The Alpha Custom Program is a blend between the Blue Label and Ready-Made: They come with the exact same components & options as a Blue-Label, but built into a Ready-Made shell. Alpha lights are assembled to order and may take up to two weeks to ship, depending on our current workload. Electroless Nickel Choose your LED Choose button color Icarus LED Driver Primary Seal Ring UCL Glass Lens McClicky Switch 6Al/4V Ti Clip Report Card What you get in an Alpha Custom Right now there are a LOT people on the BL wait-list, and this is one of the main reasons I'm switching over to the Alpha Custom. My hope is that I'll be able to deliver these on a more consistent basis since I don't have to do the machining or spend the (countless) tedious hours on fancy finishes. I know this is going to make some people upset and others really happy, but this is what we've got to work with :) I'm very aware that some of the appeal with Blue-Label lights is the 100% hands on approach and the fancy finishes, but my current workload just doesn't permit me to make those and get anything else done. My humble apologies to everyone who has been waiting a long time to get their hands on a Blue Label. Quality-wise, the Ready Made bodies are every bit as good as the Blue Label. In fact, they might be better. They are machined by a guy who has been making chips longer than I've been alive. As a testament to his skill and talent, the Ready-Made shells are plated exactly in the condition they come off the machine. If I put fancy finishes on top of his perfect machining, it would be tantamount to disrespect.The only real difference between the Blue Label and Alpha Custom (besides appearance) is the thread fit. I make the Blue Label threads to the tightest tolerance in the industry, which is more about showing off than performance. My personal light (that I carry everyday) is a Ready-Made "because it's everything you need and nothing you don't." I stole that line from Nissan. I firmly believe that the Alpha Custom will fully represent my intention to build the best flashlights on earth. These will be serialized as Blue-Label lights, come with an individual report card, and be eligible for the "lifetime upgrade program" where you can upgrade your light to the most current version (if possible) for a reduced cost. You might be wondering what you get for your money: I've been working on this driver for over two years. It's simple, powerful, and full of features even the most demanding flashlight enthusiasts will appreciate. A maximum current of 3.4 Amps delivers class-leading power and an advanced software platform lets you make Icarus a reflection of your unique preferences by programming it any way you like... This driver is 100% designed, programmed, and manufactured (in the USA) just for me. Until now, I've been limited by "what is available," but Icarus is the realization of a long standing goal. No expense is spared, no shortcuts taken, no compromise accepted. I'm proud to put the Prometheus stamp on this driver as the crowning jewel of the Alpha platform. Enough talk, let's get to the details. Lifetime Upgrade Program Every Alpha is covered by a limited lifetime warranty; however, Blue-Label (and Alpha Custom) lights are additionally supported by my lifetime upgrade program. When I come out with a new feature or component that can be installed into an existing light, you can upgrade. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure how this will work, but you'll get some smokin' deal like "pay the shipping only" or "pay cost of parts + shipping" or "50% off retail." You get the idea. I'll make this policy more clear as I come out with upgrades and get feedback from customers. The whole purpose of this is to give you an awesome experience that goes far beyond your initial purchase. I also want to prevent "Apple Syndrome" where you just bought the newest thing and found out that next month it will be newer. >>> This does not apply to voluntary LED swaps (flat fee of $75.00). It also does not apply to accessories that accompany the light (chargers, batteries, etc.) or optional upgrade parts.
