobby on ebay. Some with his Fude nib, others without. And in a variety of amazing acryllics -- like the niangow pattern, orange, hawaii, sunset etc. They were amazingly cheap at the time -- like $5. I wish I had bought more. As a lover of Aviation I enjoyed learning of the connection between the DC-8 and the Flighter. Though, I normally dislike all metal pens, I may just have to splurge to get this flighter -- with the cool metal hood! But at 8X the cost of the previous batch I may have to count to 8 first...

[@InkquiringMinds]

I have had both and I think the extra money for the Flighter is worth it. Like the DC8, durable!

[@tpaynemm]

@@InkquiringMinds Let me know when you find the L1011 :)

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@tpaynemm I actually flew on one of those!

[@williamyuen7139]

Dear Doug, Thanks for the great video as always. Yes I think some nibs do fit my writing style better than the others. An example is Lamy 2000 which is generally considered one of the great pens. However, its nib is not my favorite in the sense that I dont like my writings coming out of it. The go-to nib for me is the EF from Penbbs. However even that is not all consistent. I have 5 Penbbs EF nibs and one of them is not performing for me. I have got a Wing Sung 618 from a nibmeister in F, which I like very much ----- when reverse-writing. I guess I have a thing for very thin lines. Take care and stay safe.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Do you write asian calligraphy characters, William? As I understand it, writing asian calligraphy almost requires being able to produce a very fine, thin line as well as thicker lines and hence the love of fude style nibs. I find trying to write cursive with a very thin nib makes my writing look more like spaghetti.

[@williamyuen7139]

@@InkquiringMinds Yeah, in a square of 1cmx1cm, a typical Traditional Chinese character will need to put in 10 to 15 strokes. Compared to writing English characters, thicker lines would make a Chinese character more like a mess inside that small square. Of course some calligraphy masters would make it easy and still look great. In my case thicker lines would make my writing illegible even to myself. Rewatching your video today makes me itching for a Wing Sung 601 turquoise with ink windows...

[@cupajoe7258]

Regarding out of the box writing ability. I don't personally buy pens that I can't afford for a toddler to put a tooth through as my kids grab stuff out of my pocket from time to time and as a result my most expensive pen is a Noodler's Konrad. I think it depends on the purpose of the pen, for my Chinese Parker clones, I want them to write out of the box, if they don't I won't order more as they are more or less burner pens for me and I don't intend to do anything to them other than ink, write and loan to others. My Noodler's pens on the other hand I feel are more of a tinkerer's pen. Designed to accept a variety of vintage nibs and have a heat setting feed. It's great for me to learn on and modify to my own specifications at a low cost. This is perfectly acceptable to me, but I don't think I'd accept it from a name brand high dollar pen. I haven't had much issue with Noodler's pens, but I would personally probably ink it up and test it before giving one as a gift.

[@misswoodhouse5720]

Hi Doug, I think the pen should be able to write out of the box, but for peoples own tastes super smooth, more feedback, less feedback, wetter, and drier I believe that's a pen enthusiast own fun to be had. Yet and a big, however, for big brand names sold at premium prices, these pens should be able to write well out of the box without messing around trying to aline the tines so on. For example, I have a Monteverde Ezensa, and it writes terrible, that was a premium price in oz.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I agree. Tuning to taste is one thing, actually being able to lay down a line of ink is another.

[@davecharvella4854]

@@InkquiringMinds Amen!

[@martinlebl631]

@@InkquiringMinds Exactly. These work, but if you want more than just basic line, then you tinker. Basic functionality should be given right out of the box.

[@kevinlandon7578]

the main function of a pen is to write, so yes I expect it to write after it is removed from the box. price should not be an issue, whether it costs $10 or $1000.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I expect greater quality control with higher prices pens. That's why I'm constantly surprised at the consistent quality of lower priced pens like Penbbs. I've never had one that would not write out of the box.

[@kevinlandon7578]

@@InkquiringMinds it does seem lower priced pens do have a better track record than some high end brands such as Visconti or Italian brands in general' I have been lucky with only 1 or 2 pens that would not write from the start. I managed to get the Reform 1745 to write enough to sell it.

[@martinlebl631]

@@kevinlandon7578 Italian pens are like Italian cars; they look great, but expecting them to work right out of the box without some tinkering is foolish. Some do and some don't. QC tends to be lacking.

