Club Obi Wan

I wore my good ol wested and shot some photos. Nothing much. Can't really hold the camera still and the photos with flash come out like..... very bad.

Yet, you can tell.... the fit. Yes, this is a standard wested but you can notice two things. The scalloped pocket flaps and the fit.

It has been said that other jackets maybe more screen accurate in the details, but until today I have not seen any worn jackets from other vendors that can compete with a wested.

So, if wested is Batman, who is Robin?

That is not an invitation to fight with supporters of the other jackets, but rather an invitation to post photos with the jackets worn in order to that we see and get tempted...

PLATON wrote: So, if wested is Batman, who is Robin?

The green Wested, perhaps.

SD

Nah the green wested is either Hulk or the Goblin.

Platon, is that the same jacket? Looks much longer in the unzipped picture. Almost looks too short zipped, but then you are wearing your shirt out.

Robin would have to be a cotton Indy jacket probably..I'm not really getting the analogy though.

Doug C

Todd! New to the world of superheroes... er... Indy Jackets. Promising but still developing. The perfect sidekick, rather than a gritty rival. Alas, one day, even Robin must spread his wings! (All of this is sight unseen, of course, but the word is good so far).

Comparing that wested to mine, my pockets are barely scalloped at all. They really have changed them quite alot in the past 2 years.

It's the same jacket in all the pics. It appears to be shorter because I am wearing the shirt out (and no pants hehe) in that photo. So it's an optical illusion. Maybe a reason for that is that the pockets are too tall. If they were normal size the overall length of the jacket would appear longer.

As mentioned it is a standard wested size 40 and I am quite satisfied with the length.

The pocket flaps are scalloped by myself using a new technique; not the hot water, but the hot iron. You can iron them into any shape you want.

Needless to say, the pants are Paris pants.

I agree that Wested still make the most SA jacket. Some of those US made jackets regularly posted on here only bare a passing resemblance IMHO. Nice jackets but not Indy jackets. If Wested just made a few minor tweaks to their standard pattern, it seems to me they'd be just about perfect. I have high hopes for Todd's jacket when it appears.

djd wrote:I agree that Wested still make the most SA jacket. Some of those US made jackets regularly posted on here only bare a passing resemblance IMHO. Nice jackets but not Indy jackets. If Wested just made a few minor tweaks to their standard pattern, it seems to me they'd be just about perfect. I have high hopes for Todd's jacket when it appears.

As far as screen accuracy goes, out of the box, the U.S. made G&B Expedition blows Wested out of the water...

If build quality is considered, Wested cannot hold a candle to G&B's Mil-Spec construction. There are more than a few posts about Wested seams coming loose around here... Show me a post like that regarding a G&B....

Now, If you need me, I will be under Michaelson's Plymouth... (If there is room) 8-[

Yes that's a nice jacket too The only thing that puts me off is the leather always looks a bit stiff. Somehow it looks TOO well made!

Technonut wrote: Now, If you need me, I will be under Michaelson's Plymouth... (If there is room) 8-[

Always.

Regards! Michaelson

Wanna talk about the barrel sleeves of the G&B?


or how the back sits on you?


or maybe where the zipper ends?


or maybe how the side strap is sewn on the front panel?

G&B has good construction and quality materials. It does have nice pockets and collar, but I think it lacks "the fit". Or at least we haven't seen any "worn" photos from which to make safe conclusions about it.

That's true, PLATON, but to be fair, absolutely every jacket from every maker I've received to date looks like this right out of the box. A worn in jacket would be more telling that the examples above in terms of 'ride'.

The other points....well, those points won't change since they're part of the construction of the jacket.

Regards! Michaelson

The good thing is that we have variety and everyone can pick up his own choice. No need to argue which one is better and try to prove it to the others.

I would buy all jackets if I could afford.

Brother, you're singing my tune!!

I agree with you 100%!

HIGH regards! Michaelson

I DID say:

As far as screen accuracy goes, out of the box,

Does the Wested have the proper offset yoke seam out of the box? Scalloped pocket flaps? Rectangular side Strap sliders?

No, you have to make a list of "custom" features, and pay extra for them...

