Here is another TM Alpha which Dan kindly sent with an order of Zetas.
Remember this is a pre-launch "Trial" kit and any issues that we find in the kits I'm sure Dan will go back to supplier and get the issues resolved.
I had intended this to put at the side of a Dayacom Statesman pen which I use regularly and consider to be a standard to reach. however that failed miserably as I decided to do it tonight when I got back in and the blank failed big time, along with taking the tube with it as well so coulcnt recover the tube. ( I do have a replacement but coldn't face it after)
Anyway, I had said when Dan posted for the first time that it was very much like the Dayacom Statesman kit.
Check the Statesman out here
Well here are the photos. Done with Spalted Hornbeam wood. My opinion is that the wood is too light for the pen.. friction polish finish.
The kit
Chrome plated with gold accent Centre band and cap top.
This kit has metal plated thread like its brother the Omega and feels quite sturdy.
The chrome plating feels nice and good quality - however the gold accents don't have the same feel or depth of colour or finish.
The nib is a size 5 it seems to be a good quality and similar spec to the Omega. (this can easily be removed and replaced by a branded nib easily)
The tubes for the cap and the body are both the same lenght. (The statseman has longer bottom tube)
Top tube size is a 31/64, bottom is a 13/32 tube
The kit generaly feels a similar quality to the omega and would sit comfortably in the mid range kit market.
Once it is launched it would be worth seeing what quality of the gold plating is like and if it was better then it may be worth a punt against the Statesman.
Just for the info, I had an old set of bushings for a JR Gent II, all I had to do was put the cap ones in the lathe and file a very mall amount off the inside so they would go in the tube.
Even the outside dimensions were extreamly close and didnt change them to get the finish you see in the pictures.. so you see that it is also close the the Gent II tube sizes.
Pictures
As Packaged (comes in 14 parts)
Stateman & Alpha cap - how close..
As you will see the quality is nearly there, just a few tweaks and should be there..
Personaly I'm not a lover of the Chrome and Gold accents as I don't believe it has enough impact with the Gold effects blending in to the background of the chrome and not seen very well. So it needs a much stronger gold colour and plating.
Hope it all makes sense..
Remember this is a pre-launch "Trial" kit and any issues that we find in the kits I'm sure Dan will go back to supplier and get the issues resolved.
I had intended this to put at the side of a Dayacom Statesman pen which I use regularly and consider to be a standard to reach. however that failed miserably as I decided to do it tonight when I got back in and the blank failed big time, along with taking the tube with it as well so coulcnt recover the tube. ( I do have a replacement but coldn't face it after)
Anyway, I had said when Dan posted for the first time that it was very much like the Dayacom Statesman kit.
Check the Statesman out here
Well here are the photos. Done with Spalted Hornbeam wood. My opinion is that the wood is too light for the pen.. friction polish finish.
The kit
Chrome plated with gold accent Centre band and cap top.
This kit has metal plated thread like its brother the Omega and feels quite sturdy.
The chrome plating feels nice and good quality - however the gold accents don't have the same feel or depth of colour or finish.
The nib is a size 5 it seems to be a good quality and similar spec to the Omega. (this can easily be removed and replaced by a branded nib easily)
The tubes for the cap and the body are both the same lenght. (The statseman has longer bottom tube)
Top tube size is a 31/64, bottom is a 13/32 tube
The kit generaly feels a similar quality to the omega and would sit comfortably in the mid range kit market.
Once it is launched it would be worth seeing what quality of the gold plating is like and if it was better then it may be worth a punt against the Statesman.
Just for the info, I had an old set of bushings for a JR Gent II, all I had to do was put the cap ones in the lathe and file a very mall amount off the inside so they would go in the tube.
Even the outside dimensions were extreamly close and didnt change them to get the finish you see in the pictures.. so you see that it is also close the the Gent II tube sizes.
Pictures
As Packaged (comes in 14 parts)
Stateman & Alpha cap - how close..
As you will see the quality is nearly there, just a few tweaks and should be there..
Personaly I'm not a lover of the Chrome and Gold accents as I don't believe it has enough impact with the Gold effects blending in to the background of the chrome and not seen very well. So it needs a much stronger gold colour and plating.
Hope it all makes sense..
