Show us your US Wings Antique COW Hero jackets

Indydawg · Post by **Indydawg** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:37 pm

Oh...how do you like the grain? Especially on that chest panel?

Regards!
Indydawg

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:41 pm

Perfect sleeve length Kentucky!!!

Enjoy it dude!

-TS

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:03 pm

Indydawg wrote:

Oh...how do you like the grain? Especially on that chest panel?

Regards!
Indydawg

Certainly not something I'm used to on an Indy jacket, though I do have experience with naked cow. But yes, the grain is definitely nice looking, and I'm sure it'll just get better with age!

Weston · Post by **Weston** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:01 pm

You'd be hard pressed to get a better fitting jacket Kentucky. That looks GOOD!

Weston

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:24 pm

Thanks! I need to get a good all gear shot to properly show it off with....

-KB

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:12 pm

My Large Long finally came in today-
Here are pics out of the box, the 'before':

Currently it is in the washing machine, so I'll get 'after' pics when it's dry!

sharkboy · Post by **sharkboy** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:20 pm

that one looks Right On to me. I cringe at the knowing it's in the washing machine, but to each his own.

SB

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:25 pm

The leather felt a little, um, 'dry'!

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:31 pm

Yeah, that's the thing with Naked Cow, it's pretty dry. But that's a NICE lookin jacket

-KB

sharkboy · Post by **sharkboy** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:32 pm

would love to see After

I used Pecards on mine this week and it really made it look awesome. Darker, softer, more wrinkly, drapier.

SB

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:43 pm

sharkboy wrote:would love to see After

I used Pecards on mine this week and it really made it look awesome. Darker, softer, more wrinkly, drapier.

SB

What Pecards did you use? -Lotion or leather cream?

Hey, anybody else' jacket smell like a dirty ashtray? I understand the Longs are made somewhere else or by some other factory?

Weston · Post by **Weston** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:59 pm

Man, I'd hold off on the Pecards for a bit. It might feel dry right out of the box, but that leather is permeated with oils, and it really softens up on it's own and just looks great in no time! But that's just my recommendation.

As to the scent, it is a bit acrid right out of the box. But if it's anything like mine, after a day or two of wear that will mellow out into a rich leather scent that will make your head swim. I just wish I could bottle it. I haven't had a leather jacket smell this good since my first Wested 12 years ago.

Weston

sharkboy · Post by **sharkboy** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:21 am

I don't think Pecards is mandatory on these jackets at all, but it definitely didn't ruin it. It did darken it up and you don't see the textures and colors as much, but it's a different look that is beautiful in it's own way. I agree that it is great on it's own.

I used standard Pecards Conditioner.

SB

Rick Deckard · Post by **Rick Deckard** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:27 am

Sharkboy,

Care to post pics of your jacket now that you've used Pecards? I'd love to see it compared to the non-Pecarded jackets. I'm anxiously awaiting mine as I had to exchange it. I love the leather. It looks great and is just so soft.

sharkboy · Post by **sharkboy** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:19 am

Here is a sample of the back. You can see the lighter areas where the Pecards didn't soak in as deeply.

And here is the link to the set.

http://s267.photobucket.com/albums/ii30 ... 20Pecards/

SB

Weston · Post by **Weston** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:28 am

You know, that looks really good! I'm still going to hold off for a while, but that is very, very nice!

Weston

sharkboy · Post by **sharkboy** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:33 am

Weston,
Not a bad idea. I think if you hold off you will get more pronounced creases on the sleeves which will look really cool. The Pecards dulled my sleeve wrinkles which is one of the few regrets I have on using it.

SB

Rick Deckard · Post by **Rick Deckard** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:14 am

That darkened the jacket up nicely!

I think I'll wear mine through the winter and spring first, then maybe try that before storing it for the summer. Thanks for the pics.

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:48 am

For the record, my jacket has also been pecarded, with the pecards cream. I don't have any before shots of the jacket, but Indydawg had plenty

-KB

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 11:59 am

It's funny how everyone is talking about how dry the jacket is. When Sarge described this jacket, he said it was supposed to be Indy out of the box. And for all intents and purposes it basically is... (don't mention the zipper please). Indy's didn't look new and shiny.

But what I'm saying is that it does have the Look of the jacket and the dryness in my opinion only helped in distressing it to the point of perfection. As I said in my previous post, some pages back, all I needed was a scotch brite pad's scouring side to bring out the look I was going for.

I know M will kill me for this but for an Indy jacket I don't want shiny and new. I want used, rugged, and beat the hades up.