[@jeffroberts532]

@@InkquiringMinds I too have been pleasantly surprised by many lower cost pens that write so well without needing adjustment. When I order an inexpensive pen and it performs well I am very happy, and when it does not perform well I'm not that disappointed because what should I expect from such a pen? With an expensive pen (for me over $50 - my friends & family about pass out when I tell them I've spent $30 on a PEN??? I'll take many purchase details to my grave, $30 is nothing.) I expect high quality and a fine writing experience, and when that happens I feel somewhat justified with the expense. When it does not happen I go through the 5 stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) in about 5 minutes and then I revisit anger and camp there.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@jeffroberts532 All great observations. I have also found that no matter how beautiful the pen is, if there is an issue which makes the writing experience poor, especially on a pen I've spent a lot of money on, I hate to even look at that pen because it reminds me of my disappointment every time.

[@greyareaRK1]

Very nice. There IS a flighter-looking version of the 601A in Bobby's shop.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yes! I just noticed that!

[@archivist17]

In response to your queries, I think: 1. The very minimum a pen should do is write adequately from the start. That goes for nib, feed and filling mechanism. I have a very pretty Hero which has never written, but otherwise, even my bargain basement Luoshi cigarette pen wrote from out of the...well, not a box, I guess, but the jiffy bag. 2. I was writing in my journal as I was watching your review, so took the opportunity to look back at my handwriting. Now, bear in mind that my scrawl is often mistaken for a GP's, but there is a clear improvement with some pens. In reverse order, to maintain the suspense, and very surprisingly, the top four are: HongDian Black Army General; Pilot Metropolitan; PenBBS 471, and, topping the list, the Delike pocket pen (new style). My new 494, I'm not shocked to find, creates a spidery mess. No matter, it has a particular purpose, and I've already had the GBP2.50 worth out of it. ;)

[@InkquiringMinds]

I'm hearing a lot of good things about HongDian. I might have to sample one.

[@archivist17]

@@InkquiringMinds At the moment, my HongDian is my favourite non-pocket fountain pen. It writes really smoothly, is a pleasant shape and texture to hold, and has a sprung clip. What I didn't know when I bought it was that it's an 'homage' to the Faber-Castell e-Motion, albeit £100 cheaper. I just bought it for the chance to play with a Fude nib, which also came with it.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@archivist17 Thanks! Yes, I knew about the FC e-Motion hommage. Alan Light (What I Ink) did a really nice review of this pen and I've been very close to getting one several times.

[@CosminMiron]

Nice one, i also have a teal plastic 601, but it's pretty good writer and i treasure it very much!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Oh nice!

[@davidmcguigan5497]

Recently, got a 601a and it has become a favorite. Nib is stiff, no oohs and aahs for variation or anything like that, but it writes nicely, looks cool, inks up cool, is well made and gives every indication of standing the test of time. Oh, and it wrote right away which I considered entirely fair to expect giving respectful nods to tuning for preference, etc., which I have done... attempted may be fairer to say (Cf., the scene in Club Paradise when Joe Flaherty lands the plane).

[@InkquiringMinds]

BRAAAAKE PRESSSUUUURRRRE!!!!!

[@stefanwood2182]

So, a flighter finally arrived today. Yeah, I get it. I get the love for this pen, especially after putting a bobby nib in it. It's perfect. I have to say, if the texture of the replacement section is the same as the rest of the pen, then it would be too slippery for me to use. I may stay with the original black section. But my goodness, they got this one right. I may get another.

[@InkquiringMinds]

The black hood isn't as slick as the steel but I've found that the clutch ring tends to hold my grip from slipping. My WS 601 Flighter is easily my most used EDC pen.

[@Raul1971xxx]

Hello Dough, yes.. My writing sucks in the moment with a PenBBS nib and getting good with a Bock, Jowo, Pelikan and Faber Castell.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Raul!

[@Raul1971xxx]

@@InkquiringMinds My pleasure.. 👍👍🥁🥁🇪🇸🇪🇸

[@samyg123]

Nice review! I've collected a few 601 & 601As recently, but havent tried Bobby's nibs. Wing Sung changed the 2020 version of the 601A, which now has a typical open #5 nib. Also if you hunt around there is a plastic wrench tool made specific for the 601. They used to include them with the pen, but stopped a few years back.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Sam! I've seen the wrench and don't need it. I've also now seen the flighter version of the 601a with both the tubular and the open #6 nibs. I might have to get the tubular nib version just to have a matched set.