NONE of the jackets I have seen are "perfect" Heck, I like my U.S. Wings Indy jackets a great deal... I am waiting with great anticipation for Todd's jacket, because it will have most of the SA features "out of the box"

EDIT:

No need to argue which one is better and try to prove it to the others

BTW: PLATON, I'm not the one who named Wested the "Batman" of IJ jackets in my topic....

Can a goat skin jacket ever drape and fit like a lambskin costume jacket? My goatskin Expedition definately still seems much "stiffer" then what I see in Raiders, but I wanted a real jacket, not a costume. And the way the collar goes into the collar stand, I doubt it will ever lie flat like the movie jacket. Luckily I don't care.

yes. You've put everything into perspective nicely.

Platon

Dude, you already have batman! Why are you still looking for the perfect jacket when you have that great wested? Sure not everything is screen accurate, but not every jacket used in the films had the same features anyway.

That wested looks fantastic!
C3

BTW: PLATON, I'm not the one who named Wested the "Batman" of IJ jackets in my topic....

Actually, I borrowed that title from a market report I read.
Being Batman does not exclude others from being Superman, Spiderman, Iron Man, or Wolverine (who has an interesting jacket).

I have not bought any shares of Wested or G&B etc.

Instead, I have bought 3 jackets from Wested and none of them was what I wanted it to be. Luckily I managed to sell the two in the secondhand market.

I am designing now the 4th jacket which I hope will be the best.

Platon

Could you discuss your new pocket flap technique? I am about to do it (hot water and stretching) to my goat wings jacket and would like to know more about your new technique...

Thanks!
C3

I was gonna stay out of this string (the title really is one of the stupidest that I’ve ever seen on this board), but since my likeness has been brought into the picture, I’ll go ahead and give my two cents. First off, if I were a guy that was into pretending I was Indiana Jones, I’d probably order a jacket from Gibson & Barnes that was two sizes smaller (duh) than what I am wearing in the picture. Since I am not (I go for comfort), I get larger fitting jackets. That should be obvious.

As far as accuracy goes, I’ll give you that:

a) The Expedition was made from a stunt jacket, not the hero jacket.
b) A few concessions were made to make it a more wearable, better-constructed jacket.

For instance, I don’t know if the zipper on the Terry Leonard jacket went all the way to the bottom of the jacket or not. I do know (just from wearing a jacket), that if the zipper did extend all the way to the bottom of the jacket, when you sat down (with the zipper zipped), it would put undue stress on the jacket where the zipper is attached to the leather. That makes good sense to me, especially considering that I don’t have a wardrobe person to switch out my jacket when the @#$% aluminum zipper busts.

One thing that I’ll give Wested is that the ones from today look a helluva lot more screen accurate than the older ones (I’ve got two that would give you “screen accurate” guys coronaries). But I’ve also never seen two that were alike. They might one day nail down a pattern, but I’m not holding my breath.

Still, one thing that is not open for debate (especially if you’ve handled the jackets), is that both Gibson & Barnes and US Wings jackets are tougher than Wested jackets. Wested jackets don’t hold up to “superhero” use in my opinion. They are fine for “costume” use though. Cheers

Rundquist wrote:I do know (just from wearing a jacket), that if the zipper did extend all the way to the bottom of the jacket, when you sat down (with the zipper zipped), it would put undue stress on the jacket where the zipper is attached to the leather.

Not sure I follow you. What's "undue stress" on a leather jacket? One would think that'd be pretty shoddy construction or materials for a jacket to bust out just for that reason. I've seen well-constructed leather jackets with the zipper sewn all the way to the bottom and they hold up well to this day. Personally, I suspect the reason some jacket manufacturers don't extend the zipper all the way down is the reason stated by Todd. Plus, the LC jacket has a button at the bottom that would probably interfere with the bottom part of the zipper on that model.

As for US Wings' screen accuracy, I still don't see why the back panel does not extend the entire length of the yoke (from arm to arm).

SD

Finally, I have permission to drop a teaser – though it has yet to be defined what that will be…. Stay tuned…

Do tell.... This should be interesting.

Hey Platon, do either of your pocket flap sculturing techniques heve the side effect of washing out or distorting the colour in the stretched areas? I suspect that might happen if the leather was soaked in water then stretched, but I'm not sure.
Thanks.

