Wested's HERO jacket...

Post by **Holt** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 8:58 am

I was not going to say anything but I'm in the same camp as Mark.

and she just came in the door with a pair of well lamonts gloves for me

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:09 am

Texan Scott · Post by **Texan Scott** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:23 am

I suppose I take a different pov in that I think everyone needs to have an interesting diversion, some sort of interest(s) that takes the edge off life, to a certain extent. Some do stamps or coins, while others like antique furniture. Fans and collectors rate comics and carded figures down to the condition of the cardboard it was displayed on, whether the bubble is intact and whether or not there is a 'chad' punched through. Some hobbies are just more mainstream that others, partly because they've just been at them longer: model train or rc airplane collectors. It's ok to do this, as long as it doesn't become unhealthy: overtake your daily life, or end up spending more money on it than what is taken in.

I've always been a fan, and I've enjoyed collecting this stuff and trading with friends. There are quite a few unhealthier ways to pass the time of day, no?

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:48 am

Forrest For the Trees · Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:34 pm

Texan Scott wrote:I suppose I take a different pov in that I think everyone needs to have an interesting diversion, some sort of interest(s) that takes the edge off life, to a certain extent. Some do stamps or coins, while others like antique furniture. Fans and collectors rate comics and carded figures down to the condition of the cardboard it was displayed on, whether the bubble is intact and whether or not there is a 'chad' punched through. Some hobbies are just more mainstream that others, partly because they've just been at them longer: model train or rc airplane collectors. It's ok to do this, as long as it doesn't become unhealthy: overtake your daily life, or end up spending more money on it than what is taken in.

I've always been a fan, and I've enjoyed collecting this stuff and trading with friends. There are quite a few unhealthier ways to pass the time of day, no?

Oh, I'm not saying it's unhealthy. I mean, I suppose it could become unhealthy for some. But I think it is a hobby that does come with its inherent frustrations. Look, I'm not chasing after Indy jackets simply because I'm a huge fan of the Indy movies. Really, for me, it is about finding the perfect leather jacket. And, no doubt, such a thing might never exist.

The appeal of Indy's jacket is that it is HIS jacket. It is one of those articles of clothing that has become a part of him. For Indy, it is the quintessential leather jacket. I think many of us are searching for that quintessential jacket for ourselves. Is it a Wested? Is it a Nowak? A Wings?An Aero? A vintage Hercules? All of them have their merits, but dang, I'm good at finding faults too. Talk about chasing ghosts. Perhaps the quest for the perfect leather jacket is a fool's errand.

Forrest For the Trees · Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:55 pm

Sorry, just trying to get over having to send this jacket back!

So, umm, yeah, the Hero jacket. Looks good...

Bdgsi11 · Post by **Bdgsi11** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:56 pm

My resized Crispe lamb arrived on Monday from Peter and I am very excited about it! He did an absolutely fantastic job based upon only the photos that I sent him. I am really, really impressed and I'm very happy with the Crispe lamb and think it's a very nice leather. The jacket can easily be molded to hold any shape and since it is more proper fitting than before, it doesn't feel heavy at all, but like a very substantial quality leather jacket. Can't wait to have this one broken in and have already worn it in the rain. Hats off to you Peter!

Thank you!

Post by **Holt** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:12 pm

now this is something else! way better fit!

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 10:59 pm

Bdgsi11 wrote:My resized Crispe lamb arrived on Monday from Peter and I am very excited about it! He did an absolutely fantastic job based upon only the photos that I sent him. I am really, really impressed and am very happy with the Crispe lamb and think it's a very nice leather. The jacket can easily be molded to hold and shape and since it is more proper fitting than before, it doesn't feel heavy at all, but like a very substantial quality leather jacket. Can't wait to have this one broken in and have already worn it in the rain. Hats off to you Peter! Thank you!

Very nice! How'd the leather react to the rain.

Bdgsi11 · Post by **Bdgsi11** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:22 pm

In the rain, the leather was very absorbent to all of the water dumped on it. My guess for this would be because it is a vegetable tanned leather. After getting it soaked though, it dried fairly quickly and was still just as smooth and flexible when it had arrived. The strange part is though, that while it was wet there was a very slippery oil that I felt resting on the surface of the jacket, but then disappeared once completely dry.

TheExit148 · Post by **TheExit148** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:23 pm

Yeah man. That jacket looks much better, especially in the arms! Nice look jacket there. All you need to do is wear the heck out of it, and shape that collar nicely.

