My Hero 569 has such a pronounced racing-theme look, all silver flash and black and white checkerboard, that I almost expect it to sprout wheels and take off.

Unhappily, it doesn’t fly quite yet.

I had high expectations for the 569, perhaps because of its semi-hooded nib look and heavy feel. Eager to make it to the starting line, I first tested this pen (it’s a converter-fill) with a small amount of J Herbin Diabolo Menthe ink, and found that it was a ‘hard starter.’ I had to really coax the ink to come forth, but when it did I immediately tried it on a page of story notes on a Levenger pad. I was enjoying the color of the ink and the look of the nib, and had written a sentence or two of chapter notes when---BLOB!

What the---? I wiped the pen off and started in again. One word--BLOB. I ended up with three fat inkblots on the page, and decided to write it out on a cheap steno pad. I only got three paragraphs or so out of this quarter-fill before the pen ran dry, which seemed odd to me.

So I ran to the forum for help, and taking the advice I got, tried a different ink, Noodlers Navajo Turquoise---another quarter-tankfull. I started writing on the cheap steno pad, and it started with less difficulty than the previous fill. Using the cheap pad, I wrote a draft of this review with no further problems.

I don’t dislike this pen’s writeability---I simply prefer the hooded Hero 329 ‘Star Trek’ pen (reviewed here earlier). The line isn’t quite as fine as the 329 and the grip doesn’t suit me as well due to the ridges just north of the racy black ‘hood.’ It has a stiffer writing feel as well. With the Hero logo big and bold on the nib end, and a repeat of the logo surrounded by laurel leaves on the snap-off cap, the Hero 569 carries its racing theme all the way up and down the pen.

But I tried one final test on the Levenger pad with the new tank of Noodlers---and instant blobbage! Maybe the pen just hates that paper.

Since I like the Speed-racer look of the pen, it will stay in my collection, as long as I keep it away from Levenger paper.

Don't give up, I have a 569 that writes like a dream. Not as fine as my older 329 but a nice line none the less with no blobs.

Thanks. With looks like the 569's I have no intention of giving up---just steering well clear of Levenger paper.

Here's a belated test:

Hi Sailor Kenshin,
If you have any more problems let me know. I like this pen too. I have a few left and was advised Hero discontinued this pen. I will try mine with Noodler's Navajo for some testing.

Thanks! Please let me know how your testing goes; so far my 'Speed Racer' pen doesn't blob on any paper other than the Levenger's.

My waterman nibs are impervious to bad paper....even cheap notebooks never bleed through, or moleskines. The only issue I have had with either has been Roaring Springs composition books.