-TS

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:01 pm

Why would I kill you?

I've preached for decades now (ick! Decades!

) to USE your stuff and let it age naturally. Just take care of it.

That message has probably been one of the most misunderstood discussions I've had in the hobby. I've NEVER said keep things looking pristine. I've just said stop taking belt sanders to your gear to make it look older. It will get that way naturally on it's own over time, and that jacket represents a good chunk of change out of your pocket. Why hurry its wearing out?

I've never understood that, and never will.

Regards !Michaelson

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:10 pm

I was kidding

I know I can out run you anyways. That Plymouth can only go so fast!!!!

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:12 pm

Maybe so, but I'm usually packing.

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:23 pm

The main reason mine went in the ol' Maytag was to get all the packing creases out of it, which it did very nicely. Oh, and that collar really needed a good soaking to get the 'Fonzi' look out of it! Other than that, it's just gonna get worn.

sharkboy · Post by **sharkboy** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:41 pm

Belt sander? Never tried that.

Thanks Michaelson

SB

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:52 pm

sharkboy wrote:Belt sander? Never tried that.

Thanks Michaelson

SB

The bench grinder with a smooth stone works GREAT!!! Eats leather like a starving termite in a pile of sawdust.

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:01 pm

Bench sander.... um, well I'd be careful there. A guy that works over here sanded about 1/2 inch off the tip of his thumb yesterday.

Needless to say he's not at work today.

The scream was deafening!!!

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 1:51 pm

Tennessee Smith wrote:Bench sander.... um, well I'd be careful there. A guy that works over here sanded about 1/2 inch off the tip of his thumb yesterday.

Needless to say he's not at work today.

The scream was deafening!!!

oh, sorry, was that insensitive?

So here it is post-wash:

I love it! I wish Wings would make a normal brown cow leather jacket- not distressed, naked, not the soft VIP leather, but plain old moo cow w/ a slightly thicker skin in this cut. That would ROCK!

sharkboy · Post by **sharkboy** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:41 pm

Oh Man, I want to Pecard the heck out of that jacket

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:46 pm

Actually, Kokopelli, I think that's pretty much what the VIP is. It may be soft, but that doesn't mean anything. Really, there's no such thing as "plain old cowhide," unless you just want an untanned hide fresh of the animal (is it even considered a hide at that point?). It's the tanning process that turns the animal skin into leather, and there are so many practices, that I don't really think you can just say "regular tanning, please" and get the cowhide you want. It's kind of like how one horsehide can be soft and wearable, whereas another won't even be comfortable to move around in.

Oh, and the jacket looks awesome

-KB

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 2:46 pm

Deep breaths....deep breaths.....

JC1972 · Post by **JC1972** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 4:24 pm

Michaelson wrote:I have to agree. I really wasn't impressed at the first round of photos....but the second round was a VAST improvement. I believe with some wear and use, that one is going to form fit to you perfectly! It looks good now, but I can see potential there, and you rarely see that with some of the 'out of the box' photos folks post.

I think you got a winner this time.

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Thanks M, Rick and Michael.

Yeah I was thinking of if I do get a Large long, it would fit me now perhaps but what about 6-12 months from now?

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 4:27 pm

Kentucky Blues wrote:Actually, Kokopelli, I think that's pretty much what the VIP is. It may be soft, but that doesn't mean anything. Really, there's no such thing as "plain old cowhide," unless you just want an untanned hide fresh of the animal (is it even considered a hide at that point?). It's the tanning process that turns the animal skin into leather, and there are so many practices, that I don't really think you can just say "regular tanning, please" and get the cowhide you want. It's kind of like how one horsehide can be soft and wearable, whereas another won't even be comfortable to move around in.

Oh, and the jacket looks awesome

-KB

That's what we need! A 'hair-on' skinned Indy jacket!!

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 8:05 pm

Wested (I think) had a beautiful veg tanned cow a while back. When I say 'plain' leather, I mean non-distressed.

Kentucky Blues · Post by **Kentucky Blues** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 12:43 am

Well, i'm pretty sure the VIP is "plain" leather then.