[@billd6069]

I really enjoy your pen reviews.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad you like them!

[@wancff]

thank you for your valuable review on the WS601, please provide more details about the replacement nib? Who made it and where can it be bought?

[@InkquiringMinds]

I bought the bend nibs from "Bobby's Etsy store here: www.etsy.com/listing/643510483/4pcs-fountain-pen-nibs-05-08mm-bent-nib?ref=yr_purchases

[@junfu9146]

Wing Sung does indeed have the conical nib 601A flighter, and they also have the #5 open nib 601A in a flighter version as well. I believe they now offer full stainless steel sections as well for people who like that.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Jun Fu. I posted a pinned-comment to the top of this video stating that. I just didn't search hard enough and the tubular nib version is in my in basket! :)

[@JuceePeachz67]

As always, Mr. Doug, great video!!!! If I am not purchasing a specialty nib, I do expect my pens to write immediately out of the box, especially with the higher end, expensive pens. If I decide to buy, for example a Aurora Optima with a fine nib, why should I tell Goulet Pens, “before you ship my pen, please make sure it writes well without any issues. ?” At a $600 price point, it should write without issues; no ' “baby’s bottom”, no skipping, or hard starts. IJS I have noticed that my handwriting varies on the pen I use. When I use a slimmer pen, my print and cursive penmanship lettering ' is tighter, whereas a pen that has more girth, my cursive is more loose and fluid.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Marianne! Excellent points.

[@YoYo-mp2tn]

They made a wing sung 601a with a number 5 nib. You may like it more.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yes. I've seen those. I have two 601A Wing Sungs and both have the tubular nibs.

[@agradoville]

Absolutely! I expect that when you purchase a fountain pen that the nib writing out of the box ought to be included. If a cheaper pen can write immediately then those that are out of my range expensive ought to be at least on par with these cheaper pens. I love the look of the pen minus the nib...I am just not a fan of the hooded nibs. For me, the nib is half of the allure of a fountain pen and adds a touch of class IMO. Guess I'm just going to have to try one of these fude nibs. Thanks Doug

[@InkquiringMinds]

They do give your line a bit of character! Thanks, Andy.

[@martinlebl631]

Got this one in my order from Bobby this summer, but didn't know it was a flighter. Feels pretty sturdy, although the finish is not as precise as on a vintage Parker. Still great deal for the price, and love the piston instead of the usual vaccumatic sack that eventually dies. This is a grest upgrade, although not Wing Sung's idea, but Brian Gray's I think. Might attempt that nib replacement.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, Martin!

[@ungabungus01]

I've been fighting with this pen for about a week after I initially filled it. The flow was weird, it would be dry and wet and back to dry again within a minute of each other. Messed with the tines, shimmed the feed, heat adjusted the tip of the feed up, a bunch of stuff. Must've got a dud, eventually I ended up breaking the breather tube 😢 It's also funny because I got a 618 that cracked immediately, but I recently tried out a 618 demonstrator and it is a great example. Did need some tine widening but it writes nice and wet and very consistent now. As much as I like Chinese pens that's the nature of the business, (the same could be said of pen brands that are much more expensive like visconti and Pelikan)

[@InkquiringMinds]

Sorry to hear that. Have you tried cleaning it with clear water with a drop of dish soap? It sounds like it could be some residual machining oil is in the ink collector. You can also take off the hood and pull the collector and soak it in water with a drop of dish soap over night. Then dry thoroughly. Mine did that when I tried some J. Herbin Stormy Grey (shimmering) in it and it really didn't like it. I have Iroshizuku in it now and it is like silk.

[@ungabungus01]

@@InkquiringMinds yep, that was the first thing I tried. What I just did was after accidentally breaking the collector tube I swapped in a parker 51 feed+collector tube into the 601 collector. It works but the tolerances aren't the same so the nib sticks out about an eighth of an inch farther out of the hood, like a parker 45. This is temporary and I'll see if the parker 51 feed keeps up to see if the feed was the issue, then I might either pick up another flighter, or ask Bobby if I can order another pen and see if he will send me the feed+tube separately.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@ungabungus01 That's a good plan, CW. Bobby is pretty responsive. It is an excellent pen. I hope he just replaces it for you.