Adventure Dog · Post by **Adventure Dog** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:46 pm

That jacket is very fine indeed! The cut looks great on you! I do like the hide too! It's definitely got a lot of character.
Congratulations on your jacket man! I know you've been looking a long time for a jacket just like that one. Patience really pays off doesn't it?

Bdgsi11 · Post by **Bdgsi11** » Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:53 pm

Yeah, still working on training the collar. I like this hide a lot mainly because it is unique from the rest, has lots of character straight out of the bag and with a lot of abuse and wear I believe I can make this jacket potentially look the part. Especially since it has a much more accurate pattern, but we'll see what I can do. Thanks for the comments!

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:49 am

I think with a lot of wear the Crispe will develop some smooth(er) areas where it gets stretched a bit, like over the shoulders, elbows and such. Just a guess at this point as I haven't worn mine a lot yet. interesting about the effect of water. I agree about the way veg-tanned leather tends to soak things up. I imagine it also has to do with whether or not there's a finish applied to the leather.

Bdgsi11 · Post by **Bdgsi11** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:23 am

I agree with you, Tibor. I get the impression that this leather will, over time, become smoothed out in certain areas due to the stretching as well. The hide is somewhat spongy and one that can easily be manipulated.

Bdgsi11 · Post by **Bdgsi11** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:37 pm

Here's two more shots with some gear thrown together. Sorry about the poor image quality.

Gorak · Post by **Gorak** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:39 pm

Very cool!!

When that collar sets in, it is totally going to rock! Great looking jacket!

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 4:52 pm

It's an UNmistakably INDY look, that's for sure!

Congrats, Bdgsi11... Very happy for you that you got the jacket you wanted!

Bdgsi11 · Post by **Bdgsi11** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 6:11 pm

Thanks, Mitch. I appreciate the comment.

Indydawg · Post by **Indydawg** » Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:56 pm

Sweet Jumpin' Jehosafat!

That is awesome! I'm gonna HAVE to get one of these this year!

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:48 am

That is a massive improvement and looks great on you! So pleased that you're happy with it.
Ian

Sent from my HTC Wildfire using Tapatalk

pnh810 · Post by **pnh810** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 7:03 am

I just ordered my Hero jacket. From all my research is the one Wested jacket that usually looks best on people. Hopefully it gets here soon!

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:09 am

That is one beautiful jacket.

tempting to say the least to get another one....

-TS

Bdgsi11 · Post by **Bdgsi11** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 1:07 pm

Thanks everyone for the comments, they are much appreciated. I'm gonna have a lot of fun breaking this one in during the winter and I'll have updated pictures so everyone can see the weathering process.

Pnh810, glad you decided to pick one up. Which type of leather did you select? It usually takes about a week to have the jacket made from the time you order, just so ya know.

Post by **Holt** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:08 pm

So, I just soaked the jacket and restretched the biceps/armholes carefully and the lining inside will be made bigger by my sis who is a tailor. the jacket will also be reinforced by an very talented leather tailor.

I am wearing the jacket right now. it's still moist so it will shape to my form.

all in all, I am extremly happy with this jacket. very impressed.

steerpike · Post by **steerpike** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:08 pm

Holt wrote:the jacket will also be reinforced by an very talented leather tailor.

What a luck!

Holt you know now we wanna see..

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:34 pm

Holt wrote:So, I just soaked the jacket and restretched the biceps/armholes carefully and the lining inside will be made bigger by my sis who is a tailor. the jacket will also be reinforced by an very talented leather tailor.

I am wearing the jacket right now. it's still moist so it will shape to my form.

all in all, I am extremly happy with this jacket. very impressed.

Which hide?

Rom Hunter · Post by **Rom Hunter** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:25 am

Looks great on you now, Bdgsi11.

Wear it with pride.

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:52 am

Rom Hunter wrote:Looks great on you now, Tibor.

Wear it with pride.

That's Bdgsi11, not me ...

And it does look good

Post by **Holt** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 7:15 pm

something very ineresting.

