PROP RESEARCH AND HISTORY
Lee Keppler
The "RAIDERS" "Keppler" prototype jacket
The jacket pictured here is the "Keppler" prototype that was made by Flight Suits from Lee Keppler's specifications.
Click on photo for larger image
New Seal Brown Chrome Flight Suits
Expedition
(narrative as posted by Lee Keppler on the Club
Obi Wan message forum at Indygear.com)
As I sit at
the keyboard, cup of tea in hand, I feel quite satisfied. A quest for a
"screen accurate" Raiders jacket that began when I did an Indy themed
ad in Firepower magazine for our company, Special Weapons Products, in 1984 has
finally been fulfilled. This afternoon I picked up my new seal brown goatskin
Expedition jacket over at Flight Suits. This is the "post mod" jacket
with the new pocket placement and Nomex lined hand-warmers. As I checked it
over, I realized that I finally had the jacket I'd been after for eighteen
years! The Expedition was modeled from a documented Raiders jacket that
Patterson had access to. He was allowed to measure everything about it (hey,
he's an accountant) so you know It's right. A couple of things got lost for a
while in the translation (pocket placement?) but the latest version is perfect.
The photo of HF as Indy on the back cover of a coffee table book called
"Stars" gives a great look of some parts of the jacket not easily
seen, such as the underarm gussets. When I had jackets produced by Flight Suits
from photos in 1985 for fans that realized you just don't go to the jacket shop
and buy one, we could only see the gusset as a crescent shaped panel. Now, with
Patterson's measurements, we now know the gusset looks like Mick Jagger's lips.
You can turn three dimensions into two (photo) dimensions, but not visa-versa.
Everything is now correct on this jacket.
Strap placement, attaching method (no more "X" box stitching), and the
correct black rectangular loops for strap retention are all on the money. Pocket
placement and flap scalloping is picture perfect. The optional YKK nickel
zipper, great, and the new lining material is not only as indestructible as the
old supplier's material, but it has the "satin" look. And I even like
the color!. I could go on, but you get the idea. If having a "screen
accurate" jacket means a lot to you, It's now available. Yes, it is priced
a bit higher than others on the market, but to me having the correct look is
worth it! If you are interested, click here
to visit Flightsuits.com.
Back to Adventure Gear
Site Best viewed at
800X600, designed for Microsoft Internet Explorer
Copyright © 2002