[@edwardwiper1323]

Hi Doug i have a few Edison pens along with other more expensive pens which i purchase from a high street pen shop online & they always arrive tested with a writing example.I do mess about with less expensive pens as i am not bothered about voiding warranty.I think the problem starts with online suppliers not really knowing much about the pens they sell.Like the look of this 601 fighter,i have a 601mk3 Blue flash but wasn`t impressed with the nib so i`ll be getting the fude nibs for sure.Nearly forgot great & informative video as per usual👍

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks so much, Ed!

[@jorge23483]

Now that you mentioned it, Doug 🤔 One of those kind of nibs/pens that makes me feel my writing improve is an old 51 I found on some boxes at home, the second is the Lamy 2000 in "M" (although is kinda finicky on not so perfectly horizontal notepads 😅), and the second is more a group of vintage Sheaffer pens... I think all the pens I mention have the hooded nib + bullet grip section... unfortunately is not the case with my Carène 😢. I suspect is because the slightly chubby grip section and the characteristic inky fingers "greeting" the pen gives me every time I uncapped it for a quick jotting with her makes my fingers grip the pen a little higher for my confort... Now then, with more traditional pens it depends, so far I only felt the same "writing improvement" with a Lamy Safari, Esterbrook J and a Sailor Profit... 🤔 I think is because I tend hold the pen on a triangular style but very near the nib and the section of the pens so the bullet shape section of the Parker, Sheaffer and Lamy 2000 feels more ergonomic. The Safari, well, is because the triangular grip section: is really confortable to me. Thank you for the video Doug 👍.

[@InkquiringMinds]

You answered my question at the end of your comment, Jorge. I was going to ask how close you grip to the paper. That explains your experience with the Carène. I grip mine much higher and have never had ink on my fingers. Although I do periodically clean off the ink creep around the edges of the nib's "horns" with a Qtip now and then. Did you have your Lamy 2000 nib tuned? Because that inability to roll on non-horizontal notepads might just be how the nib is shaped.

[@BC7Bill]

Doug, this was a very informative review, thanks! As to writing performance, almost every one of my less expensive pens performed well and wrote right out of the box (or sleeve). I have had less consistent performance from mid-level pens. I shy away from pens that have poor out of box reviews. If Hero, Wing Sung, JinHao can have pretty consistent performance, why can't a more expensive pen perform as well?

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad it was helpful! It does seem a bit upside down for expensive pens to have consistency problems where pens like Penbbs do not.

[@yominrak7975]

I have a few Jinhaos, and their nibs although stiff and not springy, works out of the box which writes the first time and everytime, I do not need to tune the tines of the nibs they just write really well.

[@andrewanddewi966]

Has Wing Sung made a 601 variant with a completely steel body, including the section? I can only find after-market, and expensive, steel sections for these pens.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Not that I'm aware, no. I had to buy the stainless steel hood and install it myself.

[@seanmarshall2559]

Darn you Doug, I don’t really need another Wing Sung but the stainless with gold accents is too nice to pass on. Yes pens should write out of the box, if you want a custom grind or other customization is the only reason you should need to see an expert

[@InkquiringMinds]

I agree 100%. One of my friends in my pen club feels that, yes, writing well out of the box SHOULD be how things are, but expecting it is like hoping for world peace.

[@PEIPenGuy]

I have a Reform 1745. A German school pen and I'm surprised how much line variation it gives my handwriting. It's a fine flexible nib. Quite surprised by it.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, Stephen B. Macinnis!

[@ericaycock8728]

Awesome review and a really cool pen. Can you share the link to where you bought this and the extra nibs please?

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Eric! I bought mine at Bobby Pen's Etsy shop "ChinesePen". Just go to Esty and search ChinesePen. It is also available on Bobby's eBay store called "office_supplies_pen". I just noticed the nibs are sold out on his Etsy store but still available on his eBay store here: tinyurl.com/yy6zcnrh

[@torontoross]

Wonderful pen but where to find it?

[@InkquiringMinds]

This is a 14k nib version tinyurl.com/436wu46j Or you can buy the black section version tinyurl.com/5hsytjx6 and replace the section with this tinyurl.com/3tck85hb That's what I did.

[@torontoross]

@@InkquiringMinds Thank you so much. Really appreciated.

