Wested A-1 aircorps jacket?

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Tue May 02, 2006 3:21 pm

I know this will sound crazy but I'm thinking of converting an extra Wested Indy jacket that I have to an A-1 air-corps jacket... wait a minute, follow me on this. Why not just buy an off the rack A-1, you ask? Well they are pretty expensive for one thing, also I don't like the wool knitting around the waist but would like it at the cuffs and collar, especially the collar. I love the way they look when the collar is worn standing up (in knit). I happen to love the design of the Indy jacket's straps too. Plus nobody makes an A-1 in dark brown lambskin (that I know of) which I have (an extra) and love. So basically I would need to get a hold of the wool knitting, but where would I get it.. anybody know? Also, the other great thing about the A-1 is the large vintage buttons made from animal horns...anybody know where I could locate these? Obviously I'd have a good seamstress or tailor remove the the zipper and create button holes and add the knitting. It wouldn't be an A-1 persay but would be a cross between an Indy raiders and an air-corps A-1, I think it would be awesome. What do you guys think?

Doug C

Smuggler · Post by **Smuggler** » Tue May 02, 2006 5:55 pm

Doug,
I think you would be better off selling your Wested and finding a good A-1 repro.

Bo

Jorenz · Post by **Jorenz** » Tue May 02, 2006 6:01 pm

NOOOOOOO,

Why don't you just get an A-1 and modify that. I guess to each their own. If you do follow through with this...be gentle to the Wested

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Tue May 02, 2006 6:02 pm

No, either way I'll be keeping the wested, I love it too much to get rid of it, even though this one is a spare.. figure I'll pass it on to my son one of these days if nothing else. But if I got a reproduction I still wouldn't have the action pleat and strap set up that I love about the Indy (hate the wool knit around the waist). Doubt they'd make one in lightweight lambskin either, but I could be wrong.. anyway this jacket already has a great worn-in character to it.

Doug C

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Tue May 02, 2006 6:07 pm

You could always get Wested to make you one to your specs.

And no I'm not on their payroll either.

eh Erri?

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Tue May 02, 2006 6:14 pm

You could always get Wested to make you one to your specs.

Well yea, I thought of that already and I still may follow through and give them a call once I have a bit of money saved up. Actually, I'd much rather have Peter and his people make me one than get one of the others that already make repros. This route could be easier but also Peter may not be able to get the correct wool (or want to..), buttons (or want to..) then there's the long wait that may be greater because it's a "one off"...then shipping.

Doug C

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Tue May 02, 2006 6:51 pm

True, but as you know they have experience making repros for various films and he said he was doing some "accurate" B#'s (Sorry i don't remember the number! I think it was 3 or 6!) for a film last time I saw him... something about different coloured pockets.

There are some A2's in the shop, but I don't know enough about them to comment, I don't like knitted cuffs. Reminds me too much of the jackets i was forced to wear in the 70's with the nasty nylon knits.

Baggers · Post by **Baggers** » Thu May 04, 2006 2:57 pm

Just to echo KT's sentiments, Wested are primarily a motion picture costume contractor and would have no problem creating a jacket to your specifications -- assuming you are very specific in your instructions to them. I believe someone here had a 3/4 length Raiders jacket built, so it can be done.

Basically, the A-1 is a button front, knit collared, 2 pieced back and 3 piece sleeved version of the later A-2 jacket. And since Peter also makes A-2s (from the movie "Memphis Belle"), I would imagine it would be a relatively simple matter of attaching A-2 knits to a Raider's jacket. The Knit collar could be done with a length of waist knit with buttons and leather loops attached to finish it off.

But if I may toss in my two cents, the idea of a jacket with knits at wrist and collar but not the waist just seems weird. The reason for having them was to keep out the cold. To leave the jacket open at the waist would seem to be self defeating, not to mention throwing off the look of the jacket itself.

Oh, and KT, I finally got that Aero A-1 in the oil-pull leather late last week. Hopefully, I'll finally get around to doing some pictures tomorrow.

Cheers!

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Thu May 04, 2006 3:44 pm

Hey Baggers, thanks for the info and your comments. Actually I kind of agree with the part about the elasticated pieces on just the collar and sleeve and the more I think of it, the more I like the idea of just adding the knit wool collar and old vintage buttons to a standard (extra) Wested. I have never been real excited about elasticated cuffs anyway. But to your point about the elastic at the bottom, well I usually have my jacket straps cinched up pretty tight so no air would enter while the thing was zipped anyway.. besides I wouldn't like to wear a jacket unzipped that has elastic around the bottom - the indy jacket is much better for that, IMO. OK, BTW I just bought (ebay) some old stock (but new condition) US Military surplus ribbed wool knitting that was used to make the issued A2, it was very cheap so no loss if I change my mind on this rediculous idea ; )

PS - Baggers, please post some pictures of your A-1 or email me some, I really love 'em and I just may order one the way the come. Also, why did you choose the pulled oil over cape sheep leather (and what is that anyway.. haha).

Doug C

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Thu May 04, 2006 4:17 pm

Baggers wrote:Oh, and KT, I finally got that Aero A-1 in the oil-pull leather late last week. Hopefully, I'll finally get around to doing some pictures tomorrow.

Ah, you know my current preoccupation with oil pull! Pictures, yes please!

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Thu May 04, 2006 5:10 pm

Post pics when you can Baggers!

KT, have you contacted Peter about the oiled leather yet?

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Thu May 04, 2006 5:16 pm

J_Weaver wrote:Post pics when you can Baggers!

KT, have you contacted Peter about the oiled leather yet?

Not yet, I wasn't sure he'd got back from his trip yet, and I thought I let him catch his breath.

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Thu May 04, 2006 5:47 pm

Kt Templar wrote:
J_Weaver wrote:Post pics when you can Baggers!

KT, have you contacted Peter about the oiled leather yet?
Not yet, I wasn't sure he'd got back from his trip yet, and I thought I let him catch his breath.

Ah, yea that sound like a good idea to me.

Another jacket that has always interested me is the one worn by the Captain in Das Boot.