That dog... It's your fault....

[Don't Call Me Junior!]

That is an amazing looking jacket.

[Dragonlady Jones]

Wear it with pride. It's a great tribute.

[Flyderf]

Very nice jacket you have on order there _, who is that through, Eastman? Maybe you can have in time for this. http://www.burmabridgebusters.org/Milwa ... 0Flyer.pdf

That's funny. I'm blaming 'That Dog' for the order I put in on Friday with Good Wear Leather for a new A2.

[Flyderf]

That is the Dubow 27798. Good Wear has a new dull pigment dark russet brown. I went with mid brown knits.

[Flyderf]

I'm doomed. When I saw that first picture of That Dog's A2, It just hit me like a ton of bricks. THAT, is the type of jacket I have been looking for! I'd like to say I'm done once I get it, but everyone knows that would be a lie.

[Canada Jones]

That really is a fabulous looking jacket. I have been a fan of the Flying Tigers for years and recognized the Blood Chit on the inside of it. Recently bought a real WW2 Blood Chit from a friend of mine who collects that sort of stuff. At some point I would love an AVG jacket.

By the way - I see why you use Acetone on your jackets - with so many great jackets to choose from you couldn't possibly wear any of them enough to age them naturally! How do you decide which one you are going to wear?
best
Canada

[that_dog]

Hahaha, glad to be of "help." I love the true vintage-looking A-2s and am always glad to help spread the sickness. _ and Derf, you will have to share photos of your jackets when you get them.

_, if you want a NOS Talon, you should be able to get a 1939 or 1942 model through MASH:
http://www.mash-japan.co.jp/oversea/cgi ... cgi?cno=17

Or their U.S. outlet:
http://www.vintageproductions.com/shop/ ... ory_id=103

Life's too short not to enjoy leather jackets.

Quoted for truth.

[binkmeisterRick]

Nice, _! Is that another jacket you'll be wearing at the QM?

[Michaelson]

Don't laugh, bink...the first time _ and I met at the first QM summit, he showed up with the whole back end of his Mustang FULL of jackets.

Yep. He was a jacket whore way back then too.

Regards! Michaelson

[Canada Jones]

CJ - You're dead-on the mark with that. I'm a leather jacket whore. I'm trying to become monogomous, ie a "one jacket man" but - well - I'm a whore...

Dog - thanks! I too am a sucker for the art. Aero walks that line of high quality but period accuracy ad it relates to - well - this artwork was done by 19-year-old kids during down time when they weren't getting shot at some vendors are too precise. Does that make sense?

I have a small collection of chits from different times. My favorite is a Vietnam War chit done in Vietnamese, Chinese, laosian (sp) and Cambodian. She is original and I bought her from the family that sold me my 1967 G1. The owner was their father who flew marine helicopters. He passed away in 1983. I loaned it to the smithsonian - because it is rare and because it needs preservation that I cannot provide. I visit it now and then.

Chits are just fascinating and have a very cool history.

Perhaps a more appropriate term might be a jacket Connoisseur? Anyway I am sure there are stranger things that people collect. One example of this - We had a free pizza lunch this past friday for the students. One student took all the little plastic things they put in the middle of the pizza so the box lid does not hit the pizza. Told me she collected them.

ON the chits - how cool is it that it is in the Smithsonian. Which one? I was just there this summer (the Air and SPace one and the one out by the airport as well).

ON the jacket - where did you order this from? You have got me thinking again about the AVG jacket!

best
Canada

[Canada Jones]

As a Canadian I know I don't pay US taxes so I know I am not paying for it. I did very much enjoy my visit though as I have never done. I will look up those jackets you mentioned and thanks for passing on the jacket bug...worse than bed bugs in NYC....
best
Canada

[Long John Tinfoil]

Well, thing is? These top shelf jackets actually hold their value. I've owned every special edition A2 Eastman makes up to the Werber they released in 2005? I did not keep them all. When I sold them I got what I paid. I made money on the Star, Cable, and I think the RW 1401p. Guys wanted them right away - because we are so impatient. Also, the Cable was backordered at the time as was the Star so getting them from ELC or HPA was a six month wait.

Yes - this makes me an enabler? Life's too short not to enjoy leather jackets.

So there are others out there the same size as _?! With a line like that even I might have time to find a receiver downfield!

LJ

[Flyderf]

I wish I was _'s younger brother, I'd get the hand-me-downs he had outgrown!

[Ian]

Well, thing is? These top shelf jackets actually hold their value. I've owned every special edition A2 Eastman makes up to the Werber they released in 2005? I did not keep them all. When I sold them I got what I paid. I made money on the Star, Cable, and I think the RW 1401p. Guys wanted them right away - because we are so impatient. Also, the Cable was backordered at the time as was the Star so getting them from ELC or HPA was a six month wait.

Yes - this makes me an enabler? Life's too short not to enjoy leather jackets.

So there are others out there the same size as _?! With a line like that even I might have time to find a receiver downfield!

LJ

Back in the day when I could squeeze into a 48... I can't wear them right now - but in 10 years? I can't keep this up forever and I'll need a jacket or two on the other side...

Pretty respectable size especially for an 'au naturel'. I know there are guys at my gym juiced up on all kinds of chemicals and even those don't come close to _'s dims or strength. I don't think I'll be fitting into Pattersons cast offs in this life time.

Ian

[nicktheguy]

I love Aero leather - their horeshides are tough though - I have a barnstormer from them and it still isn't showing any signs of wear - though I've had it for almost 8 years now.
Fantastic workmanship out of Scotland.