[@ericrollo615]

To answer your questions a pen is designed to write so if it doesn't write from the off it's just not a pen. My writing has improved with stub nibs as I have to slowdown and concentrate on my writing.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I'm the opposite. The stubs give me problems where the architect italic and the mini-fude nibs really enhance my hand. :)

[@TheNightowl001]

Shame on you! The Spitfire was not a metal-bodied airplane. A Spitfire Flighter should wear khaki-green-brown camo! ;) Icidentally, I received my Wing Sung 601 Flighter, with chrome trim, in an EF nib, and a replacement stainless steel section today. Due to some recent eye problems I've been having, it took me quite some time to line up the nib and the new stainless steel section, but I FINALLY got it done. Then I inked it with Waterman Serenity Blue. This is now my only Vacumatic filler Parker 51 homage with a hooded nib (I do have a restored Parker 51 classic black with an aerometric filler), and to be honest I got it less to write with than just to have it in my collection of Wing Sung pens as well as an affordable homage to the P51 flighter Vacumatic. I will run this load of Serenity Blue ink through it, probably by journaling and scribbling for a day or two, but then I may clean it out an put it away into the collection case. But, at least now I have it, without it costing me $200 for a restored one with a gold medium nib I probably wouldn't like. :D

[@InkquiringMinds]

Awesome! Enjoy! I don't think Parker ever made a vacumatic version of the Flighter since it came out in 1949 as an aerometric.

[@freetobe3]

Update, there's also a steel hood but it's sold separately.

[@InkquiringMinds]

It is on the way in a week or so.

[@thatfluffeebunneh]

There's more pressure on first time pens, like metros or safaris to be perfect because they're many people's introduction to fountain pens. Its disappointing to spend $300 on a pen that doesn't write, but we tolerate it, fix it, love the pens, and some even shoddy QC even becomes brand characteristic! Why do I still want a Conklin Mark Twain and Visconti Homo Sapiens when I know their likely outcome? Why can some brands like Sailor and Pilot get it right every time but others struggle? I don't understand it but I do expect that any pens over $50 write, and with rivals like PenBBS (which is near perfection for a good price) the room for tolerance grows thin. They're the reason I don't have a duragraph yet!

[@InkquiringMinds]

I hear you with regards to the Conklin Duragraph. Just buy one from Goulet and get a Goulet #6 right off the bat knowing you'll be swapping it immediately. I still want a Mark Twain regardless. LOL Pilot and Sailor make their own nibs. Everyone else (but Monblanc and Lamy) struggles with the huge variations in Bock and Jowo.

[@PatriotsComing]

@@InkquiringMinds But Goulet nibs ARE Jowo nibs. They act as though it’s something to be proud of.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@PatriotsComing The Conklins are Jowo NOW. They weren't six months ago. And only the Conklin steel nib is now a Jowo, the other Conklin replacements are still Bock.

[@PatriotsComing]

@@InkquiringMinds sorry, I wasn’t clear about my point. You recommended getting a Goulet #6 nib, and then talk about the huge variations in Jowo nibs. Yet Goulet nibs are Jowo nibs.

[@Richard_Barnes]

@2:20 to answer your question - yes, absolutely pens should write out of the box. I want to enjoy my pens not mess about with them to get em writing. The maker’s needs to send me a pen that writes. The amount of ££ I’ve spent and the disappointments I’ve had are immeasurable when I consider the pen costs individually. Not least with a £450+ pen from Bespoke Pens that was sent to me with a mangled nib with bent tines. Absolutely ruined my experience and put me off buying from them again. That in itself is not good as I want to support the UK folk but not when they send me 💩 like that.

[@houghwhite411]

Surprising that resin Kaweco Sports made my handwriting better I don't know why

[@w.j.m.91]

Are 601 and 601a caps and blind caps are interchangeable?

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yes. I just exchanged the blind cap on my 601 Flighter for my wife's 601a.

[@w.j.m.91]

@@InkquiringMinds Thanks. I asked because I'd love to have a hooded 601 with one of these golden caps and with golden trims, but these Triumph-like nibs look out of place to me. So perhaps making a frankenpen of 601 and gold trimmed 601a would be an option

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@w.j.m.91 Sounds like a cool project!

