Club Obi Wan

i pulled the trigger on flightjacket's offering of the indy jacket. _ has had recent success with them on his latest jacket order and coupled with the fact that they can customize anything under the sun, i thought it would be exciting to have them build their indy jacket to my specs.

correspondence with shaul dover has been quite efficient...no more than a day between e-mailed enquirries. i asked shaul what the extent of customization is available (ie - different hardware, changing pocket flaps, realigning seams, collar modifications)....he relayed that there isn't much that they couldn't do. some of their indyjackets were made in lamb as opposed to the default offering of vintage goatskin but they seem to be out of lamb at the moment. shaul offered to construct the jacket out of lamb if i sourced the hide and sent it to him...total customization from a company that is familiar with an indy jacket....NOW THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR!!!!

they are currently sending me their stock indy jacket in a size large with swatches of the different hide offerings....and yes...goat is available from them.

i will post my findings shortly.

Very good Indiana G! I contacted Shaul myself awhile back, but did not follow-up since I ordered Todd's jacket.

It will be very interesting to see the completed jacket. Are you going for Raiders specs? PLATON has a good pocket placement / pocket flap diagram posted that could be used. (I have it in a folder marked "Dover Indy Jacket" )

If yours works out, I may order one with Indiana G specs.... Keep us posted...

BTW: When you get the try-on jacket in size large, please take and post the usual measurements before you send it back...

will do TN. i'll throw some measurements of their large jacket on here.

i also have platon's pocket diagram saved and may use it in the final design depending if the sizing works out okay....i don't know yet as i haven't got the chance to handle it and see how the pockets are currently constructed. i may want to modify the pattern to suit.

cheers

Cool. I bet you end up with a jacket that you really like. Cheers

Cool. I bet you end up with a jacket that you really like. Cheers

thanks rundquist. that means alot coming from you and your army of g&b's.

if only they still did customizations, i'd be all over that scene.....i actually did try to request it with the lady salesperson and got shot down like a french fighter pilot.

Very exciting news! Keep us posted.

Hi,
I have spoken with Shaul Dover in the past about the same subject. He wasn't so willing to customize it back then.

On the other hand, with those customizations the jacket will cost over $600. Are you willing to accept that?

I've had Shaul Dover's Indy jacket in vintage goatskin (for about 5 days)and liked it very much, I still have a thing for it and will probably get one [to keep] before next fall. The color of the VG is a nice caramel shade and it had good graining. I also loved the lack of leather facing behind the zips (this was a stock jacket) and the small nickel(?) zipper was really cool.

The only draw back to this jacket that I could find was the way the back panel vents were lined... If you look at the inside/underside of the vents on a Wested or US Wings or G&B, they will have 1 to 1.5 inches of leather around the edges of the back panel (joined by mitred angles). Well the flightjacket one wasn't this way, there was only leather at the bottom. When I had the straps pulled tight, the panel would open back on itself a little bit and show off that lining matterial. I'd ask them to change that on a custom jacket.

Doug C

platon,

i knew that that was the price range or the jacket when i clicked on the order button . that is still quite acceptable considering that it will be customized. i would of had no problem paying wested this amount for a customized jacket but the zero replies from their end tells me that they do not want the project.


doug c,

thanks for the tip. i'll definitely list that in my mods.



cheers!

Excellent news Indiana G. I've got an A2 form them and it's great. I really fancied one of their Indy Jackets in the vintage HH but didn't follow through in the end. Hope it's a keeper!

M.

Very exciting! All of us look foward to seeing this Indy jacket once again. be sure to take measurements! Feng

yes measurements and lots of detailed pics. it is nice to have so many vendors willing to go the extra mile for the customer. as I stated before, I have one of their A-2's and love the texture and look of their goat...and of course the smell

folks,

i received the sizing jacket yesterday. the large does fit me quite well(i'm typically a fitted wested 42). the flightjacket indy jacket measures 22" from armpit to armpit seams. i thought this was very strange as my wested measures approx 24". the strange thing about it is the pattern. the front panels of the jacket shorter than the back portion (ie, the seams do not line up exactly under the armpit). the length of the sleeve is approx. 25" from the shoulder to the cuff. i'm having them remove 3/4" to fit my shorter arms. the body length is comperable to most of my other jackets that fit (ie, say a 26" wested back from collar seam to bottom of jacket). aside from the sleeve length, the jacket is a good fit and requires no tailoring.

