Vanguard Improving

[winterg]

This is the best looking GT Badge I have seen from VG.  The white blobs with no definition were horrible, but these actually look pretty decent.  I'd be happier if the wreaths were closer to the AF duty badges, but we can't have everything!  This is the second thing I have received recently that shows a lot of improvement in quality.  Kudos to Vanguard for making positive changes to their products.

[NIN]

I agree it looks much better than the one I have, but the wreath around the main badge still isn't like the wreath on the metal badge

[winterg]

I agree it looks much better than the one I have, but the wreath around the main badge still isn't like the wreath on the metal badge

I don't understand what the difficulty is in making the wreath look like it does on the badge.  AF metal and embroidered match.

[Eclipse]

That looks suspiciously like a badge from the Hock.

[winterg]

That looks suspiciously like a badge from the Hock.

I ordered this one on Monday from VG.  But the stock from the Hock had to go somewhere, right?  All the badges I got from Hock were on very thick cloth and had a backing.  This one is much thinner cloth with no backing.  But you are correct that the wreath has the spikey look of the other badges I have received from Hock.

Here is a comparison of new VG next to one of the Hock badges.

[Eclipse]

My money is on there being a canned laurel graphic in whatever machine or software they
are using for the setups and neither could be bothered to actually draw it correctly,

[Devil Doc]

So, i Joined after the Hock no longer exsisted, so...... what happened to them? 

Hawk Obviously made better Quality products.

[ColonelJack]

So, i Joined after the Hock no longer exsisted, so...... what happened to them? 

Hawk Obviously made better Quality products.

Basically, Tom was in direct competition with Vanguard, and once Vanguard became CAP's sole official go-to place for insignia, etc., they sent him a Cease-and-Desist letter and the Hock Shop went out of business.

I've bought from both Tom and from Vanguard and I have had good experiences with both ... and some bad ones with Vanguard.  Never had a bad experience with Hock Shop.  But he wasn't Corporate-certified so he had to go.

Oh, well ...

Jack

[jeders]

That looks suspiciously like a badge from the Hock.

I ordered this one on Monday from VG.  But the stock from the Hock had to go somewhere, right?  All the badges I got from Hock were on very thick cloth and had a backing.  This one is much thinner cloth with no backing.  But you are correct that the wreath has the spikey look of the other badges I have received from Hock.

Here is a comparison of new VG next to one of the Hock badges.

It took them long enough, but I think that the VG quality is finally up to where it should have been when they became our sole vendor.

[lordmonar]

So, i Joined after the Hock no longer exsisted, so...... what happened to them?

He got a C&D order.

Hawk Obviously made better Quality products.

That is debatable.

[Devil Doc]

So, the C&D order is illegal isnt it? Vanguard cant be the Sole Propriety, that would make them a Monopoly? I assumed Monopolies were illegal.

[Eclipse]

Hawk Obviously made better Quality products.

That is debatable.

Seriously.  Most of the insignia had detail and color issues, the BDUs were PAC-RIM knock-offs with
some fairly bizarre colors and camo schemes, and anything they were reselling that was mil-spec
was as much, or more expensive then the official sources.

So, the C&D order is illegal isnt it? Vanguard cant be the Sole Propriety, that would make them a Monopoly? I assumed Monopolies were illegal.

They are not a monopoly, they have been granted a license to make products for an organization which controls the
publication and manufacturing rights to those products by law.  In this case, NHQ has chosen to grant only one license.

From the outside that looks like a monopoly, and to the customer it essentially is, but not from a legal perspective.

[Майор Хаткевич]

So, i Joined after the Hock no longer exsisted, so...... what happened to them?

He got a C&D order.

Hawk Obviously made better Quality products.

That is debatable.

Debatable indeed. Used Hawk once. Was not impressed. Stuck with Bookstore/VG.

You could always say who used Hawk by wing patches, tapes, insignia, etc from 30 ft away.

[a2capt]

I called it the "Hack Shop" for a reason... What Tom didn't have in quality of goods, he did make up in personal service.

Unfortunately, no amount of lipstick is going to make the pig look prettier.

[Devil Doc]

True,

Kinda Disgruntled to buy from VG though. Hit and Miss I tell ya.

[NIN]

One of the benefits of living about 90 miles from Tom Flanagan was I could order something on a Tuesday and very often have it on Wednesday or maybe Thursday, and it came in a first class envelope.

Some of Tom's insignia definitely came from Taiwan or some place like that.  I did try to avoid buying cloth insignia from him for that reason.

I believe he got all of his metal insignia from Vanguard.

Fun trivia fact: all of vanguard's metal insignia is made by a subsidiary called International Insignia in Providence, Rhode Island. They are literally a block and a half from Ira Green's facility.  It would be pretty cool to get a tour.

[Chappie]

Placed an order on Monday morning -- arrived late yesterday afternoon.  Exactly what I ordered and the quality of the items were "spot on".  That is now my 6th order from Vanguard -- only one had a back order.   Which was delivered later but still in a reasonable time frame.  No real complaints...though I miss the bookstore and the Hock Shop days.  Very glad that Rita LaBarre (formerly at NHQ and worked with Vanguard), is now full-time at Vanguard.   Helps to have a real CAP person there on their site.  Will see what the future holds.

[NIN]

This was from stuff ordered back in November (the fading photo is from a year ago when I put that uniform set together)




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[Storm Chaser]

This was from stuff ordered back in November (the fading photo is from a year ago when I put that uniform set together)

That's been my experience as well. The folks at Vanguard are very nice and helpful, but the quality and specifications of some of their products are much to be desired. I've found a lack of consistency between orders and products. Different suppliers or manufacturers? Perhaps, but that shouldn't be an issue. And it wouldn't be if they had published specifications and standards, which were then enforced by NHQ.

