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This statement is blasphemy!PLATON wrote:Eastman makes the best WWII repro A-2 if you ask me. There's no comparison with Aero or Real McCoy.
This would be true except for the fact that he said this at the end ofPLATON wrote:
Eastman makes the best WWII repro A-2 if you ask me. There's no comparison with Aero or Real McCoy.
This statement is blasphemy!
That pretty much sums it up right there. No person can sum up a jacketsTo be honest, I 've never handled any of them, that's what I can make out from the photos.
_ wrote:I have to disagree... Select Eastman repros are pretty accurate in appearance, however their leathers are very "vanilla" in comparison to period jackets. Also, their knit is not very durable, and with the possible exception of the waist knits on the M422a they are not very accurate...PLATON wrote: There's no comparison with Aero or Real McCoy.
Aero is a cut above Eastman IMO. Their leathers are period accurate - including weight and color. Their knits are reprodued on period looms, are accurate in weave and weight and are very durable - just like the originals. My personal favorite is the Bronco - I own 3 flavors (on heavy front qtr HH, one period accurate prewar russet, and one in cape leather (lamb)). I've owned a total of 7 of their jackets - All A2's...
Real McCoy's is really the alpha dog here... I've owned 3 of their A2's and their M422a. Period accurate right down to the n****e on the snaps...
Eastman have really become high-end "mall" jackets... Personally, other than the 1402 Rough Wear, the Cable Raincoat, and actually their house pattern, I wouldn't consider them... BTW - I have owned a total of 9 Eastmans - 7 A2's (Cable, RW 1402, Star, Monarch, House pattern, house pattern/Pearl Harbor) a G1 and an M422a...
A word of advice? You may be able to BS some people on this forum with product knowledge you do not have, but I really would suggest not trying this with the historic flight jacket crowds. They'll rip you a new rectum if you do that on their forums...
At last tally, I've spent a hair over $30,000 on historic flight jacket reproductions over the years. Some I have sold after evaluating to fund further acquisitions (for more evaluations, etc...)... The value of the current crop hanging in my closet comes to just over $14,000... And there are much bigger fish than me... I say this not to say "my dick is bigger than yours", but to illustrate that you need to be able to afford the entrance fee to talk about certain things... Screen grabs and catalog pics and reading what others say and saying it is your own thought will only get you in trouble... Walk the walk and talk the talk...
I don't know guys, Platon made it pretty clear he was no expert on this topic, I'm not sure there's a need for it to get so personal.Rundquist wrote:_ wrote:I have to disagree... Select Eastman repros are pretty accurate in appearance, however their leathers are very "vanilla" in comparison to period jackets. Also, their knit is not very durable, and with the possible exception of the waist knits on the M422a they are not very accurate...PLATON wrote: There's no comparison with Aero or Real McCoy.
Aero is a cut above Eastman IMO. Their leathers are period accurate - including weight and color. Their knits are reprodued on period looms, are accurate in weave and weight and are very durable - just like the originals. My personal favorite is the Bronco - I own 3 flavors (on heavy front qtr HH, one period accurate prewar russet, and one in cape leather (lamb)). I've owned a total of 7 of their jackets - All A2's...
Real McCoy's is really the alpha dog here... I've owned 3 of their A2's and their M422a. Period accurate right down to the n****e on the snaps...
Eastman have really become high-end "mall" jackets... Personally, other than the 1402 Rough Wear, the Cable Raincoat, and actually their house pattern, I wouldn't consider them... BTW - I have owned a total of 9 Eastmans - 7 A2's (Cable, RW 1402, Star, Monarch, House pattern, house pattern/Pearl Harbor) a G1 and an M422a...
A word of advice? You may be able to BS some people on this forum with product knowledge you do not have, but I really would suggest not trying this with the historic flight jacket crowds. They'll rip you a new rectum if you do that on their forums...
At last tally, I've spent a hair over $30,000 on historic flight jacket reproductions over the years. Some I have sold after evaluating to fund further acquisitions (for more evaluations, etc...)... The value of the current crop hanging in my closet comes to just over $14,000... And there are much bigger fish than me... I say this not to say "my dick is bigger than yours", but to illustrate that you need to be able to afford the entrance fee to talk about certain things... Screen grabs and catalog pics and reading what others say and saying it is your own thought will only get you in trouble... Walk the walk and talk the talk...
That’ll wake you up in the morning. Good stuff.
That is exactly what they're doing. No offense _, your obvious knowledge speaks for itself, but that's how the post comes across in my opinion._ wrote:I say this not to say "my dick is bigger than yours", but...
michaeljcr wrote: I don't know guys, Platon made it pretty clear he was no expert on this topic, I'm not sure there's a need for it to get so personal.