I personally have allways been a believer that the Raiders jacket was smooth lambskin with a grain/striations from aging/distressing. water soaking, drying, wrinching, water soaking again, etc. etc. it just what I persoanlly see when looking at the film jacket. I don't see crocco hide. it's a smooth/grainy skin IMO.

my seal brown lambskin is just 2 weeks old and WAS 100% SMOOTH when I got it, trust me. I wa slike, wow this thing is smooth almost TOO smooth. since then I have soaked it two times and started wearing it ever since and it started doing it's thing...and today when I took of my jacket it just jumped out to me. yes, THE famous striations in different places, just like the raiders jacket. Just imagine what it will look like after a few years of wear. Can the real jacket really have been made by such a skin? hmm. it certainly is ineresting to me....

look at the top shoulder, it's allready starting there.

pocket flap and the pocket itself.

backpanel.

and under the collar.

the smooth/grainy jacket... left shoulder (right)

Texan Scott · Post by **Texan Scott** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 7:21 pm

Holt, I have also thought that due to the fact that they wanted an older jacket that looked well worn and had been on many adventures, they (Peter, etc.), could have chosen an older animal hide, and that could be why you have major portions of the jacket smooth and some areas, such as the upper right chest panel, not so smooth?

Post by **Holt** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 7:24 pm

well, either way, I'm digging it!!

I know what's on my X-mas list thats for sure!!

Post by **Holt** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 7:28 pm

oh, and larger portions?

check the backpanel. pretty big panel and the grain just pops out.

upper right chest panel? who gives a uh where it's at...

grain is grain

Tibor · Post by **Tibor** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:42 pm

This smooth to grainy thing in the seal brown lamb is very cool ... I'm not distressing it or washing it, but I can see a lot of places where that's begun. Also, I've got a perfect wrinkly thing going on over one pocket, like the one side shot I've seen here before. It's been suggested this was due to adhesive or tape reinforcement, but I don't feel anything. Very cool, though.

After years of looking for a course grain, I find myself more convinced that it was leather very much like this that got weathered and damp, and had the attention of a good costume department.

tomek9210 · Post by **tomek9210** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:02 am

Can anyone post some pics of zipped Hero jacket wih arms down and up to show the squirrel effect?

Gorak · Post by **Gorak** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:43 pm

Check back earlier in this thread, Tomek.....i posted pics addressing the Squirrl thing when I first recieved mine.

Zoltar · Post by **Zoltar** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:54 am

My dark goat's picking up lots of nice wrinkles from a few soakings and lots of wear but just doesn't want to break without a fight. I've been manipulating by hand, screwing up and walking on it and it's still pretty stiff in places. Hard as nails really. Will a blast of Pecards help softing things up a bit?

My authentic brown goat's a whole different story, butter soft from the bag with great drape but slow to take up any character.

Guess you win some you lose some!

ZOLTAR

indiana745 · Post by **indiana745** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:58 pm

Got my Hero in goat night before last and despite being a beautiful jacket... it's about an 1.5" too long! Sending it back for Peter to look at and hopefully nail down the right length. So close but so far away! Once the jacket is correct length should be the be all end all Raiders jacket for me! The jacket is an early wedding/Christmas gift from my fiancee so I can't wait to get it back.

pnh810 · Post by **pnh810** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:24 pm

I Just received my Wested Cutoms Rola jacket in dark Brown lambskin. It fits well but I think I need to soak it and dry it about 4 times before its closer to what I am looking for. Overall I am very pleased with it.

Post by **Holt** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:30 pm

I think you posted in the wrong thread

pnh810 · Post by **pnh810** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:49 am

Sorry, my mistake my jacket is a custom Hero jacket, I got confused with the two.

ShanghaiJack · Post by **ShanghaiJack** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:45 am

Hey pnh810,

Congrats on the new jacket. Any pics you'd care to share with us?

pnh810 · Post by **pnh810** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:55 am

Most definitely. I am still distressing it at the moment. Once I add some finishing touches to it I shall post some photos.

Satipo · Post by **Satipo** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:48 pm

Anyone know if these hero jackets can be bought off the rack when visiting Wested or are they only made to order?

Texan Scott · Post by **Texan Scott** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:00 pm

http://www.wested.com/standard-indy-her ... -505-p.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There is the Standard Hero jacket, but I think it awaits specific measurements when placing an order?

steerpike · Post by **steerpike** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 2:46 pm

Raiders Hero (flash)

Raiders Hero (sundown)

ShanghaiJack · Post by **ShanghaiJack** » Sat Oct 29, 2011 10:58 pm

Lookin' good Steerpike! Is that the authentic or the seal brown? Either way that is a nice looking jacket.

Satipo · Post by **Satipo** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 3:25 am

Thanks for the info, Tex.

steerpike · Post by **steerpike** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 4:27 am

ShanghaiJack wrote:Lookin' good Steerpike! Is that the authentic or the seal brown? Either way that is a nice looking jacket.

It's seal brown, IMO the very best for the Hero

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Sun Oct 30, 2011 10:28 am

GORGEOUS in BOTH kinds of lighting!