Club Obi Wan

I've got a five year old son. He's a dork and I'm promoting it as much as I can.

See...





The last couple of years, he's had a green naval jacket (with orange interior) and all the proper squadron patches for the old VF-84 Jolly Rogers F-14 squadron, when they were stationed on the Nimitz, which I put together for him. It looked pretty cool, to be honest with you.

He's gotten huge, so that jacket no longer fits him.

So guess what?


What do you guys think of this jacket... http://www.uswings.com/aviatn.asp#KIJVIN

That's a LOT of money for a jacket that he'll only wear for a couple of years.

Do you guys know of another source that I'm not finding? I tried Ebay and all the other regular sources.

EchoSix wrote: That's a LOT of money for a jacket that he'll only wear for a couple of years.

Don't you love him? Isn't he worth it? Have you considered having more babies so you can get more usage out of the jacket?

I'm just kidding, yeah, it's a lot of money. Before this new Indy kid jacket, US Wings had a dark brown Raiders looking one, that went on sale to $90. So I bought the smallest size, and the largest size. I think my kid was 1, and she's just now big enough to wear the small at 8 years old.

It's funny, when she first started wearing it she really wanted to distress it, and keeps asking me about when we're going to hit it with some sandpaper. The other week, she said "Hey when are we going to distress my Indiana Jones jacket? Because no one knows what it is." Boy, that really brought it home, huh? What's second grade like, with an Indiana Jones jacket no one recognizes.

Ah... I just read on the Wings site, that that jacket's pockets DON'T allow for side entry, to keep your hands warm. That doesn't make sense. Why would they do that?

Strength, is what I was told. Due to the downsizing of the pattern, side entry pockets on a jacket that small tends to weaken the side seams, unlike an adult size, as using it adds even more stress when a side entry pocket is used. An adult size allows the stress more material to spread across in use, but the smaller the area, the stress is concentrated in one location, so they decided to err on the side of caution and eliminate the side entry pocket. Considering how rough kids are on their clothing..... ;-)

As a personal observation, it's one less thing to snag for a kid while out on an adventure...

All that said, in polls conducted right here, it was discovered that very few members even USE the side pockets, and many have had them sewn shut for the very reasons listed above. If adults are having problems with pockets, what do you think would happen with the heavy use by a child?! Seams would be ripping left and right, either off the pocket or the side of the jacket itself.

Regards! Michaelson

Just delivered one to my grandson ,well worth the price to see the look on his face......as the commercial says "Priceless"....quality is first rate and good distressed leather appearance........Hatch

Michaelson wrote:Strength, is what I was told. Due to the downsizing of the pattern, side entry pockets on a jacket that small tends to weaken the side seams, unlike an adult size, as using it adds even more stress when a side entry pocket is used. An adult size allows the stress more material to spread across in use, but the smaller the area, the stress is concentrated in one location, so they decided to err on the side of caution and eliminate the side entry pocket. Considering how rough kids are on their clothing..... ;-)

I find that surprising. Jean jackets have side entry pockets, and hold up fine for kids, don't they? I wouldn't use the side warmers on my Wested (it's hardly used and the stitching is coming apart) but would on my TN.

Anyways, the old design used to have 'em. My daughter and I attacked the jacket this morning and I gotta say, whatever they used back then is quite a durable leather. They used to do a fine job on reinforcing the pocket seam too.



Why are these rarely seen on the aftermarket?? Passed down through the generations?

(BTW, great Halloween pic, EchoSix!)

That's because they used to make them in New Jersey. The sales weren't that great, and the cost vs sales just made it a difficult situation as it was too expensive. They were dropped for a while until this arrangement was made. Agreed, the old stuff was tough as nails, but more expensive too.

As to a jean jacket, keep in mind that at least that's cotton denim, and if it tears, it's easily fixed. Once you poke a hole in leather, it stays there....and yes, I've had side pockets tear out of my Levi's jean jacket (as well as MY daughters jackets) after a few years of use, so it does happen.

Do a search around here. You'll find a few posts and polls about this problem. The side entry pocket on the Indy jacket was not a very good idea in the long run. Speaking for myself, I've NEVER used them on any jacket I've owned to date, and that's a lot of jackets!

Regards! Michaelson

First, I LOVE that top pic of you and your Son. By the way, he's no dork. If I saw an Ironman costume like that when I was young, I would have considered him THE man!

