How custom is custom?

John Vaughan · Post by **John Vaughan** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 3:37 pm

Got a question for you jacket guys. Just how much can Wested customize a jacket? I know they can do chest size, arm length, and back length. not to mention how many inside pockets and all the other things listed on the site. I would love to see what you guys have had done. I'm gearing up to have them make me a new jacket and was just wondering what all I could do in regards to the yoke, and snaps. Kinda looking for a hybrid between Raiders and Last Crusade.

Thanks,
John

Kevin Anderson · Post by **Kevin Anderson** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 7:58 pm

Can they do chest size, I wonder? That's what I'm trying to find out.
You can specify a size, for sure, such as 40R, or 46L. But just how big in the chest is each size?
I wish it were listed on the site somewhere.
In all my dealings with Wested, I've never really thought to ask about chest size.
If I purchase again, I will certainly make it a point to specify the exact chest measurement.

As far as the other points go, I can't say. I never asked them about yoke placement or anything other
than sleeve and back lengths.

John Vaughan · Post by **John Vaughan** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 8:34 pm

The reason I ask is I ride motorcycles, a chopper in point of fact. I have a Raiders that fits very well, only the yoke ( I hope I'm using this term correctly) runs across my shoulders in a way that it binds a bit, if it were higher it would be great. I want snaps, but want them hidden, and a hide that can hold up to a truck drag. I have bounced across the pavement before and even though I love the lamb, I would like something a bit more skid resistant. I'm thinking Horse.

Kevin Anderson · Post by **Kevin Anderson** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 8:36 pm

I would be looking at a proper bike jacket then, like a Vanson or a Schott.
_ could give you advice on those.

John Vaughan · Post by **John Vaughan** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 8:42 pm

Kevin Anderson wrote:I would be looking at a proper bike jacket then, like a Vanson or a Schott.
_ could give you advice on those.

I have three Motorcycle jackets and seven others of varying styles, I want a Raiders that I would feel safe riding my bike.

HDRnR · Post by **HDRnR** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:36 pm

Try a Vanson Enfield, great jacket.

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:47 pm

_ wrote:Making it a proper riding jacket? Yeah - I'd change the yoke, the sleeve insertion, sleeve length and rear panel length. But then it wouldn't be a Raiders jacket, would it...

Eh - I just don't see it as functional enough. Just my opinion... Too many other cool and functional designs. I'm kinda sour on this design as more than a costume piece...

Dude... you... are... such... a... downer....

What are you talking about?

Did you even read what you typed? ...are you on your Meds?

Reading that, is like hearing Imelda Marcos say "Shoes are such a downer"

Does Kelly Know what you just typed?

The Indy Jacket is... peeeerrrrffffeeeeecccct!!!!

IN EVERY ASPECT

Kind of...

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:00 pm

That's all right... so are we.

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:06 pm

_ wrote:
Tennessee Smith wrote:Does Kelly Know what you just typed?
She's laughing that you asked and asked me to send her best.

Sorry boys - but our jacket in it's original Raiders configuration is flawed...

And give her mine

But is the X-3 more functional?

Or more "new"?

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:35 pm

Yeah, I'm a bigger fan if that style anyways. I'm looking at a black leather myself. I'm pushing towards the Schott cafe racer but am a bit concerned since it's not "custom". I love the look but I don't want a canopy like the standard Schott cut can be on me;i.e. Wings (I have large shoulders/small waist).

mimesis · Post by **mimesis** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 1:44 am

_ wrote:Yep. Understood.

A side note? While at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame I came across a factoid. Joey Ramones Perfecto? Well it ain't a Perfecto. It a Vanson. Big as day...

In some of the photos I could have sworn it was actually a Lewis Bronx... The only one with a real Schott Perfecto was Jhonny, right?

tomek9210 · Post by **tomek9210** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 4:58 am

I asked them for hidden snap at the bottom of the stormflap on my last jacket and there wasn't any problem. I've just ordered custom ROLA and I gave exact measurements of chest and waist size to avoid previous problems. I also asked for higher placed sleeves, bigger pockets and wider collar. Gemma replied that she will speak to Peter and let me know if it can be done. I think there shouldn't be any problem.
Good luck with your order!

