Club Obi Wan

Hi folks, hope it's ok to create a new thread for this but I thought I should share that with you! Came home from work today and a Parcelforce packet waited for me! Inside ... my new Wested Crystal Skull jacket!! I ordered it I think a week before the new movie came out, when seeing Kt's jacket here somewhere. Best thing is that I can see CS now a 2nd time wearing this jacket )

Pics are all a bit jittered - old cam.

Front:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/252 ... 1e86_b.jpg

Back:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/252 ... 8ec9_b.jpg

Flat:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2068/252 ... 4861_o.jpg

Me wearing it:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/252 ... ceb5_o.jpg

Me wearing it #2:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/252 ... 5d6f_o.jpg

Sorry mate, can't open the pics. Would love to see them!

Doctor_Jones wrote:Sorry mate, can't open the pics. Would love to see them!

I fixed the links...

Front:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/252 ... 1e86_b.jpg

Back:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/252 ... 8ec9_b.jpg

Flat:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2068/252 ... 4861_o.jpg

Me wearing it:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/252 ... ceb5_o.jpg

Me wearing it #2:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/252 ... 5d6f_o.jpg

That's a very nice looking jacket, congrats!

That looks like a wested I can say I like!! Looks great on you bro!!

Robert, thanks for fixing!! There was indeed the local IP of some proxy my mobile internet provider is using in the links.. couldn't work for others.

Thanks for your comments, guys!

fantastic looking jacket. makes me eager to get a new one..

I like it!

It's a better colour then my one, obviously from a warmer coloured batch (more brown). Isn't that NP a great new leather? Let it mark and gain some more character by itself before you pecard it.

fantastic looking jacket. you gotta love the novapelle, it's perfect for a CS jacket.

wested also has the advantage that their back panel/yoke/action pleats are more functional than the TN IMO.

that's a great fit too!!!

enjoy in good health.

Looks awesome, and as said before fits great !

A very handsome jacket and you wear it well!

~Ron

it looks good on ya!!!

Kt Templar wrote:I like it!

It's a better colour then my one, obviously from a warmer coloured batch (more brown). Isn't that NP a great new leather? Let it mark and gain some more character by itself before you pecard it.

It's fantastic! I also collected a LC cow and a Raiders horse and I must say that Novapelle is clearly my favourite amongst the "heavier" leathers.

Looks great. The yolk appears longer (like the film version) am I right? Also those pockets appear a bit narrower than the usual jacket. I like it.

Hello to all, Indy maniacs!
I'm Dario from Italy and I love Indiana Jones since 1989 when, at the age of 8, I saw Last Crusade (my favorite episode) at theater with my father!

First post for me here...so, go with my first question: I'm going to order my firs screen accurate Indy jacket an I fall in love for the Wested CS with the new novapelle leather! How can I order that model (with all the specific options of the movie, for example the black lining)? In the order form the CS model is not listed...

My congrats FedoraGuy! Beautiful jacket, you wear it very well!

Thanks and excuse me for bad english (this is my first non-italian forum)!

Hi BazzanoJones,

KT Templar (COW long-time member) told me to order the jacket as "crystal skull style" and they would know - well, they did, apparently ) I did not select any style from the order form, not even submitted any measurements since Wested's "large" size in standard jackets (eg the Wolverine-Jacket from the XMen-movie) fits perfect on me, so I told them I need an "L". On the order form there is a white box for comments to be added to your order, I used that one to tell them I wanted a CS jacket in novepelle.

-TFG

Thanks!

Ciao Dario, benvenuto a bordo dell'arca... dell'alleanza!!

:ItalianMode On: Grazie! Mi sto liquefacendo dall'emozione... :ItalianMode Off:

Since you technically bought an off the rack size...did you have to pay the custom price or the off the rack price??

Custom prize (165 GBP). It's still custom made, just coincidentally with the measurements of an "L" standard jacket - Isn't Wested charging 165 for all British made jackets? Have the feeling that the off-the-racks you can get e.g. at ebay ("state size when ordering: S,M,L,XL") are outsourced and thus cheaper.

