just ordered a 50's half belt

[beefy]

g'day,

I've been lurking on here a while now, and I figured as I just hit "Process Order"on an Aero 50's half belt, it would be a good time to introduce myself. I'd been considering getting a jacket for a while, and the amount of knowledge and discussion on this board has been extremely helpful. It's made spending a significant amount of money on an unknown piece of clothing over the internet a far less horrifying experience.

Anyway, this is what I've decided to go with. I live in Brisbane, so my biggest concern is basically that the jacket is not too warm - I'd like to be able to wear it most of Autumn through Spring, and be able to layer under it if I head south during the winter. From what I've read about the FQHH, I'm not sure I'll be wearing it enough to break it in. That said, if I ever have a second go at an Aero, I'll probably go with the FQHH.

Size 42 50's half-belt, seal brown MWHH
brown cotton drill lining
extra 1.5" body length
no storm cuffs
two side adjustment straps per side
2 vertical inside pockets in lining, with stud close

so, now I play the waiting game and try not to change my mind too often.

 

[ButteMT61]

Hi beefy: I got the 50's HBD. One thing I'd recommend: get something other than cotton drill lining in the sleeves. I believe I was guided to do so and I wish I had. Not a huge deal, but it is harder to get thicker shirts through the sleeves in the winter. It's got some resistance to it. I forget what the shinier/slicker lining is called, but I'd go with that to make donning/doffing easier. Working on three hours sleep, so sorry I can't pull the word out of my head.
Good luck on the jacket. You have plenty of time to make the change before they make it.

 

[Tony B]

Cotton sateen?

Aero will do a double lining so satin over cotton would be an option.

 

[Cooperson]

beefy - Before you rule out FQHH and if you haven't already done it, I would ask Amanda to send you some samples of the heavy and mid weight hides. Aero's heavy front quarter really is very special indeed and the difference in warmth would be marginal.

The only thing I would suggest is adding is a leather strip along the inside bottom hem. Having had the lining on my Highwayman droop and start to show at the back, this small modification is now a must for any new order for me.

Best of luck with your order and welcome to the forum.

 

[beefy]

Thanks for the comments. I've emailed Amanda this morning to ask if they can send some samples - the seal brown mid weight, oil pull and brown fqhh. Hopefully they can, because from everything I've seen on here the FQHH looks the business. It would be a bit rash to rule it out without seeing it.

I will be asking for satin in the sleeves - I was not sure what is standard in that regard, so that's very useful to know. Also didn't realise that the lining could droop that far - the leather strip is going in as well.

so much for thinking I would be done thinking it over once I'd ordered :lol:

 

[Tony B]

The sample of midweight horse that aero sent me whilst being lighter than FQHH didn't "break" as easily...the FQHH being so waxy breaks very quickley but the midweight just seemed like it would be a longer breaking than the heavy stuff and ...and this IS important, it didn't have that smell.....you'll see what i mean when you get samples.

Satin sleave lining helps a lot but aero dont do strait satin as it would rub and wear very quickly with heavy leather but are happy to put it over something else that will act as a "cushion"

I got my 50s long halfbelt secondhand and it didn't have the leather rubbing strip which is something it does need.

Unless you do a lot of weights and have massive arms one other thing that might be worth considering would be getting the armholes raised a bit..they do batwing a lot when you raise your arms, another option would be to ask for underarm gussets (footballs) like the ANJ4 flight jackets has, to improve arm movement.

 

[ButteMT61]

Check out my 50's HBD in this thread.
Keep in mind, those pics were taken literally minutes after picking up from Aero Scotland and were taken in Kelso, Scotland in freakin' cold weather! The jacket was brand new, stiff, and with the cold, didn't mould much to my body! I've had it now (and am wearing it) 2.5 months and I LOVE IT! It's the Oil-Pull FQHH which is beautiful to say the least. It has a red undertone and already looks vintage. Sadly, we've had really warm weather here in California, so I have not been able to wear it much, but when we were in Scotland/UK/France for three weeks, I wore it in the rain, hail, and wind and it's a jacket I will always have and pass to my son. There is something to be said for lighter hides - you'll find that ONE jacket will never fit all your needs - but the only thing on this jacket I'd change is to add a sateen lining to the sleeves for easier on/off with a heavier shirt and/or sweater.
The removable fur collar makes cold laughable. It's so comfortable and pretty easy to put on and take off - assuming your fingers aren't too cold and stiff
It's perfect. It's lovely. It's all I hoped for. HTH.

