Wested A2 jacket

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:39 am

Didn't know if I can post this here but I'm really interested in Wested's A2 jacket. Does anyone have one? Any pics? Any info about it? Sadly there aren't that many pics on the Wested page.

Last Crusader · Post by **Last Crusader** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:09 am

Does anybody know if the Wested A-2 has the metal clip on the stormflap and a button down collar?

Last Crusader · Post by **Last Crusader** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:14 pm

Exactly.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:13 pm

the reason why i'm looking for an a-2 from wested is because they're doesn't seem to be an alternative in europe. i've seen some wwII shops for re-enactment but those a-2's seem fragile and cheap.

Indydawg · Post by **Indydawg** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 2:57 pm

Just to throw this in as an alternate line of thinking, and I'm sure _ will agree:

One other plus for the more "generic" A2 which you would get from Peter, FS, or Eastman is that the fit of it is going to be more modern looking whereas the "stitch Nazi" A2s are very snug and fit like the jackets from the period fit those gents in the pics of that period as well....the problem is, we're just bigger than we were then

So....having the less precise A2 COULD be better depending on what you are looking for in fit.

Just something else to think about....

Later!
Indydawg

Indydawg · Post by **Indydawg** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 3:13 pm

That's a good jacket.

I've got the Real Deal Anniversary in HH, which I think is that 42 pattern. It's a good fit and the horsehide has broken in nicely over the last....ummmm....almost ten years.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:40 pm

I think I will go with Peter's. The prices is good and I'm satisfied with the two Indy jackets I bought from him in the past.

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:48 pm

Peter can make you a modern cut or a more traditional cut. He used to make jackets for one of the re-enactors groups.

If you want really, really accurate I'd bash out the details with him. (edit: not putting any words in Peter's mouth about what he will or will not be able to achieve for you as far as historical accuracy).

I've seen one or two on the rails in the shop but havent really looked at the details. I don't think they had the hook and eye at the collar.

I think one made in horse hide would be pretty fab.

I've eyed an Aero on many occasions but really can't stretch to that price, especially knowing that I can get something very nice for half that.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 5:00 pm

I'm still waiting for my patches to come in and then I'll send them to Peter. he can sew it on my new jacket. My first ever A-2.
I'm really a bit in Band of Brothers these days and I met four Easy Co. veterans in two weeks time.. I just need a leather A-2 with their patches on it to pay tribute.. I find it so cool. I'm completely mad mad mad ( mad, in the meaning of the word, completely crazy)

but I still would love to see some pics? no-one got any pics of Peter's A-2?

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 5:17 pm

_ wrote: Actually, I think you might be sticking your neck out a bit on that KT. While I've liked what I've seen, I would never put the Wested in that camp. Unless Peter has changed his scope on the historical A2 crowd, it really is a bit strong comparing it to the accuracy of the Aero...

Yeah, too strong!

(Post above has been modified).

If it looks anything like this I'd be pleased enough. (But that's just me).

He did make for some Brit based re-enactors and they seems to like them well enough, well, well enough to keep ordering them at least.... when they forgot to pay.... that was another matter altogether.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 5:20 pm

Ah yeah, I found this on the Airo site. Does Peter make nametags for jackets too? Anyone?
Would love to have my own name on it.

anyone know the last name on the bottom of the picture?

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 5:23 pm

Kt Templar wrote: He did make for some Brit based re-enactors and they seems to like them well enough, well, well enough to keep ordering them at least.... when they forgot to pay.... that was another matter altogether. :)

forgot to pay? djeez. how do you do that?

Last Crusader · Post by **Last Crusader** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:44 pm

Doctor_Jones wrote:

anyone know the last name on the bottom of the picture?

Let me think...