John Vaughan · Post by **John Vaughan** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 7:58 am

You all are funny, Let me explain here. I don't want a motorcycle jacket, I have three already. I want an Indy jacket that if i wanted to I could get on and ride. I will be wearing this jacket for other things also, but I don't want to feel the need to go inside and change jackets just so I can hear the sound of thunder. On the other hand, thanks for the new leads on jackets of the biker type

I'll have to check those others out.

John Vaughan · Post by **John Vaughan** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:03 am

tomek9210 wrote:I asked them for hidden snap at the bottom of the stormflap on my last jacket and there wasn't any problem. I've just ordered custom ROLA and I gave exact measurements of chest and waist size to avoid previous problems. I also asked for higher placed sleeves, bigger pockets and wider collar. Gemma replied that she will speak to Peter and let me know if it can be done. I think there shouldn't be any problem.
Good luck with your order!

Cool, keep me informed. It'll be a few months before I order, I want to get some feed back and do some research first. I kinda want this to be my last jacket....

Who am I kidding.

HDRnR · Post by **HDRnR** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:33 pm

Due to the design of the Indy jacket with the pleat running all the way down I don't think the bottom of the jacket is rigid enough to keep it from riding up if you did take a slide on the pavement, regardless if it was made of a tougher hide. Thats why I like the Enfield as an alternative to the typical biker jacket. Very similar to the early halfbelts that probably had some influence on the Indy jacket. Also, Vanson hides are top notch.

John Vaughan · Post by **John Vaughan** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:36 pm

...Okay my bad

. Sorry, just figured where I derailed this

. Now, I used the fact that I ride to illustrate how I have to reach forward and the fact that my current Jackets bind. That's why I need a higher yoke seam. Hope that clears the waters... Again, My fault.

John

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 10:07 pm

John,

If you want an Indy style for anything rugged and practical (keeping in mind the limits mentioned by the others above) you want goatskin or horsehide. Horsehide is probably best, but not easy to come by with Indy jackets. As for all the customization, Wested doesn't like a lot of custom requests (some people have had great success with it, but Peter has said many times that they prefer to stick with the options listed on their website).

If you want to go... pardon me... hog wild with custom details, I suggest Magnoli. He'll do just about anything you want. Yes, it's more expensive, but you'll get what your looking for.

Mark Brody · Post by **Mark Brody** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 12:28 am

Goat will last forever, but I'm not sure it offers much protection. It's not much thicker than lamb. I fact, you could almost think of it as a more durable version of lamb. As for horsehide, I hear it's tough as nails, but I don't have any experience with it myself. I did have a custom Wested in cowhide. While the leather was tough, I was generally disappointed with the jacket. The stitching tore several times in several places, I could barely get the chest to zip up, and it hardly looked at all like the Last Crusade jacket I ordered. I made very few customizing requests, and there's no reason it should have been that far off the mark.

That said, some people have had great experiences with Wested, but I won't ever buy from them again. They were lacking from a quality standpoint. US Wings, however, just supplied me with the most awesome Indy jacket I could imagine, but the customer service is so lacking, I doubt I'll ever order from them again either. Magnoli probably is you best bet, but it'll cost you.

Baldwyn · Post by **Baldwyn** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 1:31 am

John Vaughan wrote: ...Okay my bad . Sorry, just figured where I derailed this . Now, I used the fact that I ride to illustrate how I have to reach forward and the fact that my current Jackets bind. That's why I need a higher yoke seam. Hope that clears the waters... Again, My fault.

John

I've used a G&B and my TNO Raiders for a motorcycle jacket, and while it does suffer by design, but if that's what you want and you're able to sacrifice a little screen accuracy, go for it.

