okay.... ( thanks Chris
) so the equipment part is solved and now the crux of the problem here is that you (Rory) need the bling to pay for the models on the new shoot. There's a 5 day window at work here that's simply not working out for either you or Aaron.
I think what Aaron just suggested is probably the best you're gonna do here. And don't take that the wrong way, I'm just stating the obvious here. I feel your situation but I don;t see that there's much you're gonna be able to do about it in such a short time. Even if you went the lawyer/court route with it, there's no way (other than mugging him) that you're gonna see any of that before the 10th unless Aaron decides to shoot it to you early out of the goodness of his heart.
Hate to say it, but it looks like you got three options left here:
1. Wait till he sends it in the mail.
2. Ask him REALLY REALLY nicely if there's any way he can find it in his heart to get it to you by the 10th so you got the $$ to pay for your upcoming shoot.
3. Borrow the cash from someone for your new shoot and wait for the check to come in the mail.
And realistically, that's about all you can do here..... the rest of all this is purely venting frustration and entertainment for the crowd.
Sorry man.... I hope you can make your shoot happen. Would suck to hafta cancel it. Best of luck, however it turns out.