Another question or two: what are the correct options for a movie-accurate-looking Wested Crystal Skull jacket?
Black lining and...? Which collar? Which zip? Which D-Rings type? : :

BazzanoJones, guess Kt should answer this one... I really don't know, but I'm not a "has to be 100% sa" guy anyway. I completely relied on Wested when it comes to d-rings, lining etc.

Thanks, I understand this very well.

I'm not truly obsessed with screen-accuracy (if I want to be 100% Crystal Skull SA I'll must buy a "like-diamond-expensive" TN jacket...) but, if it is possible replicate it as better as Mr. Wested can...why not do that?

Fzzzt... "Help me KT! You're my only hope!" Fzzzt...

So this is my jacket, I LOVE it and and very, very happy with it. It's basically the pattern Peter submitted to Bernie way back in May last year.

So LC jacket, Novapelle (Warmer brown NP), pure CS pattern.

But, what would I do to make it more screen like?

1) Omit the stitched hem at the bottom of the jacket.

2) Make the jacket about an inch longer or have the pockets about an inch higher up the jacket (ie further away from the bottom of the jacket - for me that would mean about 2" away from the bottom).

3) Small rectangular boxes on the side straps and the back panel strap box close to the edge of the jacket, also make the D ring leather loop smaller.

4) Black lining. (Probably nylon).

Any of them vital? No. but if it make you happier then go for it, best thing to do is call and chat with Peter. He's a gent.

Note: I have no idea if he will do any of this, he may just say CS pattern is fixed, no changes. And it would be just as good a jacket.

i think peter should keep the jacket exactly as how it was proposed to bernie....no changes.

wouldn't it be in poor taste for you to request the jacket be modified so that it looks more like the one that was chosen over westeds? just my opinion of course.

......plus, i'm sure peter is sick of all of our 'special requests'. i was looking through the closet and found my old goat wested that i was trying to sell many moons ago. i believe it to be a good example of what the design migrated to to ensure longevity via peter's knowledge of how to put together a good strong jacket.....and i found it to fit, drape quite nicely and it was built tough as nails as well with facings galore. it dawned on me that all of our SA requests turned the design of the jacket back to a movie jacket....somehing that peter wanted to improve upon from the get-go. sorry, peter, you just can't win with us. we're too finicky of a group.....i'm surprised you've put up with us for this long so kudos to you

Thanks KT and Indiana G for suggestions, I've understood the issue...you're right.

So, I'll order for sure a standard novapelle CS jacket (but with black liner)!
Thanks to all for help and advices. When I'll get the jacket I will post some photos.

LITTLE OT:
I don't know if someone have proposed this by now, but...what you think about making a sort of COW YouTube channel to upload video-review of various jackets, hats, etc.?

I say that because I'll think is very useful to see how various item move, react to dynamic light, etc.
In one video it's more easy to estimate, for example, the weight and the feeling of a jacket; or the softness and the texture of a hat.

What do you think? I'm a newbie of this forum (and my english is very poor), so I anticipate mi excuse if this is an old and abused topic.

KT, very good looking jacket. I really want to get one from Peter, but am quite worried about the QC and durability due to my past experience. I was going to get the TN, but I can't stand the very big sleeves. This one seems to have better looking sleeves. I really do not need another, but then again do any of us? I am quite happy with my G&B.....but this jacket by Wested looks great.

Indiana G wrote:i think peter should keep the jacket exactly as how it was proposed to bernie....no changes.

wouldn't it be in poor taste for you to request the jacket be modified so that it looks more like the one that was chosen over westeds? just my opinion of course.

Oh, I don't think he mind tooooo much



Not mine I might add, sleeves are too long, but I was tempted!

that was my older one.

I think you should go for it KT.it looks so good on your frame...can't they not just raise the sleeves a bit and put an extra seam you know where?


bests
Holt

I'm starting to like the "look" of the Wested CS NP more than TN's "Tony the Tiger" distressed pattern.......and I don't think their leather is any less durable than a TN as some have pointed out.