I totally understand the shoulder thing. The Raiders jacket does this ok with the higher yoke... but being wide in the shoulders is helpful and screen accurate. Hidden snaps are good, and I'd suggest using it on the collar too (I get flapped in the face with my collar, although the TNO jacket seems to behave better). The back of the jacket will ride up with the wind; if you want to improve on this, I think the Temple of Doom configuration will work better. Personally, I'd love to see a bottom vent opening with a zipper and gusset! (I use a back protector if I wear my TNO so I don't worry about the exposed back).

I think a Wested might not totally come apart in a crash, but it's not really built for the job. I'd look at Johnson Leathers, which does a very decent job on custom jackets (I don't own one but have been to their showroom), mostly for motorcycling. I believe i've seen a black Indy jacket done by them a long time ago. I keep thinking I'll have them build me a half-belt in horsehide...

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:31 am

Well, if it's any help at all, my youngest daughter had her Wested 'Aliens' new finish cowhide jacket rolled up and shoved down in the saddle bag on the Harley she was riding when they slammed into the side of a car that had turned in front of them and stopped.

The jacket kept her leg from being crushed, so they are useful in that kind of situation.

Regards! Michaelson

Kevin Anderson · Post by **Kevin Anderson** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 9:42 am

_ wrote:Interesting you mention Johnson - their name came up to me recently for custom work as well. I've heard good things and may consider them to do a little work.

Because of this thread, I threw on the TNO CS yesterday to see how well she did on a ride. It was a beautiful day here - we ended up in the 80's in central Indiana.

As expected. The jacket rides up and the collar beat the carp out of me. I stopped and tucked the collar in and went back by the house to drop it off. That bad just in design.

Ended up wearing just my Li'l Joe's vest as a jacket.

For me, the design of the Indiana Jones jacket just keeps "failing"...

Agreed; like Stormtrooper armour, it looks good, but it's just not practical!

Baldwyn · Post by **Baldwyn** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 2:08 pm

_ wrote:Interesting you mention Johnson - their name came up to me recently for custom work as well. I've heard good things and may consider them to do a little work.

Because of this thread, I threw on the TNO CS yesterday to see how well she did on a ride. It was a beautiful day here - we ended up in the 80's in central Indiana.

As expected. The jacket rides up and the collar beat the carp out of me. I stopped and tucked the collar in and went back by the house to drop it off. That bad just in design.

Ended up wearing just my Li'l Joe's vest as a jacket.

For me, the design of the Indiana Jones jacket just keeps "failing"...

I did two skydives in my G&B (actually in costume with shirt and pants, Aldens, no gun belt and fedora), talk about collars beating the @#$% out of you. My face was red from being slapped around!!! (the second skydive I taped the collars down underneath which was much better). The jacket is not so bad if you just let go of the whole screen accurate thing; address the collar and the vent (seriously, a zippered vent would be awesome), raise the yoke to either the Raider's configuration or even higher, careful placement of the zipper bottom on the front and it can work. Get a heavy stiff leather, and a trim waist cut will help it from inflating and making you look like a balloon.

Texan Scott · Post by **Texan Scott** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:15 pm

Well, ghost rider, have you ordered that jacket, yet?

John Vaughan · Post by **John Vaughan** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:46 am

Not yet, got hit with a rump load of house repairs. I do on the other hand now know what it'll be. I,m going with a Raiders style made of Horse, just with longer sleeves, gussets, sliders and a second inside pocket. Just don't know when I 'm going to be able to order it. Laptop took a dump and bikes now leaking go juice. Just love it when life gets interesting

WConly · Post by **WConly** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:39 am

_: Question for you. With the information you have provided here...how would you rate Lost Worlds for durability?
I have one of the Raiders in goat and it is one sturdy jacket. Since I don't ride bikes, I have no real knowledge as to super durability when it comes to something of this nature. But, from a 'feeling' point of view I would suggest that my jacket could and would take a tremendous amount of abuse if the situation were to avail. Thanks! W>

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