[LSThiker]

Does any one know if the Command badge has been redesigned and improved? 

From a while back, I believe Ned had mentioned that the Command Badge was being redone. 

[LTCinSWR]

Does any one know if the Command badge has been redesigned and improved? 

From a while back, I believe Ned had mentioned that the Command Badge was being redone.

My metal one looks on-spec; I haven't bought the cloth (graduated Squadron Commander who didn't want anything else on my BBDUs other than what is operationally relevant).

[JC004]

My GBD badge is a recent acquisition.  It's different.  Crisp, but different than above. (purchased in the fall)

The aircrew wings are recent.  The quality of the embroidery is good on them.  They came pre-done with 1/8" border.

Blue material varies and I'm really not sure why.  This seems like something they could keep consistent in quality and color - but for some reason, they don't. 

The same for the oak leaves - all fairly recent - in 3 batches - 3 different levels of quality in the embroidery.  1 is solid.  2 sets have show-through of blue in the leaves - one set worse than the other.

[Storm Chaser]

That's a nice Master Ground Team Badge. I wish mine looked as good. The same goes for the wings.

[JC004]

It is.  I don't know why they would have changed it.  It matches the metal badge fairly well, so they changed it to something that doesn't?

The pre-sewn 1/8" border square was not sewn very well.  I had to square it off a bit myself.  I am very satisfied with the quality of the embroidery on them.

To compare, here is an older GBD badge, and an older pair of wings.  The blue, of course, doesn't match (for whatever reason):

[Майор Хаткевич]

The wing detail on the AC wings...nice

[LSThiker]

If you contact Vanguard about poor quality materials, they are quite friendly and will go to great length to help you.

The old Ground Team Badges from CAPMart.  I forgot just how horrible they looked.

[JC004]

If you contact Vanguard about poor quality materials, they are quite friendly and will go to great length to help you.

The old Ground Team Badges from CAPMart.  I forgot just how horrible they looked.

It seems like it...I'm currently in contact with them about my (EVIL PLASTIC! *shakes fist*) flight suit insignia.  The crimping wasn't done all the way around on one, and the insignia isn't secured.  It pops out of place.  The general quality of the evil plastic insignia is better than it was, and I like the crimping.  It just appears to be a quality assurance check issue, in this case.

The issue they seem to have most of all is consistency and I'm not sure why that is.

If they can nail down doing the 1/8" borders on cloth insignia properly, it might be advantageous for all of the badges to be done that way.  Since it's bright blue, they really stand out if they're even slightly off.  I'd bet members' uniforms would look better if they came pre-made, like my wings did.

I'm also pleased that they changed to well-embroidered fabric strip branch/name tapes (although mine in the photo aren't from Vanguard).  The old webbed tapes could really suck.

[arajca]

Anyone have Feb's discount code?

I ordered a golf shirt with the Log master badge last month. Shipped out in two days. Badge is proper size (~1.75") and has good resolution. Shirt is a medium/light weight fabric. We'll see how well it holds up.

[LSThiker]

It seems like it...I'm currently in contact with them about my (EVIL PLASTIC! *shakes fist*) flight suit insignia. 

Yeah, I have been leaning more and more about ditching the USAF-style uniform (except the Service Uniform) and simply going with the corporate uniform.  They have really grown on me and they almost look better with the ultramarine blue.  But that is for another discussion.

If they can nail down doing the 1/8" borders on cloth insignia properly, it might be advantageous for all of the badges to be done that way.  Since it's bright blue, they really stand out if they're even slightly off.  I'd bet members' uniforms would look better if they came pre-made, like my wings did.

I am curious if there is not being a push to start pre-made badges.  I wonder why the aircrew wings came pre-sewn?  Is it possible that all badges are going to be done this way and they just need to get through the current stock?  Perhaps an email to the CAP manager at Vanguard is warranted?

[Devil Doc]

So are the Wings for Scanners and AP approved yet?

[LSThiker]

So are the Wings for Scanners and AP approved yet?

Yes.  The new CAPR 35-6 has been published recently.

[Paul Creed III]

Anyone have Feb's discount code?

I ordered a golf shirt with the Log master badge last month. Shipped out in two days. Badge is proper size (~1.75") and has good resolution. Shirt is a medium/light weight fabric. We'll see how well it holds up.

Vanguard posts their discount codes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanmilstore

[JacobAnn]

Anyone have Feb's discount code?

I ordered a golf shirt with the Log master badge last month. Shipped out in two days. Badge is proper size (~1.75") and has good resolution. Shirt is a medium/light weight fabric. We'll see how well it holds up.

Vanguard posts their discount codes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanmilstore

Thanks, I needed the code too.

[SeanM]

For those that might not have a Facebook account, the Feb code is FBSAVENOW15.

Sean

[RogueLeader]

So are the Wings for Scanners and AP approved yet?

Yes.  The new CAPR 35-6 has been published recently.

They typically post that in the News feed, and it is strangely silent on this update.

Speculation: NHQ does not want Vanguard to get back orders on any of the A/C wings. . .

[Майор Хаткевич]

VG also posts on their twitter.

[Private Investigator]

For those that might not have a Facebook account, the Feb code is FBSAVENOW15.

Sean

Sean, thank you and welcome aboard CAP Talk.