SD

_ wrote:... because they are not making the jackets apparently...

I suspect this is the news we've been waiting for.

Many thanks, _.

Now about that inside info. Spill.

SD

I am designing now the 4th jacket which I hope will be the best.

....well, well, well...what a coincidence....i'm going for my 4th wested as well...and this time it will be PERFECT!

platon, we can do comparison's when the dust settles. i have sent my specs to wested already based on my well fitted TOD jacket and some 'lessons learned' from todd's jacket. i haven't heard from them as of yet....which is what i am fearing...that my e-mail is lost in cyberspace forever.

_....you're definitely throwing a wrench in the works on my wested project so come, come and do tell.....what's the big secret?

is it flightjackets _?.....come on, you're killing me!!!

I will guess Bates or Vanson since it is not one of the "usual suspects" and you are corresponding with both of these companies. If it is either one, I hope it is Vanson. Not just because they are driving distance from me , but because Bates is very expensive. It will put a kibosh on a lot of members chances of getting a Indy 4 jacket from the original maker if this is it...

rick5150 wrote:I will guess Bates or Vanson since it is not one of the "usual suspects" and you are corresponding with both of these companies. If it is either one, I hope it is Vanson. Not just because they are driving distance from me , but because Bates is very expensive. It will put a kibosh on a lot of members chances of getting a Indy 4 jacket from the original maker if this is it...

Didn't you hear? PLATON designed the new Indy 4 jacket... It will be manufactured under special agreement by Pop's Leather of Turkey....

I was gonna stay out of this string (the title really is one of the stupidest that I’ve ever seen on this board),

I "borrowed" the title from Dr. Martin Stopford who is the no.1 economist in the world in his field and head of the research department of a 150years old organization that is also no 1 in the world. Dr Stopford writes a column in some market report that has a subscription of GBP1,500 p.a.

You can call it the stupidest if you want.

Personally, the title of the thread eludes me as well in the application to the topic at hand... Sorry, but that kind of apparent lack of understanding just frustrates the @#$% out of me...

I forgot to tell you that Dr Stopford is British, so it is British humor we are dealing with here so maybe that's why....

if the zipper did extend all the way to the bottom of the jacket, when you sat down (with the zipper zipped), it would put undue stress on the jacket where the zipper is attached to the leather. That makes good sense to me, especially considering that I don’t have a wardrobe person to switch out my jacket when the @#$% aluminum zipper busts.

I totally agree and have personally experienced that undue stress. The undue stress would not be there of the jacket did not extend below the waist, but in that case it would not be an indy jacket.

The purpose of the thread is not to compare jackets just to list opinions and invite people to post photos of jackets from other vendors worn so that we can discuss the fit.

We have failed so far because nobody posted anything and the G&B in the photos of Rundquist which I posted is larger as he admitted.

The SA issues is another matter which I just brought up because somebody said that the G&B is more accurate. He is right in the "out of the box" part because if you want a SA wested gotta give them a ton of custom specs.

Anyhow, I apologize if I was carried away.

However, I want to ask _, if the jacket he handled had the zipper all the way down and the side straps sewn like in the modern G&B.

About the pockets, I understand TL pockets were smaller but you/they had to make them bigger to match the hero jacket right?

Platon

Could you discuss your new pocket flap technique? I am about to do it (hot water and stretching) to my goat wings jacket and would like to know more about your new technique...

Thanks!
C3

Yup, the new technique is better than the hot water and stretching.
All you need is the iron you iron the clothes with and a needle nose pliers.

What you do is that you grab the edge of the pocket flap with the pliers and pull and at the same time hot iron the flap towards the direction of the pull.

You start from the left and right sides of the flap pulling them down. Then go in the center and do the same giving it the shape that you want with the iron.

I think it would work best on lamb because the hot ironing may e.g. make the grain of the goat disappear. I don't know.

Thanks Platon! I think I will try the water first on my goat... I don't want to goof it up!

C3

Yeah soak it really good before you pull.

