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Author
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Topic: Replica Omega Speedmaster velcro strap
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Kizzi
Member Posts: 32
From: Manchester, England
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 04-20-2012 08:37 AM
  
I'd like to share what I've been making: a Velcro watch strap for my Omega Speedmaster. To cut to the chase, pictures of the finished article are available here. Being a scale modeller, I've approached it as I would if I was making as accurate model as I could. Firstly, I based my research on blueprints in Chuck Maddox's site. There are about 10 watchbands in the Dwg. SEB12100030, so I had to choose which one was flown to the moon. Sheet one of the blueprints details all the material specifications that the watch strap should be made from, for example: - MIL-F-21840C Type II velcro tape.
- MIL-T-5038 Type III (O.D. binding tape).
- MIL-S-7720A (stainless steel). The spec allows for 302 or 316 steel.
It's apparent that only the -201/202 and -209/210 configurations where made from black Velcro, while the six other configurations were all made from beta fabric (or Velcro made from beta fabric) so as to be fireproof in 100% oxygen. This also seems to bear out that I can't find any pictures of white watch straps used other than for training, such as here.The 19 inch -201 Velcro watchband also seems to have been either for the cuff checklist or the mirror (from image here). NASA noted that Apollo 17 left two wrist mirror and SEB12100030-201 watchbands on the moon. So the Apollo moon watch strap used for an Omega Speedmaster has to be either the -202 or the -209/210. This is born out by the pages 8.4-1 to 8.4-3 of Handbook of Pilot Operational Equipment for Manned Space Flight. A search for "Chronograph, Irwin, Apollo 15" and "Ron Evans SEB12100030 1087" should bring up contemporary photographs of each. The last problem was what sort of markings should be printed on the watch strap. Bonhams did have a photograph that you could zoom in on for Fred Haise's Apollo 13 watchstrap, but that has now been removed. The best resource now available is based on JSC part numbering system for flight hardware. Sometimes you see CF-55052-5 printed on the watch strap, but that's for the original Gemini project design, with a rounded tab end. All in all I'm very pleased with the results. It's not really a 1:1 scale model, but not an original flown item either. I do think it is the most accurate NASA watch strap for the Omega, though. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 04-20-2012 11:22 AM
Beautiful work! |
DMScott
Member Posts: 354
From: Lexington, MA, USA
Registered: Dec 2005
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posted 04-20-2012 06:36 PM
That's awesome! |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-27-2012 12:06 PM
Do you have any plans of making more than the one you have? |
Kizzi
Member Posts: 32
From: Manchester, England
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 04-30-2012 02:50 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jurg Bolli:
Do you have any plans of making more than the one you have?
Yes, once I developed the techniques of making the steel loops, and the printing, and tamed a semi-industrial sewing machine, they're quite fun to make. My next project is the -207. Early days still, just sourcing the right materials! |
dsenechal
Member Posts: 539
From:
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 05-02-2012 11:01 PM
I can vouch for Phil and the Omega straps that he's producing. They're the best looking replicas out there. He is also a nice guy. |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 11-25-2012 02:18 AM
To avoid any confusion now or in the future I would strongly suggest that you mark the item as a replica in some way that can be easily checked. It could be a discrete marking of some kind but it should be indisputable proof that the item is not an original.Also, I don't think you should use a real serial number. For example, it wouldn't affect the accurate appearance of the replica to use a serial number starting with a digit not actually used by NASA. |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 05-25-2016 01:55 PM
Indeed superb items in both short and long version straps for the moonwatch. |
Apollo14LMP
Member Posts: 291
From: UK
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 09-11-2016 06:32 PM
Is this strap suitable for use with the Bulova Moonwatch? Or which one would you suggest? Thanks. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-11-2016 06:50 PM
David Scott used his NASA-issued Omega Velcro strap to wear the Bulova. (Bulova's Special Edition Moon Chronograph Watch replica comes with a replica of Scott's Velcro strap.) |
Kizzi
Member Posts: 32
From: Manchester, England
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 09-16-2016 03:53 PM
Many watchforum member report no problem with the watchband, such as in this forum post: Re: New Bulova Moon Watch: Adding some character.They even give collectSPACE a mention! As for the replica Scott's Velcro strap that comes with Bulova's Special Edition Moon Chronograph Watch, I'm not worried by the competition! |
David C
Member Posts: 1014
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 09-17-2016 12:56 PM
I see the long Apollo strap with typwriter font on brown/green tape is showing as "sold out." Do you plan to produce any more stock of this version, or did I miss the boat? |
Apollo14LMP
Member Posts: 291
From: UK
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 11-27-2016 03:10 PM
I see shop is void of stock. I wanted a strap for my watch for Xmas. Does anyone know how the owner can be contacted?I did message them through the site but no answer received weeks later. Thanks in anticipation. |
David C
Member Posts: 1014
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 11-27-2016 04:06 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Apollo14LMP:
Does anyone know how the owner can be contacted?
