Speedy Tuesday – Speedmaster Alaska Project (The Original Alaska II and the 2008 Re-Edition)

Posts

1,534

Likes

5,539

Robert-Jan

·Nov 8, 2016·#SpeedyTuesday

Speedmaster Alaska Project The project name Alaska has little to do with the state, besides its name. Omega used code words for a lot of their projects. This was done not to wake-up other watch companies. You should know that the watchmaking community is not that big, people go to the same bars and restaurants […]

The post Speedy Tuesday – Speedmaster Alaska Project (The Original Alaska II and the 2008 Re-Edition) appeared first on Fratello Watches.

 

Posts

6,240

Likes

11,555

SpeedyPhill

·Nov 8, 2016

Always wondered why they hint at the space program by adding small "Apollo" capsule register hands... an inside joke?

 

Posts

262

Likes

173

CaptDngr

·Nov 9, 2016

So much love for my Alaska Project. Thank you for posting!

 

Posts

6,240

Likes

11,555

SpeedyPhill

·Nov 11, 2016

In fact, designers used the small " Gemini " capsule -like hands... these were intended as a visual aid to resemble a clear arrow shape, especially in vibrating conditions. 😉

 

Posts

248

Likes

280

igatomic

·Nov 14, 2016

My one recent Omega regret was not pulling the trigger on one of these at the AD. It had some pretty bad shop wear from them swapping out the bands on display, and I wanted them to repolish the case and service the movement prior to me purchasing. With prices heading in the direction that they are, I'm not likely to have the opportunity again. 🙁

 

Posts

349

Likes

1,544

Furze

·Nov 14, 2016

Here's my re-edition.

m

 

Posts

256

Likes

245

gee_cee

·Nov 22, 2016

Wish I still had mine.. 🙁

 

Posts

9,719

Likes

15,315

padders

·Nov 22, 2016·Oooo subtitles!

SpeedyPhill

Always wondered why they hint at the space program by adding small "Apollo" capsule register hands... an inside joke?

I think they were actually supposed to represent the Space Shuttle (STS) rather than the Apollo capsule. The designs for the STS were being developed in the late 1960s so I guess may have influenced the hand design.

 

Posts

6,240

Likes

11,555

SpeedyPhill

·Nov 22, 2016

Well the Omega papers talk about " Gemini capsule-like " hands 📖

 

Posts

9,719

Likes

15,315

padders

·Nov 22, 2016·Oooo subtitles!

SpeedyPhill

Well the Omega papers talk about " Gemini-like capsule " hands 📖

Well I can't argue with that then but they really don't look a lot like either Apollo or Gemini capsules and the base does look like a delta wing profile, not a flat ablative heat shield.

 

Posts

6,240

Likes

11,555

SpeedyPhill

·Nov 22, 2016

In 1970 the STS ( Space Transportation System ) concept for the shuttle orbiter looked different: http://history.nasa.gov/sts1/pdfs/explore.pdf

 

Posts

9,719

Likes

15,315

padders

·Nov 22, 2016·Oooo subtitles!

I think we are splitting hairs and your original source is probably right but there were several proposed STS designs on the drawing board in 1969, the so called ILRV (Integrated Launch and Re-entry Vehicle) models phase A,B,C D. The one you show is I think DC-3 which is a phase B variant but the rest were delta wing designs.

Phase A variants:



PhaseB:

Edited: Nov 22, 2016

 

Posts

6,240

Likes

11,555

SpeedyPhill

·Jan 20, 2018

Can't wait to celebrate 50 years Alaska Project in the ( what will be a ) busy year 2019 😉

 

N

Posts

3

Likes

1

nige7whit

·Jan 24, 2018

SpeedyPhill

In fact, designers used the small " Gemini " capsule -like hands... these were intended as a visual aid to resemble a clear arrow shape, especially in vibrating conditions. 😉

Lumed also, unlike the second hand (and all sub-dials on the moonwatch).

 

Posts

785

Likes

650

Perseus

·Jan 25, 2018

I regret not buying one of these a few years ago when they going for the about the same price as the 3573. I thought I'd start with a sapphire sandwich and pick up an AP down the road and now the prices are through the roof. 🙁

 

Posts

220

Likes

424

lustrousaurus

·Jan 25, 2018

SpeedyPhill

Can't wait to celebrate 50 years Alaska Project in the ( what will be a ) busy year 2019 😉

If they were to make an Alaska Project edition in 2019, I would probably take that over the inevitable moon landing watch.

 

Posts

6,240

Likes

11,555

SpeedyPhill

·Jan 26, 2018

Certainly if this 50 years Alaska Speedmaster would come with a 60 minutes bezel... favorite of many astronauts !!!
👍
.

 

Posts

356

Likes

450

To the moon

·Jan 26, 2018

No I'm not gutted I turned one of these down for two grand last year, didn't like it then, don't like it now. One of the ugliest most overrated speedys, so far.
IMO of course....

 

Posts

1,146

Likes

6,701

hansmaulwurf

·May 14, 2022·Senior Snoopy Owner

SpeedyPhill

Certainly if this 50 years Alaska Speedmaster would come with a 60 minutes bezel... favorite of many astronauts !!!
👍
.

... thanks to @omegamike and his 'Radial Project' this bezel is available and i did a first easy test today 😗

... see more of his project here: https://omegaforums.net/threads/45-years-speedmaster-radial-dial-nasa.64728/#post-1601126

BR
Hans

 

Posts

233

Likes

382

KnoP

·May 15, 2022

wow!! looks great!!