i was able to peruse the various swatches and i determined that the vintage goatskin that it originally comes in is the best bet. i would put it comperable to the wested authentic brown shade. they did have a vintage HH that was a beautiful color but i wasn't too keen on having the thing more bulletproof than it already is. this jacket does not have the nice drape as from a lighter hide, but this jacket is very well constructed and is obviously a jacket-jacket....not a costume jacket. this one can be worn on the motorcycle or keep you nice and comfy while being dragged behind a truck . in comparison to a wested lamb, goat and todd's lamb, the flightjacket goat is quite a thick hide and quite heavy. you will be able to feel that this jacket is built to last and will protect you from whatever you throw at it. no fear of snagging it or ripping the leather on something....not a chance.

now for the odd's and ends. i'm getting the pattern modified to mimic the screen accurate jacket. seams are being moved here and there. the collar will be adjusted to meet at the half way mark of the storm flap. buckles will be provided to them for installation as well as a full length zipper (to bottom of the jacket). platon's pocket flaps are definitely on the request list for size and shape.

these are some very extensive modifications. but shaul has told me that they can manage. since i am modifying the patterns, it will cost a premium for the requested customizations.

in the end, i'm hoping to have the most screen accurate and toughest jacket available. i've requested that flightjacket keep this pattern under M56487 for future reference (it's my professional designation number...i thought it would be nice to have it printed on my lining...kinda like a nametag). the jacket is on its way back to the shop and i hope shaul is busy getting the patterns modified.

here are a few pics. sorry i did not get any full shots...i was up late getting all the alterations and mods jotted down:

Looks like you may have a winner on your hands Indiana G....

Shaul SHOULD keep the pattern on file. If this jacket works-out, I am sure that he will be getting orders from other members here.. I know that I am following this with great interest...

in comparison to a wested lamb, goat and todd's lamb, the flightjacket goat is quite a thick hide and quite heavy. you will be able to feel that this jacket is built to last and will protect you from whatever you throw at it. no fear of snagging it or ripping the leather on something....not a chance.

So, how does the actual jacket construction compare to Wested and Todd's jackets? It sounds like you are saying it is alot better. I'm talking stitching and overall construction...

I think you’re going to be a happy camper. It’s hard to beat a nice well constructed goatskin jacket. Cheers

thanks TN, rundquist.

from all of the reviews i have read, i would say that the construction of the flightjacket is comperable to the G&B.....only from what i have read of course in regards to it feeling like a tank when it is on. i would definitely like to make a hands on comparison between the two some day.

todds and wested jackets, i believe are constructed nicely for their purpose. i have heard many a horror stories of wested seams coming loose including the one where _ wrecked his HH jacket in a minor accident. my westeds have yet to show flaws such as that but i haven't really taken them on a rough and tumble go round....same goes for my todds jacket (but thats because i baby it ). this jacket just doesn't feel like i need to baby it or protect it from anything....it's probably protecting me

Hey Indiana G.... Any word on the jacket?

i'm still waiting patiently......one thing that i can do easily now considering that its 20+ deg c out

it should be any day though....once canadian customs are done passing it around the whole warehouse for everyone and their dog to try on.....customs......i hate those guys!!!

Don't know if you're joking, but in case you aren't, Canadian Customs doesn't routinely open these packages. They just charge about $80 for duty and GST, nearly a third of the cost of some of these jackets.

SD

i was joking about the jackets. i have however heard stories from a colleague of mine who did some importing of airsoft guns back when it was easier to bring them into the country legitimately. he relayed his experiences of customs agents preying on errors on waybills so that they can seize it and then give these items as gifts to their children at christmas time. take the story for what its worth. i pretty much put customs agents in the same category as ups delivery.......i hate 'em.

I believe it. I even had to pay GST on alterations from Wested. By the way, what's an airsoft gun?

It would be also called a pellet gun. A bit more powerful (in some cases a LOT more powerful) than a bb gun.

Regards! Michaelson

You'll shoot your eye out, kid....

