BSW PILOT #2 for Review

[mmiller]

I am posting two of these BSW Pilot's Badges for review and comments. I will post a second thread for the other badge, so comments don't get confused.

I seem to recall some similar BSWs posted a while back. I can't remember the conclusion.

Regards,
Mark

Let's call this badge BSW #2.

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi Mark. It looks like a good BSW second-type with the "shamrock" logo. These usually have a thin metal flashing connecting the swaz to the eagle's talon that seems to be missing. Can you tell if it had been removed?

[mmiller]

Hi Lorenzo,

Thanks for the 'rapid response' on both Badges! Sorry, but the badges are not in my possession. I'm afraid we can only work with the images at hand.

Isn't the catch on this badge a bit 'fat'? And I was under the impression that it should be taller? And a more subtle '?' .

Regards,
Mark

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi Lorenzo,

Isn't the catch on this badge a bit 'fat'? And I was under the impression that it should be taller? And a more subtle '?' .

Regards,
Mark

The catch does not look too "fat" to me. I think the height and shape of the catch is fine...it need not be a perfect "?". The catches often get bent out of shape anyways.

However, on second look, I might question the rivets as they seem different from others that I've seen.

[Kecon]

Mark

This catch appears to be a bit taller then the one you show. Sorry for the poor pic but you can get the idea. I don't believe BSW was very "uniform" with their products. I never cared for the #1 you showed but the #2 looks ok, IMO.

Ken

[spectre]

This one looks fine to me too Everything there I would look for.

BSW catch's were all over the place, I wouldn't worry about that.

Alan

[mmiller]

Lorenzo, Ken & Alan -

Appreciate the comments so far. Lorenzo, any other thoughts about the rivets? Are BSWs supposed to have a flattened round head? Or just domed?

Mark

[Darrell]

Mark,

Here is the ADVISOR article that shows the finer details of the BSW variation you have.

[spectre]

While Darrell's pictures clearly show flat heads, mine are more domed and pinched on two sides, kind of like what yours appear to be.

Alan

[Tim B.]

Mark,

I may be wrong, but personally I am not keen on this one either. It's definately closer than the other one you shown (#1), but still it's not textbook BSW IMO either.

- The catch looks like they are trying to get the "?" shape right, but IMO the stock material is too narrow and should be fatter in thickness, not skinnier and the attempt is too dramatic and not subtle as previously mentioned above.

- I do not like the discoloration on the back at all and is IMO, reminiscent of over heating and telltale of recent manufacture.

Again, no expert here, but I would not want either of them in my collection and my collection pales in comparison to yours.
Tim

[Tim B.]

Mark,

I don't know, the more I look at it, the finish on the wreath makes me wonder if it's just the PIC making it look like a bad finish and the badge actually has nice frosting; silver is sometimes hard to capture the true look...


Here's a couple of mine to compare rivets and finish. The catch still concerns me on yours though.
Tim

[Tim B.]

reverse set up.

[Tim B.]

Clearer shot of the catch.

[mmiller]

Hi Tim,

No 'paling' involved, but thank you just the same. These badges are not in my collection. I am neutral here, just as all else commenting. The other badge, BSW #1 is a thumbs down for me. I am, as are you, also sceptical on this one, BSW #2.

I believe that the rivets in the Advisor are both flat on the top of the dome, to greater or lessor degrees. #2's rivets are not. Should ALL BSWs have flat tops, I thought so, but maybe I am wrong. And like you, the catch has me wondering. And even in BSW #2, is the 'W' in the cloverleaf too high? Compared with the mag article, I think so. The top of #2's 'W' is at a horizontal axis with the top of the bottom cloverleaf. The article appears to show the 'W' lower in the leaf.

Maybe we are getting too anal. Bottom line for me ... it might be OK, but it's one of those badges I would always wonder about.

Mark

And by the way, a gorgeous 'Full Name' (textbook) Pilot you display there!

[mmiller]

Tim,

The lighting may have caused the discoloration, or maybe miscoloration is a more appropriate word. I am not questioning the finish. Ok, I dragged all the camera gear out, and here is what I can offer to 'the mix'.

Rivets- Domed with a flat top.
Catch- Taller without a pronounced '?'.
Makermark- As it should be: 'W' resting low in the cloverleaf.

Again, it may be OK. But too many 'what abouts' for me to sleep well at night. The Plot Thickens..........

Mark