[Long John Tinfoil]

Why? Why? Why do there have to be pictures in these threads? I keep going back up and looking at them, and then at my already overheated (Slagged, actually. Sometimes I think you could weld with these things!) credit cards, and then back at the pictures, and then at the nasty letters from the credit card people, and then back at the pictures, and then at the "guaranteed" acceptance some other credit card outfit sent in the mail, and then back at the pictures...



Hi. My name is Long John Tinfoil, and I'm a gearhead. It's been just over a week since my last gear purchase...

[Ian]

Ian

[ANZAC_1915]

I've also been on the prowl for an A2, still looking at original jackets for inspiration, haven't found the right one yet.

I'm too lazy to post pics from the search so far.

I did buy some repro A-10 gloves though...

[IndysGal43]

That is one awesome jacket!

[ANZAC_1915]

Here's what I've ordered. I've been in live with this jacket art for about 10 years now and I've finally caved. It'll go in their Bronco pattern - a favorite of mine and one that they modify well for my size - in seal brown HH.

It's the 490th bg - the Burma bridge busters who flew b25's in the cbi.

Wait a second, so they will do larger than 48? I'm a 52, so that's one of the things I was going to ask.

Also I missed that this was a B-25 sqdn, my favorite plane! My goal is to find a period photo or jacket from a B-25 sqdn that matches the look I want, and then copy that.

[that_dog]

Also I missed that this was a B-25 sqdn, my favorite plane! My goal is to find a period photo or jacket from a B-25 sqdn that matches the look I want, and then copy that.

Check out the links here... photos of all of the Doolittle Raiders crews, in their A-2s. You can't find more iconic B-25 flyers than these guys....

http://www.goodwearleather.com/pages/links.html

[Baldwyn]

I love this stuff! My adopted grandfather was a general in the Taiwanese army in the CBI theatre. Thanks to Indy-gearing, I presented my father an A2 jacket with CBI patches and a blood chit (some patches vintage, some patches and the chit from US Wings) to honour the connection.

[ANZAC_1915]

Man, I'd missed those Doolittle pictures on their site. They are in one of the Doolittle books, but not at that high resolution!

I spoke with John (neat guy!) and the main issue with larger sizes is finding the right piece of hide. He spent a lot of time explaining how they cut the horse up. So, he can do size 48, and 50 is borderline, 52 very unlikely. Because he is a low volume producer, it is hard to be able to find the right hide for the larger jacket... and even sometimes he winds up having to use 4 hides (with a lot of leftovers) rather than 1.5 hides for size 48 or below. Complicating matters here is the single piece back panel of the A-2, and also the modern vs WWII sizing. I'm going to measure both of my Westeds and send those measurements across as a starting point for finding hide.

Anyhow, I'm just going to salivate a bit for now and maybe I will get lucky and he will come across enough hide to clothe me.

He did mention Aero Leather in Scotland do larger sizes, because of their larger volume -- but I like the idea of buying local to me, easier to ensure a good fit as well.

I am pretty sure I'd like russet horsehide, but not sure which pattern yet.

My repro gloves and airman's identify card holder arrived today. I'm not really sure where I am going with this.

[binkmeisterRick]

Where did you get your gloves? HPA?

[ANZAC_1915]

Where did you get your gloves? HPA?

Garcia Aviation -- although they sent me the wrong size... hopefully they will fix it up.
They're made in Pakistan.

[Flyderf]

Is it officially a sickness when you have a jacket on order, and you consider ordering another from a another manufacturer? Thanks _ for posting that beautiful A2 in that jerky seal Horsehide! (Fuel to the Fire!) I've already emailed Aero Leather asking a few questions. On their website are the pictures of the seal leather worn after 5 years. Awesome.

[Flyderf]

Does it ever end? One cruise after another. I gotta say, this A2 love goes back way further than the love of the Indy jacket. It's always been my "first love". The thing I love the most it was worn by real heroes, not just a screen favorite hero.

[Flyderf]

Yeah, but collecting them will cost WAY MORE! I'll stick to leather jackets.

[Long John Tinfoil]

Nope. Never ends. The only one worse is for guitars. My theory with them us that they are curvy and make pretty sounds when you strum them with your fingers. They can purr or they can scream. Remind y'all of anything else?

Yeah, there's a musical instrument that goes by the same name. Some people seem to focus on getting those first, getting in a band, getting famous and then collecting the ones you're describing.

LJ

[binkmeisterRick]

So, you have GAS, too? (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome)

[ANZAC_1915]

Nope. Never ends. The only one worse is for guitars. My theory with them us that they are curvy and make pretty sounds when you strum them with your fingers. They can purr or they can scream. Remind y'all of anything else?

Cars?

[ANZAC_1915]

Did y'all see Aero's "anniversary" jacket:

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/weba ... rodid=1446

[ThatManFromRio]

Nope. Never ends. The only one worse is for guitars. My theory with them us that they are curvy and make pretty sounds when you strum them with your fingers. They can purr or they can scream. Remind y'all of anything else?

Cars?

Cats.

[Flyderf]

I'm really eyeing their "real deal" A2 jerky unmatched horsehide. Anyone ever see this hide up close? From the picture it looks like a lot of variations on the grain. I like the color of the seal brown, especially when it ages.

[Texan Scott]

I like this quote: "there was a war going on, every bit of horse went into the jacket."

...they just don't make them like they used to!