PSBIndy wrote:I'm starting to like the "look" of the Wested CS NP more than TN's "Tony the Tiger" distressed pattern.......and I don't think their leather is any less durable than a TN as some have pointed out.

You can get a Nowak with no distressing at all. The second one I ordered I got with light distressing. If you want a real life side by side I am going to be at Wizard World Chicago and would be happy to bring my wested so you can see for yourself how different they really are. As side by side will show why Harrison Ford wore this jacket.

Han Jones wrote:

PSBIndy wrote:I'm starting to like the "look" of the Wested CS NP more than TN's "Tony the Tiger" distressed pattern.......and I don't think their leather is any less durable than a TN as some have pointed out.

You can get a Nowak with no distressing at all. The second one I ordered I got with light distressing. If you want a real life side by side I am going to be at Wizard World Chicago and would be happy to bring my wested so you can see for yourself how different they really are. As side by side will show why Harrison Ford wore this jacket.

However, the problem is, with no distressing, the Nowak is no longer "SA" and becomes no better than a Wested CS jacket. To me the whole point to getting the Nowak is to get the SA CS jacket seen in the film. Once you deviate from what Tony supplied to Harrison, the Nowak becomes just another Indy jacket. I don't understand why someone would spend $700 for a SA jacket and get something that is not SA.

I don't want to go off topic so all I will say is I have on distressed and one not. Who knows what the prop people did to the jacket after they got it from Tony. I have 2 CS prototype from Wested and 2 CS jackets from Tony. If people want a 250.00 jacket they will order a Wested and love it. If people want a 700.00 jacket they will get a Nowak and they will love it. Like I said if you want a side by side let me know. I wish I could have seen them both before I bought.

Han Jones wrote:I don't want to go off topic so all I will say is I have on distressed and one not. Who knows what the prop people did to the jacket after they got it from Tony. I have 2 CS prototype from Wested and 2 CS jackets from Tony. If people want a 250.00 jacket they will order a Wested and love it. If people want a 700.00 jacket they will get a Nowak and they will love it. Like I said if you want a side by side let me know. I wish I could have seen them both before I bought.

So, in retrospect, if you had seen the two beforehand, you've would bought the TN and not the Wested, right? Just curious, in all honesty, if did not know what the prices of the 2 jackets were, do you think you'd still would have picked the TN?

Yes I would have went with the Nowak.

PSBIndy wrote:TN's "Tony the Tiger" distressed pattern

Actually, the distressing looks much better in person. I posted some pics of my TN in another thread. In direct sunlight it is noticable, but not so much indoors. Indoors it looks just like it does on screen. Anyway, TN said the distressing would blend and fade somewhat in time. However, if it bothers anyone, some Pecard's will definitely tame it. I am fairly certain they used it or something like it for the movie. When I saw CS the second time I did notice the distressed lines on the sleeves, but they were toned down considerably.

As to whether the jacket is more durable than a Wested, I cannot make a fair comparison. The only Wested I own is the ROTLA lambsking (which I love). However, if there is a jacket made better than TN's current CS jacket, I would certainly love to see it. Wested makes a great jacket, but I think Peter's CS version looks a lot like his previous offerings (not a bad thing) but it differs so much from the Nowak jacket that IMO it is not a CS jacket, it is (based on the history as I understand it) a CS prototype.

Han Jones wrote:

PSBIndy wrote:I'm starting to like the "look" of the Wested CS NP more than TN's "Tony the Tiger" distressed pattern.......and I don't think their leather is any less durable than a TN as some have pointed out.

You can get a Nowak with no distressing at all. The second one I ordered I got with light distressing. If you want a real life side by side I am going to be at Wizard World Chicago and would be happy to bring my wested so you can see for yourself how different they really are. As side by side will show why Harrison Ford wore this jacket.

Are you sure that is the reason why Harrison Ford wore a TN? I thought it has more to do with location?
The wardrobe alters all the jackets by distressing so naturally they would have preferred a type of leather they can manipulate easier and are not too sturdy a hide. As long as it looks good on screen actual quality is a poor second.

The myth of location as the reason for Nowak getting the job is one that will be talked about here for years to come but it is not true. Tony got the job because of the quality of his jackets.