[@w.j.m.91]

​@@InkquiringMinds I've done it yesterday. Swapping the caps is actually a bit troublesome - while 601A cap theoretically fits the 601, the inner cap is different and in effect the 601A cap doesn't go as deep behind the clutch ring, making the capped pen a 2-3 mm longer (longer even than the flighter, which is already longer than the standard 601). It distorted the proportions of the pen so I eliminated the difference by dissasembling the caps and switching the inner caps between them. Weirdly, it doesn't make a difference the other way around - the 601 cap fits 601A identically as the original 601A cap, so after the operation the 601 cap with 601A inner cap fits 601A perfectly.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@w.j.m.91 Wow! Excellent work!

[@zenink2654]

Very cool! Would you say this is more comparable to the Parker 51, than the Jinhao 51a?

[@InkquiringMinds]

I've only had two 51a Jinhaos, but they were both open nibs so it is hard to compare. Both the Parker 51 and the WS 601 (with the stock nib) are nails that lay down boring, but consistent lines, even though the Parker 51 is a gold nib. The resin section on the Parker feels slightly less "plastic" than the Wing Sung.

[@danielzchang]

Doug, do you have a 601A 14K gold nib version of Wing Sung? Like to see your review on tis one comparing to the steel nib version. Could be the lowest cost 14k gold nib pen aroung the world.

[@InkquiringMinds]

$100 is a bit steep for me for a 601a even with a gold nib.

[@danielzchang]

@@InkquiringMinds I don't know it is so expensive. In China it is about USD50.

[@michaelmichael5643]

funny question Douglas so let me ask one myself: when you buy a new car , do you expect to have to take it to the the garage strait away to have the engine fixed??....

[@martinlebl631]

If it is Italian, then often the answer was yes. Even in the supercar territory.

[@InkquiringMinds]

LOL! Well I've not owned an Italian car. I owned a few Chryslers but that was before they were Italian. And the answer is no, I don't expect them to have to go to the garage straight away; as I expect my pen to write first time. :)

[@martinlebl631]

@@InkquiringMinds There were a few decades that Lambos had a reputation of having to see a specialist after each outing. People that own them can manage that, but even in the supercar world it was pretty excessive. People bought them for their exciting looks despite that. Similar situation with the Italian pens, as long as they sell all they make why spend money on QC. If they saw sales impacted, then that might change. But I don't see people stopping buying their dose of shiny precious long enough for that to register.

[@jacobus57]

If a pen doesn't write well out of the box, it's just a fancy paperclip. I would be pretty cheesed off if I spent a pile or even a penny on a pen only to find it doesn't write. I don't understand how big name manufacturers get away with it.

[@ichirofakename]

The syren call of swirly plastic is my guess.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Most big names have pretty good warranty and service through their distributors and retailers, but sending a pen back for basic nib tuning and waiting weeks for it to return is not a great customer experience.

[@ichirofakename]

@@InkquiringMinds In the software industry we used to call that offloading QA to the customer.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@ichirofakename Those aren't "bugs" they are "undocumented features". LOL

[@itsconnor2472]

hi Doug

[@InkquiringMinds]

Hey, connor.

[@nickturner2813]

Re your question, of course, any fountain pen should write perfectly (in the context of it's quality) straight out of the box, why would anyone accept its not doing that? Ask yourself this question, if the manufacturer, whether it's Montblanc or Moonman, advertised that there was a very high possibility that the pen would not be serviceable without professional attention to the nib, who in their right mind would even consider buying it?

[@InkquiringMinds]

The question is more about the expectation. Of course all pens SHOULD write well out of the box, but is expecting that reasonable? I feel that high-priced pens should be individually checked. So, expecting a high-priced pen to write well isn't unreasonable in my mind. However, expecting a $10 pen to write out of the box IS unreasonable considering the lack of quality control The funny thing is, a higher percentage of Penbbs nib have been successful for me (99%) whereas, higher priced pens like Leonardo, Visconti, Conklin, Sheaffer have had problems more often than not. That is upside down in my opinion.

[@nickturner2813]

@@InkquiringMinds Doug, it is not unreasonable for any ordinary consumer to expect a new pen to write acceptably out of the box, regardless of whether it cost $10 or $1000. Most people do not have the ability (or confidence) that a few of us may have to try to tune the nib of a brand new pen that doesn't write properly. Your argument that QC should be mitigation for badly writing pens isn't logical, surely, if your experience is that 99% of the time the ones with issues are not the cheap Chinese pens?

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@nickturner2813 Precisely! That's why I say it is upside down logically.