From my experience Kizzi doesn't reply to emails, however I got the impression that stock reappears as he completes each individual watch strap. All I can advise is check the store regularly and something should turn up (though not necessarily your first choice). I own three different types, the product is exceptional and shipping is quick. |
Apollo14LMP
Member Posts: 291
From: UK
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 11-30-2016 04:23 PM
Thanks for letting me know. Xmas is so close now just hope we have a grand reopening of the shop before then! |
Apollo14LMP
Member Posts: 291
From: UK
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 03-09-2017 07:24 AM
Have to applaud the hard work of the watch strap maker! Just bought one of these straps for my Moonwatch — first class product, sales and customer service! |
Roger K
Member Posts: 210
From: Torrance CA
Registered: May 2012
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posted 04-03-2019 12:45 PM
Sadly these Velcro straps are still (or again) sold out on the Kizzi page. Does anybody have an idea where I could purchase one or something similar? Thank you so much. |
David C
Member Posts: 1014
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
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posted 04-03-2019 05:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Roger K:
Does anybody have an idea where I could purchase one or something similar?
Roger, so far as getting one is concerned, I can only reiterate my previous advice, above.As for something similar, really, there isn't anything. I've bought various versions on eBay and had a very good look at Omega's own version. None come even close to Kizzi's product. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 04-03-2019 09:30 PM
Their (Kizzi) website currently says "Update March 29th: Restocking until end of April 2019."So patience would be a virtue. |
Roger K
Member Posts: 210
From: Torrance CA
Registered: May 2012
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posted 04-04-2019 10:08 AM
Thank you for your replies gentleman.
I just received great news via e-mail from Phil (Kizzi) and he is stating in the e-mail that they will have some (long band ones) available within the next couple of weeks. |
streetsnake
Member Posts: 180
From: Ohio
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 04-30-2019 02:45 PM
Just an FYI, there are some watchstraps available on the Kizzi website. |
Roger K
Member Posts: 210
From: Torrance CA
Registered: May 2012
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posted 05-07-2019 10:18 AM
Thank you so much, I placed my order last week and can't wait for it to arrive.  |
PeterO
Member Posts: 399
From: North Carolina
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-08-2019 08:04 AM
Have you received your watchband yet? How is it? I've just purchased a Speedmaster, and I'm considering using this band also. |
1202 Alarm
Member Posts: 436
From: Switzerland & France
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 06-08-2019 10:01 AM
Got mine 10 days after my order, a few weeks ago. Perfect. I'm on the waiting list for the Bulova D.Scott version now. |
PeterO
Member Posts: 399
From: North Carolina
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-08-2019 12:51 PM
Thanks. I've just ordered the short version, current Mil Spec, with gray-green tape. The vintage Apollo era version was out of stock, and once I ordered mine, the Mil Spec gray-green version went out of stock also. The current Mil Spec version with green tape is still available.Interestingly, there are a few of the NASA style bands from the Bulova Lunar Pilot watch on eBay. However, they're more expensive than this one, and not as close to the original. |
Roger K
Member Posts: 210
From: Torrance CA
Registered: May 2012
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posted 06-11-2019 05:20 PM
I received my long watch strap and I'm loving it! Here a couple pictures of the strap with my Bulova watch, attached to my replica Apollo glove:  
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PeterO
Member Posts: 399
From: North Carolina
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-11-2019 06:48 PM
That looks great! I'm glad I was able to order one. |
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