PLATON wrote:

I was gonna stay out of this string (the title really is one of the stupidest that I’ve ever seen on this board),

I "borrowed" the title from Dr. Martin Stopford who is the no.1 economist in the world in his field and head of the research department of a 150years old organization that is also no 1 in the world. Dr Stopford writes a column in some market report that has a subscription of GBP1,500 p.a.

You can call it the stupidest if you want.

Personally, the title of the thread eludes me as well in the application to the topic at hand... Sorry, but that kind of apparent lack of understanding just frustrates the @#$% out of me...

I forgot to tell you that Dr Stopford is British, so it is British humor we are dealing with here so maybe that's why....

I admit that I also didn't quite grasp the meaning behind the topic's subject but I DID suspect that it had something to do with "British humor," ...such as it is.

At any rate, I wouldn't worry about it too much PLATON since you still seem to generate some of the most viewed and/or commented threads on this board. It takes a bit of effort to come up with something new and of interest to so many seasoned folks here rather than to just merely respond or use the unseemly tactic of using humor or comic video clips to generate discussion. Lawdy knows I've never had to resort to those tactics myself.

Yes, lets please stop the conjecture until we're allowed to say.

However, I want to ask _, if the jacket he handled had the zipper all the way down and the side straps sewn like in the modern G&B.

About the pockets, I understand TL pockets were smaller but you/they had to make them bigger to match the hero jacket right?

_, won't you answer my above questions?

Platon wrote:

All you need is the iron

Whoa, I'm all for trying to get a better scallop, but I'd be real carefull with an iron on leather. I think if it were too hot it may melt the surface..ruining your jacket and possibly the iron. Perhaps just use the steam of it, held a couple inches off the surface? I actually have used an iron on the area where I let the sleeves out of my old Wested Lambskin but I was very carefull, used low heat and a damp rag on top of the leather. Just be carefull is all.

Doug C

_ wrote:Sorry guys. What I've been cleared to say ain't worth saying. Don't bother asking anything more...

Okay, we won't ask, but I can't help thinking that a simple double-negative might be the solution to your problem.

SD

I know how you feel _, I to get little tidbits and goodies on regular intervals from a merchandise source but I have a gag order or he'll get fired and I'll probably get sued right down to Dante's 7 level.

-Kim

_ wrote:Well, I think it goes more like, "If Noel Howard is Batman, then Peter Botwright is Robin..." Actually, Peter might really be Alfred or the Police Commissioner... Hmmmmmm........

The really important thing, though - who is Batgirl?

Odds are it's this person. And "Odd" describes them pretty well.

Okay, so you found me out. But personally, I think I look better in the Batgirl suit.

Sorry - I must have missed this...

No - The zip did not go all the way to the bottom. It attached up to the facing running along the lower hem, 7/8 inch from the bottom. Also, I don't know that the pockets were "small" but they were not the clown pockets we have periodically received with Westeds. I always figured Wested just kept using the LC pocket template regardless of the order. The pockets were a bit "disfunctional" i.e. even when FS scaled them to my made-to-measure I cannot easily get my hands in and out of the side entries. The patch pocket itself was essentially square - same width as it was tall. The flap gave it the "length"...

How was the hardware in the pockets? Was it the n****e type G&B uses or the other that Wested uses?

_ wrote:I don't know that the pockets were "small" but they were not the clown pockets we have periodically received with Westeds. I always figured Wested just kept using the LC pocket template regardless of the order.

Hi _,

Looking at the movie (LC) and the Smithsonian jacket on display, I could have sworn the pockets were smaller - somewhere between TOD and Raiders size. What does seem clear is that the flap is a lot deeper on the LC jacket. Am I wrong in thinking this?

Kind regards - CM

I forgot... the LC Wested pockets on mine and the others I've seen actually don't look like the movie version. So I have my doubts about them using the LC template. Stephan Hills seems to have got the pockets right when he put in his custom LC order.

It has always been a misconception that the LC pockets are large. They are about the same size as Raiders. The difference is that in Raiders the jacket seems to be very dark brown (black in some cases) while in LC it looks more choco brown and with the distressing along the seams you can make out the shape and size of the pocket.

In Raiders you only see a black thing and can't see the pockets very clearly.

Sure, the Wested version of LC is not SA...