[@escapingdeception5799]

I feel like if you pay less than $30 some small tweaks should be expected. Anything more than $30 should be ready to go out of the box

[@InkquiringMinds]

I agree 100%, @escapingdeception5799!

[@anniebus105]

If a fountain pen company wants to earn and keep good market share, they had better pay close attention to how well their nibs perform and are accepted by their customers. It's not all about looks...even beauty fades with bad experience after bad experience. When manufacturing the nibs or contracting them out to be produced, every single nib should be expected to perform flawlessly. They should have really good quality control setup to try and catch as many mistakes as possible, and all of their high-end pens need to be hand tested and tuned, if necessary, prior to it being shipped to a re-seller. My humble two cents.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Excellent $0.02 worth!

[@AinCa1]

I am a little late to this discussion but here is my take on the question posed. Should a fountain pen write right out of the box? Absolutely not! Here is the reason: if you are fountain pen user, you feel special, different than the rest of human kind. You are prepared to fiddle, have stains on your hands and everywhere worried about the intricate shape of the piece of metal that touches the paper. Clearly, as a fountain pen user, you are above the rest of the mortals. To know how to do miniscule adjustments to the writing instrument you use and also your acceptance of the imperfections inherent to fountain pens make you even more special. Therefore, a pen that simply works, is very undesirable.

[@merlinuwe1]

Do you really believe someone says "Oh yes, it's much more better to get a fountain pen which doesn't write out of the box"?

[@InkquiringMinds]

The argument in my club isn't about the pen writing well out of the box is desirable or not; it is. It is whether the expectation is reasonable or not. Some say it is a pipe-dream to expect it.

[@merlinuwe1]

@@InkquiringMinds From my collection of ~60 fountain pens write ~60 good or perfect. None of them is scratchy, the most give normal feedback (mainly EF, F from Japan, China) or are smooth (F, M; most come from Germany, Japan). I use Clairefontaine (as you do) and Oxford optic paper. Inks come at most from Rohrer & Klingner, Diamine and Pelikan. I changed some Jinhao 159, X450, X750 with Bock 250 #6, but that wasn't really necessary ... And I'm a left handed... Wait, one Preppy 02 is scratchy, but it is an extra fine nib from Japan (what I expect). I use it with black carbon ink, also from platinum, for drawing. I cannot comprehend the problem in my collection. Perhaps it occures only in the pens I don't have, but that's unlikely. I think it's possible to get tested pens. I have seen in a film from Lamy at KZbin, that every fountain pen of the safari series gets tested by machine. (You may not buy one, which others have "tested" uncarefully.) Some shops test them before shipping (Faber Castell).

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@merlinuwe1 Appelboom will test and tune for free if you ask (check the box)

[@gblan]

Don't feel too bad about your penmanship. All you have to do is watch some of the top YT fountain pen channels and you'll soon see that most all of them have fairly poor penmanship.

[@meh8982]

If you bought a cheap ballpoint Bic and it didn't write you'd be pretty annoyed. When fountain pens were the only kind available, I'm sure they wrote 99% of the time when new, though they might not all have been equally smooth. The only reason people tolerate them not doing what they're supposed to do appears to be that some people look on them more as toys than tools and enjoy tinkering and playing with them. Kind of like making a hobby of a temperamental sports car.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, Meh!

[@acekickndork2630]

A pen is a tool; as such it should work out of the box, no matter the price. When purchasing any other tool I expect the same.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Agreed!

[@acekickndork2630]

@@InkquiringMinds I am going to go broke if I keep watching your videos lol. Thanks for the great review. I was struggling to find a Parker 51 homage.

[@PEIPenGuy]

Should be able to write right out of the box.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I have this on my desk every day. It doesn't matter how long it has sat there, it write first time, every time.

[@amyr.862]

I expect a pen to write the first time. It's just a fancy little stick otherwise. If the basic function isn't there it's not worth any amount of money. It doesn't have to be a religious experience but I should be able to get a note on paper within a few minutes, ya know?

[@InkquiringMinds]

Praise Jesus and pass the Kon-Peki!

[@invisibleshit8479]

After using this pen for a month, i think this is a very high value pen, honestly I even like it more than my lamy 2000, and starting to think that most european pens is too overpriced, and the only thing that makes me think those expensive pens are better is only because of that high price, but when I actually use it, I like this cheap one a lot more

[@InkquiringMinds]

I tend to reach for this Flighter everyday. It is a great every day knock about pen that writes every time.