Second, go ahead and buy the jacket. You can always re-sell it here or Ebay. I had Peter make my Daughter one four years ago and now my 2-year old is "eyeing" it.



Regards, Dr. J

I thought the same thing when I saw Baldwyn and his daughter's photo. MAN does that bring back memories of my gals when they were that age.

Enjoy them while you can, my friends! They grow up to fast, and are soon gone.

Regards! Michaelson

I have the US Wings Kids Adventurer for my five year old and when it comes to fit unless he has a huge growth spurt we think we will get three years out of it. Durability wise we just have to wait and see. The jacket seems solidly constructed and I do know I'm going to have to replace the D-Rings soon as they are junk. The only other alternative I am aware of is a custom Wested and it was in the same price range last I looked.

Indy's secret new weapon - the dreaded glue stick gun!

Thanks for the nice words.

Everyone has beautiful kids.

And yeah, he's a dork. If there was a kingdom full of them, he'd be their king. He's in costume almost as much as my daughter dresses up in her princess stuff.

This was just a day (a couple of years ago actually), we decided to go down the road in costume, to pick up my oldest daughter, who was at a friends house...



Here's last year's Halloween shot...



I don't know why that picture came out looking so purplish...

This is hours before trick or treating this year...



And a photoshop I did of that picture...






Anyway... I actually got contacted by a fellow COW member and purchased his son's old Indy style jacket. I'm gonna' follow in his footsteps and wait a couple years before I get my son his first Wested. He's pretty rough with his things right now, regardless of anything we tell him, so I'll wait till he gets it out of his system.

That should only take about 42 years.

....and by then it WILL be the mileage AND the years.... ;-)

Regard! Michaelson

First of all, I take no offense to you calling your son a dork in this context. There are plenty of dorks and geeks around here (we know who we are) and we're family that way.

Second, if I had an Iron Man costume like that when I was a kid, I never would've taken it off!

Oh... I'll admit it freely... I'm a geek. As I get older, I wear that sign even more proudly.

This whole thread is awesome! It's so nice to see such a proud, loving parent/s. Echo, you're a superb Dad, and I hope to be one like you someday. A few more Dad's like you, and this world would be a much nicer place. Don't ever change.

Well I'm glad you think so. I JUST got through howling at him, for YET AGAIN, jumping on the couch with his little sister. He's been told... I don't know... A thousand times maybe , not to jump on the couch anymore. I feel like I'm howling at him more often than not.

He just doesn't listen.

They never do!

Mine are in their late 20's, and they STILL go through spells like that, so get used to it...... ;-)

Regards! Michaelson

Your daughters are still jumping on your couch? At least they're not recreating "Hop On Pop" at this age!

binkmeisterRick wrote:Your daughters are still jumping on your couch? At least they're not recreating "Hop On Pop" at this age!

Yep. They are.

Regards! Michaelson

OUCH!

Yep. You know it.

I still win, though. I cheat. Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill, don't cha know?

Regards! Michaelson

That's why you're da man!

EchoSix wrote: Thanks for the nice words.

Everyone has beautiful kids.

And yeah, he's a dork. If there was a kingdom full of them, he'd be their king. He's in costume almost as much as my daughter dresses up in her princess stuff.

This was just a day (a couple of years ago actually), we decided to go down the road in costume, to pick up my oldest daughter, who was at a friends house...



Anyway... I actually got contacted by a fellow COW member and purchased his son's old Indy style jacket. I'm gonna' follow in his footsteps and wait a couple years before I get my son his first Wested. He's pretty rough with his things right now, regardless of anything we tell him, so I'll wait till he gets it out of his system.

That should only take about 42 years.

I am reading and feeling your every word EchoSix!











Only the last pic was taken on Halloween, the rest are just a little boy acting out his fantasies on any day of the week. The WORST part is when he is "in character" he refuses to answer to his given name. AND ALL OF THIS MY FAULT!

He was doing that today! We went over to the printing place and other errands and he was insisting I call him Indy, instead of "cheesebucket" or "fuzzmonkey" or whatever goofy term of endearment I chose for him at that moment.

"DaaaAAAAD! Stop calling me that! I'm INDY!!!!"

"Yes, almighty King Indy Dork."

"No! JUST! INDY!!!!"

"Indy, watch where youre going. Here... Hold my hand... Indiana."