Han Jones wrote:The myth of location as the reason for Nowak getting the job is one that will be talked about here for years to come but it is not true. Tony got the job because of the quality of his jackets.

Same guy who constantly forgets the other 50% of the people who made the hats and also the very person who introduced him to the hatter too.

Simple truth, Pollack panicked at the 4 day turn around to get changes to him, broke his verbal contract and gave the job to a local.

Where did you get this information? People are entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. I have been told by many "in the know" people here that the decision was made on quality not location. If location was the only factor why have hats shipped from Germany and Mississippi. Why not have Baron hats make all of them? I would not comment on a US wings or Flightsuit jacket because I have never handled one. Have you ever had a Nowak jacket in your hands?

As someone who owns both -- three Westeds, actually -- I have to agree with Han. The two are very different animals. Even the most partisan person, and those abound here, as in any forum, would be loathe not to admit that much upon being able to examine both.

Han Jones wrote:Where did you get this information? People are entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. I have been told by many "in the know" people here that the decision was made on quality not location. If location was the only factor why have hats shipped from Germany and Mississippi. Why not have Baron hats make all of them? I would not comment on a US wings or Flightsuit jacket because I have never handled one. Have you ever had a Nowak jacket in your hands?

I got my information as it happened play by play. Not the revised "winner of the war" version.

I knew when Pollack promised Wested 33 jackets. I knew when he said: "I have to get the 'principal' jackets made here but I still want you to make 20 for the stunt guys". And I knew when he finally broke the news and pulled the contract.

I'm sure that Nowak makes a very sturdy jacket, he is used to building jackets for bodybuilders. That must afford a certain skill. But I have also seen many many jackets on his website. They are not well fitted or designed.

Kt Templar wrote:I'm sure that Nowak makes a very sturdy jacket, he is used to building jackets for bodybuilders. That must afford a certain skill. But I have also seen many many jackets on his website. They are not well fitted or designed.

And I have seen many Westeds in my day that were poorly fitted and designed. You need only browse these boards for countless such examples.

That said, I would never make such a judgement off a website. I think doing so would be extremely unfair. You need to hold them in your hands. Just my opinion...

As is that both vendors make good products for the price and are nice gentlemen. They are just -- in my firsthand experience -- readily different.

I believe my Wested horsehide will outlast a TN jacket. My 'ol Wested HH is, to me, the finest and toughest leather jacket I have ever seen....if I had to be dragged by a truck, nothing but a HH will do.

I would love to see a HH as I have never seen this hide. Like I said I will be at Wizard World Chicago with the Nowak so it would be great to compare. No doubt there are going to be hard feeling about Tony doing the jackets. I don't want to degrade Wested by any means. I know what I have been told and belive it to be true based soley on the reputation of those who have told me the story of why the Nowak came to be. A Nowak must be seen to be judged.

Han Jones wrote:The myth of location as the reason for Nowak getting the job is one that will be talked about here for years to come but it is not true. Tony got the job because of the quality of his jackets.

Movie props are not valued for its quality but for its pliability and availability. A strong and structurily well made jacket poses obstacle that result in more work for the wardrobe to make it film authentic. I dont think there is any myth regarding location. Tried and tested contrator with a history of previous dealings in the movie business are often favourite unless location and availability becomes an issue.

Han Jones wrote:Where did you get this information? People are entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. I have been told by many "in the know" people here that the decision was made on quality not location. If location was the only factor why have hats shipped from Germany and Mississippi. Why not have Baron hats make all of them? I would not comment on a US wings or Flightsuit jacket because I have never handled one. Have you ever had a Nowak jacket in your hands?

Regarding the fedoras I think it was a close call, again it was timeing and one of the principle hatters in this partnership company was US based to sort out any modifications. Maybe Wested should think about opening a US workshop?

Han Jones wrote:No doubt there are going to be hard feeling about Tony doing the jackets.

By whom? Owners of Wested Raiders and LC jackets? I doubt it. I think most of us are glad to see another Indy jacket provider.

SD