Ink review- Krishna Moon View
Around November last year, Dr. Sreekumar of Krishna Inks released a really REALLY sheeny ink, the Krishna Moon View. So, I went and got a bigger 30 ml bottle of the ink, and I have been using it for the better part of three months. Here is the review of the ink
It comes in 20 ml standard cubical bottles like all inks, 30 ml bottles and even large 100 ml bottles. It is quite well-behaved.
Review: Wing Sung 3008
After using the Wing Sung 3003 practically everyday, the decision to get its older brother, the 3008, was pretty obvious. Peppa2018 had some in stock in ebay India, so I got one of them for myself. It is of relatively little fame of itself, and it has very few video reviews on YouTube, compared to 3003 or 698, but it was priced at ₹509, so it was not a very big risk to get one.
Packaging and delivery
Like the 3003, the seller had sent the pen in a flimsy envelope with a single layer of bubble wrap in the inner lining. Well, the price is not very high, but that does not make me worry about how easily the pen might get damaged in transit. The pen arrived in 12 days, which was remarkably fast.
The pen
Chinese pens have a bad reputation of copying fountain pen designs, to practically the last bit. But it is wprth mentioning here that this pen did not totally copy the design of any other pen. Instead, the designers mixed-and- matched the pen designs, fusing a Lamy feed with a Twsbi 580 body, giving us our very own Chinese Frankenpen.
The cap
It is a transparent affair, with a metal band. It is screw-in and has no brand insignia anywhere. The clip is quite firm and is slightly TWSBI-ish
The band DOES have some Chinese characters. Probably it reads ‘Wing Sung’? The cap is a screw-on type.
The body
It is a piston filler with a coloured piston. The body is transparent, and the filling mechanism is most probably not detachable*.
There is a rubber O-ring, for some reason, just above the grip.
The grip is cylindrical, and comfortable.
Dimensions:-
- Unposted:- 13.1 cm
- Capped:- 14 cm
- Posted:- 17.3 cm
- Diameter of grip:- 0.7 cm
Nib and feed
The nib, and the feed, are reminiscent of Lamy.
The nib is slightly smaller, but it is possible to swipe it with a Lamy nib. The nib is European F, and it writes a nice wet line with minimal feedback.
The feed is a transparent feed, that Wing Sung has been using in all its new releases. It is easily removable, and a friction fit. It has a ridge in the inferior surface, like a Lamy feed, so care is needed while reattaching the feed.
Writing and feel
It is a long pen.
The pens being compared are a Lamy Safari, Wing Sung 3008, and Wing Sung 3003 from bottom to top. It is not as big as the Safari, but it feels comfortable. It is not very heavy, and well balanced if unposted. It can be posted quite securely, but it becomes extremely top-heavy.
The pen writes smoothly, with a fine wet line even while using drier inks.
Conclusion
It is an exceptionally good pen and extremely value for money. However, the Lamy style nib and feed look out of place. It is a great writer and recommended, especially to all those who have large hands.
*Update:- It IS detachable, in fact. The metal band is actually a screw-on thingie. Just grip it, and twist it counter-clockwise (The direction you would rotate it to push the piston forward). Lo and behold, the entire mechanism comes out! Easy to clean, easy to disassemble and reassemble- this product is excellent!
Wing Sung 3003
This year, Wing Sung was finally awoken from its decade(s) long slumber (akin to Captain America?) and the entire fountain pen community is abuzz with its new model Wing Sung 698. Considering that Wing Sung is a Chinese fountain pen, and that Chinese fountain pens are usually considered beneath the standards of any civilized fountain pen conversation……it is a feat in itself. But the pen’s transparent feed and excellent QC has made it notable, inspite of it being sold for around 16$, or lower, on eBay. Now, the Wing Sung 698 has its C/C counterpart, the Wing Sung 3003. Some claim it to be a copy of Pilot Prera. I have no idea. But in any case, I decided to get it for myself. I got it on eBay from peppa2018, for a measly ₹377, with shipping.
Packaging
A single envelope with an inner lining of bubble wrap. The pen took 23 days to arrive from Hong Kong, and it survived, fortunately, without any damage. Well, maybe expecting something more is bit of a stretch….considering the price of the pen and all that. 
There was nothing in the envelope apart from the pen.
The pen
It is an attractive demonstrator, with a friction-fit cap. The cap rotates freely, but it doesn’t seem too flimsy. 
The cap
A transparent affair, with a bright translucent green in the upper part. There is a metallic disk on top with the symbol printed. The cap rotates freely, but seems secure. The clip is not very rigid, but seems secure enough. 
Interestingly, there seems to be an inner lining in the cap, made of a translucent rubbery material. Probably this will ensure an airtight seal.
The body
Nothing much. A transparent body with a green transparent section at the back.
The converter
A piston type converter. It seems to have a thicker bore, and carries a larger ink volume, than a similar Chinese converter. They are probably not swappable. 
The nib and feed
A transparent feed, with a steel nib. The nib has ‘EF’ ‘Wing Sung’ and the brand logo printed on it. Both look similar to a Pilot nib and feed, and they may be swappable. The feed is friction fit, and it fits very snugly.
Size
It is a smallish pen. It is a bit difficult to hold when it is not posted, especially if your hands are big. But it posts quite securely, and the pen does not become top-heavy. 
Writing
It is a good writer, and it writes like a Japanese F. It is smooth and wet, with little feedback. The flow is a bit inconsistent, which I hope will improve on regular use 
Conclusion
It is a cheap pen, with quite good vale-for-money. A great buy, especially for day-to-day usage.
Pensive and Inkish 