My new AB shirt vs. Wested with new better pics

Bags, Boots, Shirts and all other gear should be discussed here.

Moderators: Mike, Cajunkraut, Tennessee Smith

Post Reply
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

My new AB shirt vs. Wested with new better pics

Post by TheMechanic »

Here's my brand new AB shirt that I got yesterday. I put it through the wash once last night.

It's pictured here next to my re-dyed and re-buttoned Wested.

The AB (left) is a size Large and the Wested (right) is a Medium.

The AB shoulder width for me is perfect, the seam falls exactly on my shoulder whereas the Wested has larger more drooping shoulders.

The AB sleeves are really long for me. I usually wear a 33/34 sleeve and the AB sleeves are closer to 36. The body of the AB is more fitted than the Wested as well. I had to take in my Wested by 2" to get a less baggy look. The AB body length is also considerably longer than the Wested but that could be just the size difference (large vs. medium).

Look at the difference in fabric and the size difference in the epaulettes!

Sorry for the bad pics, will upgrade later. Pictures were taken inside this morning with some sunlight and camera flash.

Image
Image
Last edited by TheMechanic on Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Cassidy
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 1175
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2003 10:24 am
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada...

Post by Cassidy »

Love that AB shirt - it just screams Indy.
User avatar
morethanatimelord
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 422
Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2008 7:39 am

Post by morethanatimelord »

the epaulettes do look quite long on the wested shirt but then i think the they look a little short on the AB but thats just my opinion :). the epaulettes were long`ish on the shirt in raiders
agent5
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3911
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 8:02 pm

Post by agent5 »

Never liked that Wested shirt. The execution was wrong from the get-go. Just about any other shirt looks better next to it except the WPG.
User avatar
DVD Connoisseur
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 143
Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:38 pm
Location: UK

Post by DVD Connoisseur »

The AB shirt looks spot on! Excellent addition to the wardrobe!
User avatar
Cassidy
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 1175
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2003 10:24 am
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada...

Post by Cassidy »

I've owned 5 MBA shirts - if someone told me that AB was an MBA I wouldn't know the difference...OK, me wants one now.
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

It looks even better in person. It has a very slight rosey hue to it that the camera didn't pick up.

The Wested epaluettes are so long because that shirt has the shoulder seams up on the top of the shoulder which makes for a longer seam & longer epaulette.

The AB shirt has the shoulder seams down more on the front of the shoulder at more of an angle so the epaulettes are not as long.

I love it. Very nice and well worth the wait.

The bag strap buckles I got from them are also by far the best available.
User avatar
jacksdad
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 637
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2008 1:08 pm
Location: Lake in the Hills, Illinois

Post by jacksdad »

Looks great and enjoy,is that an old avatar or did you cut your hair?
User avatar
serrecuir
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 288
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2007 1:05 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Post by serrecuir »

Ahh, I definitely have to get an AB shirt now! Looks a lot like the MBA shirt, which has always been my favorite. Thanks for the pics, Mechanic.

-Craig

ps - I love my AB bag strap buckle too! I just put one on my new Magnoli strap, and I couldn't be happier!
User avatar
McFly
Scoundrel
Posts: 3720
Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2004 1:55 pm
Location: DBSSWDD

Post by McFly »

jacksdad wrote:Looks great and enjoy,is that an old avatar or did you cut your hair?
I think it was before he lost his eye, though he did say somewhere else that he got a haircut. Looks good, Mechanic!

The shirts - I like the wrinkles on the AB shirt but I'm still a big fan of the Todd's color. Maybe when you upgrade pictures you'll be able to pick up that "rosey hue," it has. Looking forward to new pics!

Shane
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

It's a brand new photo, I cut my hair and I've always had 2 fully functioning eyes. My old avatar was me in my Snake Plissken get up.

I'll really try to get some descent outdoor photos later.

Thanks guys.
User avatar
McFly
Scoundrel
Posts: 3720
Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2004 1:55 pm
Location: DBSSWDD

Post by McFly »

TheMechanic wrote:. . .and I've always had 2 fully functioning eyes. My old avatar was me in my Snake Plissken get up.
Oh, I was just messin' around! :lol:

Shane
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

Here's the new outside pictures. Taken at approx 2:30pm.

Adventurebilt is now on the right, Wested on the left. Remember, my Wested has been re-dyed and has new buttons. It is not a standard Wested.
Image
Image
Image
Image

I know McFly but you'd be amazed how many people used to ask me about my eye!
User avatar
Texan Scott
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 5838
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:55 am
Location: A felt body at rest tends to stay at rest. Sieze the day!
Contact:

Post by Texan Scott »

When I saw that shirt, I thought of the Cairo, Sallah's terrace scene. The ep's, color, wrinkle, etc., on the AB is a ringer! The ep's on the Wested look much wider & longer, also. The WPG doubles as a 'chute I heard! My vote is for the AB...when is that shirt due in the mail anyway? hmm....
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

I got mine in 2 months.

