Hero 563 FP

January 9, 2008

First Impressions

First impression was the clean look and minimalist design on the cap and body. The weight is a little more than I prefer but is not overly so. If you are used to metal pens, there feel and weight, this pen should be no issue.

Appearance

The appearance is very nice and clean. The two Greek patterns on the cap and one on the body I like plus silver on black is always a good choice.

Design

The design of the overall pen seems to be very well done and durable plus the diameter versus length lends to good balance whether you post or not. The cap is a snap on cap and seems to seat tight with a very audible “click”. The pen is 5-3/8" (137 mm) in length capped and weighs 0.85 oz (24 g) loaded with ink

Nib

Nib is fine and semi hooded and is visually very nice. The problem is the nib does not want let the ink flow after sitting over night. Each time I have had to dip the nib in ink to get it started. Once it starts it is a nice writer. It has a good ink flow for a fine nib and is relatively smooth on paper. As you write, you actually hear more than you feel. As I lean more towards M nibs I will say I do like this nib.

Filling System

This pen is a converter but will also accept carts. It holds a decent amount of ink but is a little less than a LAMY converter by comparison

Cost and Value

If the cost is compared to the perceived value, based on the initial 2 weeks of use, they are comparable

Conclusion

Honestly, I still haven't decided if I like this pen or really like it. I still need to contact the seller to see if there is something I can do with the nib so I don't have to get it "kick started". I am open to suggestions as to something I could possibly do at home with out disassembling it. I will admit that the nib design and overall look of the pen keep me coming back for another try.