Brettafett
One Too Many
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Aerial Star A-2 7301 size 38 Tall (1” added to body and sleeve length)
Received this jacket recently and let me tell you, its a nice jacket.
Many have shown interest in these jackets, so here are my personal thoughts and opinions.
Fit and lengths are pretty good. Theres still room for a sweater if need be, and esp in the torso area, but thats just my skinny waist.
Fist off, Aerial Star doesn’t claim to make contract specific WW2 patterns. They created their own pattern, which appears well thought out, good looking and practical.
I really like the inset sleeves and the ‘square’ shoulders, no drooping here… unless you go UP a few sizes.
It has all the required pieces in all the required places and has a sharp, relatively unique profile.
I especially like the collar, which has a definitively retro look and feel about it. Anyway, it looks the part.
Took roughly 4 weeks to build from order, arrived very well packaged and protected.
The seal steerhide is a touch beefier than most horsehide A-2s I have had, not nearly as hefty as my old Lost Worlds Dubow A-2, but a touch more than my Aero mid weight HHs and past ELC HH A-2s. So it does feel, to me, a little heavier than what I am used too. It also feels a little rubbery to the touch... in a way, and resistant to initial creasing (although it will crease up and develop oodles of character).
This is surely a jacket to wear and wear as hard as you like.
Its has a lovely chocolate brown hue, closely matching the mid brown knits and brown cotton thread. It seems to have an aniline-like finish to it with the grain showing through, (reminds me vaguely of Aero’s oil pull samples, but its different). In years to come it should develop an amazing patina.
Dripping some water on and it beads right off, no absorption or discoloration, it seems.
The knits are double weave. Apparently more authentic, but for me, they feel a teeny bit loose-ish (at least on the waistband) and I wonder how they will wear over time. This is just a personal reflection compared to the other jackets I have owned. I would say, these are similar to ELC jacket’s knits and even my old GW, just not as robust and tight as my Aero’s seem to have been (I love those, they seem to stay tight forever)…
The stitching and workmanship is top-notch, very neat and solid. Easily as good as anything I have owned before, (and better than some jackets I have had)…
Zipper works well enough, not a repro of anything, its all about keeping costs down.
I am 5’10, weigh approx 70kgs/ 154 pounds, am athletically slim and normally wear a size 40 long/ tall.
Measurements (as best I can make out) are as follows:
shoulder to shoulder - 18" just
armpit to armpit front- 22,5”
armpit to armpit back- 22,5”
sleeve length - 25,5”
back length - 26”
windflap - 23"
Zipper 21,5”
Finally, the customer service was impeccable. Emails (many) were answered within days or hours and clearly thought about and personal. No hassles, no dramas. Easy.
I think this is a good-looking A-2, clearly familiar, yet refreshingly different. I am sure it will age beautifully and last, at least, forever. A serious contender in the mid-priced range of A-2s on offer.
I hope this review was of interest. Happy holidays everyone
Received this jacket recently and let me tell you, its a nice jacket.
Many have shown interest in these jackets, so here are my personal thoughts and opinions.
Fit and lengths are pretty good. Theres still room for a sweater if need be, and esp in the torso area, but thats just my skinny waist.
Fist off, Aerial Star doesn’t claim to make contract specific WW2 patterns. They created their own pattern, which appears well thought out, good looking and practical.
I really like the inset sleeves and the ‘square’ shoulders, no drooping here… unless you go UP a few sizes.
It has all the required pieces in all the required places and has a sharp, relatively unique profile.
I especially like the collar, which has a definitively retro look and feel about it. Anyway, it looks the part.
Took roughly 4 weeks to build from order, arrived very well packaged and protected.
The seal steerhide is a touch beefier than most horsehide A-2s I have had, not nearly as hefty as my old Lost Worlds Dubow A-2, but a touch more than my Aero mid weight HHs and past ELC HH A-2s. So it does feel, to me, a little heavier than what I am used too. It also feels a little rubbery to the touch... in a way, and resistant to initial creasing (although it will crease up and develop oodles of character).
This is surely a jacket to wear and wear as hard as you like.
Its has a lovely chocolate brown hue, closely matching the mid brown knits and brown cotton thread. It seems to have an aniline-like finish to it with the grain showing through, (reminds me vaguely of Aero’s oil pull samples, but its different). In years to come it should develop an amazing patina.
Dripping some water on and it beads right off, no absorption or discoloration, it seems.
The knits are double weave. Apparently more authentic, but for me, they feel a teeny bit loose-ish (at least on the waistband) and I wonder how they will wear over time. This is just a personal reflection compared to the other jackets I have owned. I would say, these are similar to ELC jacket’s knits and even my old GW, just not as robust and tight as my Aero’s seem to have been (I love those, they seem to stay tight forever)…
The stitching and workmanship is top-notch, very neat and solid. Easily as good as anything I have owned before, (and better than some jackets I have had)…
Zipper works well enough, not a repro of anything, its all about keeping costs down.
I am 5’10, weigh approx 70kgs/ 154 pounds, am athletically slim and normally wear a size 40 long/ tall.
Measurements (as best I can make out) are as follows:
shoulder to shoulder - 18" just
armpit to armpit front- 22,5”
armpit to armpit back- 22,5”
sleeve length - 25,5”
back length - 26”
windflap - 23"
Zipper 21,5”
Finally, the customer service was impeccable. Emails (many) were answered within days or hours and clearly thought about and personal. No hassles, no dramas. Easy.
I think this is a good-looking A-2, clearly familiar, yet refreshingly different. I am sure it will age beautifully and last, at least, forever. A serious contender in the mid-priced range of A-2s on offer.
I hope this review was of interest. Happy holidays everyone