The trick with these shirts is getting one that has the right shoulder width for you.

If you have baggy shoulders then the epaulettes are going to look too long and ill fitting.

Aside from the sleeves being too long, the shirt fits perfect on me. The sleeves are no big deal as they wi;; either be rolled up of hidden under the jacket sleeves.

Oh yeah, the Wested shirt does not wrinkle either. It's a 80/20 cotton/poly fabric. I've washed that shirt at least 10 times in hot water and put it in the dryer for hours on end. Nothing.

The AB will wrinkle after the first washing. Just right.

Notice also how different the button placement is on the 2 shirts.
Last edited by TheMechanic on Wed Aug 20, 2008 4:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Texan Scott
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 5838
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:55 am
Location: A felt body at rest tends to stay at rest. Sieze the day!
Contact:

Post by Texan Scott »

I bet we can thank Marc for his attention to detail? The emblem is really cool, the Headpiece? Great idea! Any chance of getting a closeup of it?
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

Here you go-

Image
User avatar
Texan Scott
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 5838
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:55 am
Location: A felt body at rest tends to stay at rest. Sieze the day!
Contact:

Post by Texan Scott »

...did Marc remove the jewel before he sent it? j/k! Thanks!
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

I can't see the back of the headpiece so I've been digging in the wrong place all day.
User avatar
conceited_ape
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 741
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 2:48 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by conceited_ape »

Hang on, Mechanic. Did you say you finally got your strap buckles as well? :shock:

ARGH! Three and a half months and still nothing! :cry:
User avatar
Indiana Jake
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 576
Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 3:41 am
Location: Seated in a Pan Am Sea Plane, flying over a map of Glendale, CA
Contact:

Post by Indiana Jake »

Nice dye job on the Wested shirt. What did you do for the buttons you replaced? Hopefully my AB will arrive soon.

Indiana Jake
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

Yes, my 2 buckles were in with the shirt. I spent about an hour or so sanding and polishing out the rough edges. Now it's all smooth and shiny. I hope you get yours soon.

Glad you like the dye job on the Wested. I replaced the buttons with buttons from a 10 year old GAP brand shirt I had laying around and they worked out perfectly.
User avatar
Treadwell
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2005 6:22 pm

Post by Treadwell »

TheMechanic wrote: Oh yeah, the Wested shirt does not wrinkle either. It's a 80/20 cotton/poly fabric. I've washed that shirt at least 10 times in hot water and put it in the dryer for hours on end. Nothing.
To make my WPG look wrinkled, I wash it in the machine and hang it up to drip dry. No dryer. Comes out nice and rumpled. It's 100% cotton, though. Worth a try, maybe!
User avatar
Cassidy
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 1175
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2003 10:24 am
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada...

Post by Cassidy »

After seeing this shirt I need to get one. How much did that bad boy set you back?

I can't get over how awesome it looks - definitely on par with the MBA which, to me, is the pinnacle.
[/b]
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

It was 69 Euros shipped.
I'll try washing my Wested and hanging it dry. Maybe I'll roll it up and sleep on it or something to get it wrinkled. Not a big deal now that I have my AB. :D
User avatar
Cassidy
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 1175
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2003 10:24 am
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada...

Post by Cassidy »

TheMechanic wrote:It was 69 Euros shipped.
I'll try washing my Wested and hanging it dry. Maybe I'll roll it up and sleep on it or something to get it wrinkled. Not a big deal now that I have my AB. :D
Thanks! Honestly...I'd sell that Wested for more gear. The AB beats it, based on pics alone.

Do you have an MBA/Noel Howard shirt? I wonder what the fabric weight comparison is...
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

No, I don't have an MBA shirt. From what I've read and seen they are very close in style, design and fabric. Not so much in color but fabric.

I still want a Todds but the whole, "they're in stock, they're out of stock, they may be in stock, we don't know when they'll be in stock" thing really put me off.

The only thing about the Adventurebilt shirt that isn't dead on are the buttons. I think they're too light. The buttons I found for my Wested, I believe are the exact color seen in Raiders. More of a grey tone. If I come across more I'll probably switch them out.
Last edited by TheMechanic on Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
weaponx24
Field Surveyor
Field Surveyor
Posts: 95
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:55 am
Location: Morrisville, PA

Post by weaponx24 »

Where did you get your AB shirt from? Did you order it online?
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

To order one you'll have to PM Marc and go from there. He'll give you the info.
User avatar
Satipo
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 1110
Joined: Thu Jun 29, 2006 4:44 am
Location: London, England

Post by Satipo »

The AB looks great. But I always felt it was a shame Marc didn't try to capture the longer Raiders-style epaulettes - a vital detail to my eyes. Maybe a future improvement is on the cards?
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

Yes, the AB epaulettes could afford to be longer. Here's a good screen cap of the Raiders epaulette. You can see how far beyond the pleat it goes.

Image

Perhaps a hybrid of the AB shirt with the Wested length epaulettes and the pen pocket stitch would yield the most accurate shirt.
Post Reply