The leather is butter-soft premium cowhide, non-distressed for a more "dressier" look

-KB

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 12:46 pm

Kentucky Blues wrote:Well, i'm pretty sure the VIP is "plain" leather then.
The leather is butter-soft premium cowhide, non-distressed for a more "dressier" look
-KB

well, ok, but its from the moo cow's belly...so it is special!

gladd96 · Post by **gladd96** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 3:14 pm

As much as I love the severe disressed look of my Wings AC this is the jacket that feels "real" to me every time I put it on: http://www.uswings.com/cockpitVG1NPfrontdetail.html technically it's a distressed jacket but it shows how less can be more. I still prefer the beat up look on an Indy jacket but it would be cool to see an Indy jacket out of either goat or cow with this treatment. Nothing like a fine leather with that subtle patina of age. I can certainly see the appeal of a top notch "plain" leather offering from Wings.

sharkboy · Post by **sharkboy** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 11:11 pm

cockpit has a really great Goatskin. I've tried on the vintage goat, very soft, very cool looking.

SB

Post by **Holt** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:17 am

well, today was a really misty, rainy, dark and cold day. bah! So for the first time this year I could layer under the HERO jacket. Let me tell you this jacket is excellent for layering. To be honest this is the most comfy jacket for layering I have.

I have been wearing this jacket on and off during summer and now that it is fall and winter is comming I can safely say this will be the jacket I am going to wear.

But let me tell you, everytime I put this on I cant help but feeling a LC/CS vibe. No Raiders feeling what so ever!! IMO this jacket is WAY more LC/CS then anything even though its suppose to be one of the first raiders patterns..

This jacket is not screen accurate in details but not THAT far from it either. But to me? its my LC/CS jacket since I get the vibe and to be honest, I dont care if its SA or not.... its like its more perfected to be a real life hard wearing jacket then a replica LC jacket..but I do miss a very SA LC jacket in my collection. it will come someday.

Im afraid Im rambling....anyways, I took a couple shots of it with some layering to illustrate how good it is for a fall/winter jacket.

I personally think this jacket would look even cooler with some light LC 'fake' jacket distressing.

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 10:50 am

WOW
Couldn't agree more... it looks perfect for layering (and definitely has a "LC vibe" going on)
No doubt you'll get a LOT of good wear out of that one, Holt.
Enjoy!

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 11:54 am

I LOVE mine! The only thing I don't love is the lining is a little baggy, and when I put it on, this happens

Any quick fix for this? Does it need to go to a tailor? Help me...

Travis

Post by **Holt** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 11:57 am

I hate it myself. it happend all the time. what I did was soaking the lining and speed dried it with a hairblower in side the sleeve, then when it was about 90% dry I put it on and pulled the lining up in the armpits all the time until dry. its much better but sometimes a MM or 2 comes outfrom the cuffs.

Weston · Post by **Weston** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 12:44 pm

You know, my NZ lamb did that, but not my naked cow. I was able to tug the sleeves down on the lamb (stretches very easily when wet), but some whip stitching up near the arm holes should easily fix that problem. You don't need a tailor for that!

Weston

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 1:19 pm

Weston wrote:You know, my NZ lamb did that, but not my naked cow. I was able to tug the sleeves down on the lamb (stretches very easily when wet), but some whip stitching up near the arm holes should easily fix that problem. You don't need a tailor for that!

Weston

OK, Mr. Whipstitch...

Do you mind tell those of us who have no idea what your talking about what this is?

Travis

Weston · Post by **Weston** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 2:08 pm

I found a video that shows how to do it. It's dirt simple.

http://www.ehow.com/video_4502961_whip- ... video.html

Weston

Kokopelli · Post by **Kokopelli** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 6:12 pm

I was just getting ready to post about how this jacket is a perfect LC jacket! Holt, you're right- I can see some LC distressing for this puppy down the road. I'm not going to do anything until it has seen a lot of wear, though, if anything. It may distress a lot on its own.
I wore mine today out with a polo shirt under it, it was about 55F, and it was a little cool. Definitely thin and lightweight, but it is able to be layered, as you point out. So far the lightest moo cow jacket I own.
Holt- have you Pecard'ed yours at all?
btw, my lining is a little baggy as well, but in the body only, thankfully.

Post by **Holt** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:25 pm

Hey, no pecards on this one.

Just lots of rain and wear.

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:38 pm

Weston wrote:I found a video that shows how to do it. It's dirt simple.

http://www.ehow.com/video_4502961_whip- ... video.html

Weston

NICE! Just did it...I did it at the cuff instead of the armhole, but the problem is solved! Thanks Weston.

Travis

Weston · Post by **Weston** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:55 pm

Excellent! Glad to help.

Weston

AuburnIndy · Post by **AuburnIndy** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 12:45 pm

Holt,

Your Hero jacket has an excellent fit to it. I'm sure this has been covered in this thread, but its so long its hard to go back and scan it..but is that a large? I am somewhat in between sizes and trying to figure out what to get, a medium or a large. I am about 6 foot 175ish.

-Dave