$2.95 for that daisy rifle...$2.95! what can you get for $2.95 these days?....actually the buckles that i ordered from australia for my indy jacket came in under that....but with shipping, it was $10 or so.

i dare ya to find something good for $2.95....i double dog dare ya

IG - I guess I missed this post (been a bit busy with graduating law school, moving, finals and all that mess) but man that is some great work you've done! I am really looking forward to seeing how your jacket comes out!

Oh and I still have my Red Rider that I got when I was 10.

HA! LOL! I still have my Red Ryder bb gun that my parents got me when I was 14! 26 years ago! whoa,,,26 years! Where'd that time go?? The thing still works like new,and I still have both eyes! ;-). Of course it's since been retired and replaced with a .454 Casull Puma lever action ;-) Which I'm certain would put out more than 'just' an eye!
TR

Indiana G

I hope you get it right.
Why didn't you just send them a Wested or a Todd's and show them the sa mods you want on those jackets?

I guess it would have been simpler.

_ wrote:

Indiana G wrote: shaul offered to construct the jacket out of lamb if i sourced the hide and sent it to him...total customization from a company that is familiar with an indy jacket....NOW THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR!!!!

Makes me tempted to call David Morgan and have him ship roo skins to Shaul. Hmmmmmm.....

Now that would be a SWEET jacket...

I can't wait to see Indiana G's jacket... If it is as great as I am hoping, I probably will go for one in the vintage HH...

I hope you get it right.
Why didn't you just send them a Wested or a Todd's and show them the sa mods you want on those jackets?

I guess it would have been simpler.

you know platon, i was tempted to send them my wested TOD jacket for reference but i thought instructions would have been easier as there wasn't too many complex revisions....plus the amount of time it would take me to ensure that they DON'T mimic the tiny TOD pockets, i could have easily written down instructions without the need for them to have a reference jacket.

as far as the todd's raiders jacket....the only thing that can get that off my back these days is a warm sunny day....like today

_, you gotta do it. i'd love to see a kangaroo jacket! make sure to expand the cargo pockets in the front so that it looks like a pouch in all seriousness, the only kangaroo jacket i've seen was from uswings (please correct me if i'm wrong)...and that wasn't even a good picture. i wonder how that would drape......

With a kangaroo jacket, you bounce back up if you fall.

How about an Authentic Brown Lambskin whip and a Natural Tan Kangaroo Hide jacket?

i recommend a 12 plait jacket with the weight distributed well into the thong.....but if you do get the thong _, please don't post pics...we'll just take your word for it

what a great day! first i get my personalized montreal canadiens practice jersey AND THEN, not even 10 minutes later, my flightjacket indy jacket comes in!. the M56487 indy jacket as i affectionately refer to it. it's a beauty! it fits great all around. first i must comment on the hide. it is sooooo soft. it has the feel and drape of lamb but the strength of goat. the hides that shaul used were excellent and match up quite nicely overall.

here is the breakdown:

HIDE

as mentioned above, the hide is amazingly soft. it is their vintage goatskin. it has the look of wested's authentic brown...perhaps a hair lighter on the caramel side.

SIZE

the large was a good fit to my frame. sleeves were shortened 3/4" to suit. one thing i noticed is the sleeve cuffs are a little more barrel cut than a todd's jacket or a wested 80's cut but bang on to a wested regular cut (at least the one i owned). kt posted a screen grab of the raven scene where indy is showing what the ra headpiece looks like....the sleeve cuffs remind me of that and is something i couldn't get out of my todd's jacket.

ZIPPER

i went with flightjacket's talon zipper instead of my ykk as it looked nicer. they managed to get it installed to the jacket bottom (something _ just hates....that's why i requested it )

LINING

i went with the rayon lining to reduce the overall weight as compared to their standard cotton lining. this also allows for easy dress. the lining is inscribed with:

M56487

ENGINEERING

CORPS

in black. the number is my professional engineering registration number and i thought it was a nice personal touch.

the heavy leather facing was removed from the inside pocket and were added around the vents.

COLLAR

the collar meets the storm flap at about 1/3 of the way. i would have liked the 1/2 way mark but this is sufficient.

SIDE VENTS AND STRAP CONFIGURATION

the buckles i got from australia were mounted and look great. the rear strap maybe a tadd too long as they made the trailing side of the buckle flush to the back panel, not the leading side. the anchoring was placed in the correct spot bot both anchors were full-on x-boxes instead of the box stitch on the front strap and 1/2 x-box on the rear strap. minor details that i can live with. the vents were opened up to just above the strap location as they are below the straps in their standard design.