 

[HighandDry]

I agree with TonyB. I really don't like the midweight HH. I find that while it is lighter, it does take a longer time to break in. The look of the leather I also find to be more "plastically".

I would be wary of changing the cut/pattern of the arm holes.

 

[beefy]

just a quick update, seeing as my credit card just got charged. I guess that means the jacket is very close to being made. Amanda estimated mid-May, so it all seems to be going fairly typically.

After one set went missing in the mail, I finally received some samples a few weeks back.

I got samples of the FQHH, the oil pull and midweight seal. I pretty much moved on from the midweight as soon as I compared it to the other two. Not really what I thought it would be, and you can see that it might take longer to break in.
I was finding it difficult to decide between the oil pull and the FQHH - both looked like good options - the oil pull is more flexible than the FQHH so I was leaning that way for a while.

I went with the FQHH, and in the end, the reputation of the FQHH and the fact it was thinner than I was expecting is what made my mind up.

I also went with the leather strip on the inside. The advice from here was pretty valuable, so thanks for that.

Pretty excited to finally get this jacket, so bring on the postman I guess.

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

The total feeling of the jacket will be a little different then from that of the samples, and the thickness can also vary, but I believe you made the right choice in going with the FQHH, it is georgeous.
What I mean is even if the leather seems thin, the jacket will be substantial in weight.
Normally when my card is charged it means they start making the jacket and its shipped the same day or the day after.

 

[wdw]

Talking of the jacket being made, does anyone know how long it takes once you get to the top of the list?

I have two on order, but because I ordered from the factory itself they didn't take my card details and said they'd just contact me later, presumably when they start making them.

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

As I said, my understanding is: when its your turn, Amanda contacts you by mail, you call her and give her your cardnumbers, she charges the card and if it goes through she says "go" to the machinist to start making the jacket. Its then shipped the same day or the day after. This has been my experience with 2 of my 4 jackets. The first 2 I payed beforehand just to get it over with.

 

[wdw]

So the jacket is rattled off in a day, start to finish? No waiting to go from one part of the factory to another? I kind of thought it might go round the houses before going out the door. That's good then.

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

This is how it seems its done. It is also said here that persons have visited the factory, had their measurements taken, visited and had a lot of fun and their jacket was done after 6 hours (i might be mistaken about the exact time, but the same day) so they had a jacket with them home the same day they came.

Offcourse the jacket and parts of it are going around the factory, the hides are in one place, taken to the cutting board, and then off to the machinist, sewn and then finally inspected by will or something like that (with more stops than that Im sure) but it looks like its completed in about 6 hours. Yes in a way its remarkable, but I guess after carefully selecting hides and after they have cut them....there is "simply" to sew it together

 

[Rudie]

My experience is they make the jackets, contact me for my card number, charge the card and then ship the jacket.

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

Ok. In my mails they have stated "call us we are about to make your jacket"

But it might depend on the customer, a returning customers jacket might be started, or if its a jacket that can be sold if something goes wrong like a Highwayman size 40 then its safe to start it.

 

[Rudie]

Both my jackets were highly customized and with measurements that make them quite unusual. Actually something with the second order went wrong, and they have to make a complete new jacket. We found out about the issue after they had made the jacket but before they sent it to me.

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

Ok then

In anyway, if they charge the card - its not long before they send it out
beefy should have an email with the packaging slip right now.

 

[beefy]

no email yet, but UPS have given me the tracking number... it's in the country, so it looks like Friday or Monday. Could be an irritating weekend

 

[andy richards]

The leather strap on the inside hem prevents the lining from sagging after a couple of years wearing.
Here some pics taken when the jacket was new. Will make a few more this weekend to show you how the jacket looks right now.
Cheers,
Andy