PLATON · Post by **PLATON** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:04 am

Peter told me he doesn't have the hook and eye but he may find it.
Also, I doubt that the lining of his A-2 would be orange.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:06 am

_ wrote:Yep - The used to make a "cooler king" jacket... One of my favorite movie A2's...

it's my all time favourite movie. and I love that jacket. i was almost tempted to let peter make a copy of that jacket.. but for some reason I didn't go on with it... it's a long time ago.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:20 am

I've seen a replica of the Cooler King jacket on Ebay.

here

PLATON · Post by **PLATON** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:20 am

Here's what some guy from another forum thinks about Wested A-2

I know this discussion is probably over but I just had to reply anyway.
I ordered and received a WESTED A-2.
Let me start by saying, as a leather jacket, it's beautiful. The craftsmanship and the quality of the leather is great. BUT IT IS NOT AN "AUTHENTIC A-2" as advertised nor is it any resemblance to the one's in the movie "Memphis Belle" or "Hanover Street" (also as advertised).
To begin with, it has a snap at the neck as opposed to the hook and eye as shown in the film "Memphis Belle".
No collar stand, as shown both in "Memphis Belle" and "Hanover Street".
It also has a snap at the bottom of the wind flap.
A dark brown lining,
no specification label,
the zipper doesn't extend to the bottom of the jacket and if I examined it further, I would probably find additional descrepencies but I was in such a hurry to ship it back I didn't want too look any further!

Get your Indy Jackets at WESTED but, as stated earlier in this thread "AVOID" WESTED LEATHER if your looking for an authentic A-2!!!
To say that I was very disapointed would be putting it mildly. It's packed and ready for it's trip back to merry old England!

PLATON · Post by **PLATON** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:24 am

I've heard different theories as to the maker of that jacket. I am of the opinion it is an original Star Sportswear A2 obtained from the inentory at Wetern Costume. Eastman makes a very nice Star repro...

Oh - Platon? Are you thinking that lining is orange in the pic? It is brown - really... Sometimes I guess the circa 1950's-1960's tecnicolor cn skew to color perception?

Hi, _, I think I heard that Steve McQueen's jacket was a Rough Wear. RMNZ makes a replica.

As regards linings, I think there were orange, tan, dark tan, light brown you name it. They were silk red sometimes if you know what I mean.

I own a fairly good replica A-2 with orange brownish lining and a replacement lining which is orange.

I can also provide collar hook and eye if anybody wants, I have plenty. The original silver/nickel color, not black.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:25 am

hmm, that's not a happy chap indeed. sad he didn't make any pics of it.

PLATON · Post by **PLATON** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:46 am

Here are the words of the vendor and below that a photo.
My replacement lining is a Dubow.

Linings and knits: ... Rough Wear and Dubow linings are a dull orange shade, while Aero and the 27753 are a dark tan. The United and Bronco linings, both companies being in the same family, have a grey-tan color. The Doniger lining is a slightly more tan-orange shade.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:47 am

darn.. my eyes.. they're hurting. That's not a beautiful colour for a jacket.. my opinion

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:51 am

Is the idea that they could be reversed for hi visibility if they needed rescue or is that a later development?

PLATON · Post by **PLATON** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:45 am

Who is the vendor? Because "orange" is an interesing interpretation of the medium brown...

Well, I own that lining and the color is exactly what you see on screen. I call that orange. When I received it I was kinda disapointed cause I wanted it to be more dull so that to look more old/vintage. But, it was then too late.

The vendor is Goodwear Leather Clo. Co. and the A-2 community regards him as being no 1 in terms of authenticity. They place all the others (Eastman, RMNZ, Aero) far behind him...

PLATON · Post by **PLATON** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:57 am

Here's the lining that I should have got.

and a closer look

PETER · Post by **PETER** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:01 am

Peter told me he doesn't have the hook and eye but he may find it.

I do have the hooks and eyes for the neck fasten but we do have a problem with the A2 fit.
The original A2 is like a straight jacket with narrow sleeves and made to fit in the days of skinny.
So although we will make the A2 we also make our own A2B which is the version we normally sell which is a more generous body cut with deeper armhole and sleeve width and is more comfortable to wear.
Cheers
Peter

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:04 am

Isn't it about the same pattern you used for the Aliens jacket, Peter?

If so, my daughter LOVES hers, and wears it every winter. Says it's VERY comfortable.