YOKE

the yoke was moved to the shoulder seams.

ARM SEAMS AND BODY SEAMS

the body seam was relocated to the correct position. the front seam of the arms were located to the correct position. perhaps this can be moved further as the seam does not show when viewed from the front as it does in the movies. some people like this detail though.

POCKET DETAILS

this is where it becomes obvious that an outfit that makes a2 jackets made this jacket. the pockets are a tadd smaller than what i speced out, ie 6 3/4" high instead of 7". they are however pushed further away from the center as you see in a2 jackets. the pocket flap scalloping is also reminiscent of a2 jackets that i have seen posted and are nice but i think todd's are nicer (man am i a tough critic )

overall, i like this jacket very much. it not 100% SA but the parts where it is not, i do not mind so much because the overall quality of construction, the buttery soft hide and the fit blinds my "stitch nazi" eye.

i will post some pics later on once i get the collar trained up....it was folded incorrectly when shipped so it sticks out at the moment.

some pics now:

collar meets storm flap 1/3 in:


buckle strap configurationi:


pocket, more like a2 than indy pockets:


jacket open:


jacket closed:

*** note the barrel cuffs...i'm hoping the leather will drape a little over time reducing this.

jacket back:


this jacket is starting to get out of its "fold up" nature to draping more and more on me. i'm beginning to enjoy it very much

You didn't ask the pockets to be double entry?

Didn't this jacket cost like 4 arms and 3 legs? For that amount I'd be sure every spec that I sent them was correct! It seems to be a nice jacket,but as far as screen accurate, it's ended up a little off the mark,imo. Nice fit,though. Ooo,those sleeves,though! Sure makes me appreciate tapered sleeves! The hide looks really nice. Details,details, I guess.

TR

Personally, I think the jacket is great Indiana G.... A wearable, tough-as-nails adventure jacket.

Shaul did a very nice job. Just a couple of tweaks away from a SA jacket.. I will have a difficult time deciding between the goat and vintage HH now, that's for sure.

Thanks for exploring uncharted territory, and posting your experience and pics Indiana G

It looks nice on you

Pretty nice job. Looks like a tough jacket. Enjoy.

CM

SIDE VENTS AND STRAP CONFIGURATION

the buckles i got from australia were mounted and look great. the rear strap maybe a tadd too long as they made the trailing side of the buckle flush to the back panel, not the leading side. the anchoring was placed in the correct spot bot both anchors were full-on x-boxes instead of the box stitch on the front strap and 1/2 x-box on the rear strap. minor details that i can live with. the vents were opened up to just above the strap location as they are below the straps in their standard design.

Can you show this with photos?

Am I the only one who recently see's a rash of Indy jackets by various vendors that are a bit too short in the front? The back looks perfect but the front looks just a bit too short. It also seems that Todd and G&B are the only companies capable of connecting the collar to the storm flap in the right spot. Bottom line though, is that you are happy with the fit and mods as they are. I'm just being very nitpicky as usual. If you're happy with it then that's cool and the gang. Overall it seems like a nice jacket and as already stated, once it gets broken in a bit, it'll only get better.

I agree with you. A fair number of the recent jackets posted seem to come only just below the belt at the front. I wish my own Wested was an inch or so longer...

thanks for the comments folks! i'm nitpicky too so i tend to agree with some of the comments made. it is not SA but has a style of its own that i appreciate. you know, i didn't even realize there was no side entry option on these pockets....i guess i don't use them enough to care.

_, this is an off the rack large that i had modifed.

the comments i've seen in regards to the jacket being too short intrigues me. it is indeed not too short by any means. my first wested was too short...and possibly the second one too. this jacket fits right.....what you guys are seeing is me in my low rise jeans and the picture taken from the bottom of my patio stairs on an inclined angle. i was trying to get natural sunlight on it and this was the best place. it seems that it is also exaggerating the barrel cuffs a tadd. i'll try to get some better pics when the jacket settles in and when i'm not wearing my "stupid teenagers should pull up their pants" jeans

SPR wrote:...my Expedition blow the pants off my Westeds, in terms of quality and screen accuracy.

Is the colour dark enough?

SD