Hi RundquistRundquist wrote:michaeljcr wrote: I don't know guys, Platon made it pretty clear he was no expert on this topic, I'm not sure there's a need for it to get so personal.
But why even comment if you don’t know anything about the jackets?
Platan said:
"Eastman makes the best WWII repro A-2 if you ask me. There's no comparison with Aero or Real McCoy. To be honest, I 've never handled any of them, that's what I can make out from the photos."
Forums are places to express opinions, but an uninformed opinion is pretty worthless. Forums are also great places to gather information. We should try to keep the spread of false information to a minimum. Cheers
) 
The rep is:I'm not sure which forum I seen this on, but wasn't there a rep here in the USA that helps procure Aero jackets without the customs and shipping costs?
The ROUGH WEAR Clothing Co. 1943 Pattern.Which pattern did you end up getting from them anyway
That's a nice pattern... I ended up using a bit of 70% alcohol on my RM Werber. It had quite a sheen on it, and the less cuastic 70% stuff seemed to do the trick. Up to that point I almost felt it was varnished! I was a bit nervous about it as well, but that is pretty mild stuff. Just used a wetted rag and gave her a complete rubdown. The first time seemed to do nothing. The second broke the surface sheen slightly. I followed that with some lexol and the "suit of armor" look was gone...
Other than that I have been well pleased, and I really love the way they used to cut these A-2s. Very trim fitting. But I guess the pilots did not need extra material catching on stuff in the cockpits back then. And most guys were slim as well, being half starved from the depression. Fedora Hey Steve, that is one great looking jacket. I remember when you bought it, sheez has it been 3 years already?
Yeah, don't time just fly!! I just finished my 3rd winter with this jacket. Good info _. I really don't know very much about any of the jackets, and that includes the Indy jacket. I rely upon others for my info.Some of the prewar patterns used analine methods of coloring the hides, but wartime patterns pretty much were sprayed. Some - like Eastman - try to match the pigment optically (and do a decent job) but then go for analine finishing which looks nice but is not accurate (for many patterns)...
Paul has one. The quality is excellent, but their hides are too thick. I understand that they make every jacket with heavy leather. Plus you better like Dubow’s. Cheers_ wrote:Very good. Tell me something - I've never been able to get Lost Worlds to sell me a jacket. They found out I was affiliated with this site and thought I was going to do a hatchet-job on their jackets - but I hear wonderful things about their quality (though not so much on accuracy)... What did you think of their jackets?
(I don't know how you feel about that)Thanks for that. I am now aware of that. I will quote what a friend said in a recent discussion.I recommend to read the description on the Aero Website.
Thanks but I don't need that much of accuracy.One thing about the Aero you posted, it's the same one posted further up the thread, i think it the "real deal" it is made from all parts of the leather and the grain mismatch is "on purpose" they are trying to reproduce a wartime "any leather will do" feel. They also charge a little less for it £300. There was one on ebay over the weekend it went for just under £200.
You mean like this one? This is an original Aero.SPR wrote:In regards to what Platon said about the pockets on the Aero jackets not being "symmetrical", the original WWII Aero jacket that I owned was just like that. During the war, they just pumped out jackets and didn't care if the pocket flaps were the same, just as long as they worked. I have owned two other original A-2's of different makes, and they were far from perfect as well. In regards to Eastman, they do a nice job with their jackets. The cut, fit, hardware, leather, are all nice. However, the jackets are somewhat lightweight and not as durable as the other makers. I had a guy tell me at the military show in Louisville Kentucky, that the average lifespan of an Eastman is 7 years. If you wear it everyday. Make whatever you want of that. The stitching of one of my Eastmans broke right after I took it out of the shipping box when it arrived at my door. They use 100% cotton thread, which is authentic, but may not hold up as well.
Yup, Mark Moye sent me that last pic to show me that the original Aero's had the unmatched hides and rust colored knits. I always thought it was horse hide though._ wrote:Looks to be an old Aero if the knits and snaps are an indicator? An is it really goatskin?????
Well, my account was miraculously re-activated just when I started "whining" on the other site.Now he's whining over on another site that I deactivated his account... I guess I just cannot stomach such a blatant liar... Heck - I cannot deactivate anybody...
That's because you read only what you write. I will quote the fit partIf we are returning to “fit” I cannot find it anywhere in this post…
I would also like to add that I would base my decision of which jacket to buy, on the design/fit. Otherwise, they are all leather jackets with cargo patch pockets. It's the looks that counts.
_, would you buy a jacket with lousy fit just because they used period accurate leather and the stitching is better?
Perhaps you wouldn't be the right person to answer this question because you have bought every jacket there is and the criteria that you have are different than the average Joe's.
But would the average Joe prefer the period accurate leather and better stitching (how much better can it be) rather than the looks?