Regards! Michaelson

PLATON · Post by **PLATON** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:06 am

Peter hi,

My order for a custom A-2 will reach you soon.

that_dog · Post by **that_dog** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 1:52 pm

I am far from an expert on A-2 repros, but I do know that if I had a spare $900 lying around, I would buy one of the Goodwear United Sheeplined jackets in a heartbeat. I love the look of this A-2...

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:08 pm

900 bucks for a jacket? that's way too much.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:45 pm

After reviewing all the options on the net and thanks to a lot of people in here and other forums I think I will go ahead with Peter.
But one more question before I do such a thing.
I own 2 Indy jackets and they are size 48. Is that an XL or XXL on Wested their Website?
I don't think I'm going in a hassle again of taking messurements again and have it custom made. I think I will go off the rack this time. Good idea or not?
I have two custom Indys and they fit me well but not like a glove as people say. When I buy normal jackets, they fit me like a glove. Custom.. nope. Not really but okay.
Anyone care to help?

Castor Dioscuri · Post by **Castor Dioscuri** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 3:53 pm

I'm not sure if this will help any, but here is a rather old post:

PETER wrote:The problem with the original A2 jacket is its cut.
When we made A2 jackets for the film ' Memphis Belle' we had a jacket on loan from the Imperial War Musium and made an exact duplicate.
The problem was that the body and sleeves were very narror and although would fit a skinny, young hungry airman in the 1940's it did not fit the modern day man. Hence we as others had to widen the sleeves and make the body more roomy and although the look is the same the general cut is more generous. Also the leather colour of the originals varied due to the many different manufacturers producing this during wartime, because although working to issue patterns there was no standard colour.
I find it quite interesting having worked on many historical costumes that over the years we are generally getting taller and more robust. When one looks at some old costumes one womders how small the wearer must have been.
Just a little piece of useless information
Cheers
Peter

Assuming that Wested is still working with the same patterns that was used for 'Memphis Belle', and assuming that they haven't altered it by much except for the fit, then wouldn't that mean what they currently make would be more or less exact replicas of historical A2 jackets?

Just a thought.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:05 pm

Seems like I don't have to buy an A2-jacket. My girlfriend has ordered me an A2 replica jacket from a re-enactment shop in Holland. Looking forward to receiving it. Such a sweet girl. She didn't have to. She showed me their website. It's from a brand called Mil-Tec. When I have it I'll post some pics if you'd like. It's quite cheap at about 120€uros. Made from goatskin. I wonder what's it like.
Many Dutch WWII re-enactors have Mil-Tec branded A2's.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:13 pm

_ wrote:Mil-Tec makes a pretty decent A2 - about on par with US Authentic, i.e. generically very accurate. Also much like an Eastman house pattern. Lucky man!

great to hear that from you _ because I never heard of Mil-Tec before really. I've seen a lot of A2's from re-enactors in the past and now knowing that most of those guys wear Mil-Tec, I'm quite impressed by the looks of it.

Got some patches to sew on it. 506 AB patch, the screaming eagle and yesterday I ordered a leather nametag on ebay to sew on it. Would look great I think, my future "Band of Brothers Easy Company" jacket! :D

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:21 pm

_ wrote:Sounds like a plan! I've seen a couple of them in the flesh - the goatskin is nice and the cut screams period accurate, i.e. NOT a "mall jacket" in the least. Post pics!

I will definatly. Hopefully I got the size right. Would have been better if I could fit it in person first but hey, if it's too big I can always ship it back.

Doctor_Jones · Post by **Doctor_Jones** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:23 pm

This is the only Mil-Tec A2 picture I could find on the internet. Not a good pic, but it's a pic. :D

I'll post my as soon as I have it.

Trebor · Post by **Trebor** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:39 am

_ wrote:A status symbol was having an M422a, and a lot of the AVG flyers chose to keep those rather than take an A2...

Whats a M422a? Any pics?

FLATHEAD · Post by **FLATHEAD** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:19 am

Whats a M422a? Any pics?

Its the predecessor to the Type G-1 navy flying jacket.

Go to Aero's or Eastmans websites to find pictures. I think you can even
get one from Flightsuits.

Flathead

Wested A2 jacket

Wested A2 jacket

A-2s

Yep...