Dyeing an A-2 Dubow

[fishmeok]

Being one of those guys who can't just leave well enough alone I decided to modify my pre-production Goodwear Dubow. I have always liked the darker seal jackets, and there was a Dubow contract in that color. I used Feibings dark brown dye (3 coats, 4 bottles) and re-tailored the jacket at the same time. I took an inch off the body and sleeve width, and 3/4 of an inch off the sleeve length. I am VERY happy with the results.
Cheers
Mark

Before:

After 2 coats (cuffs still removed):

And Finished. It looks a little plum colored but that is not visible to the naked eye. It's a new camera which I have not completely figured out yet... Note the original color on the collar hanger:

And with the flash on:

 

[Atterbury Dodd]

Looks like it came out good! Is it made of cowhide?

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

I'm partial to the russet brown, but that does look nice. That has far more depth of color than jackets that start out as seal brown. Should be way-cool when it starts to wear and the original color shows through more in spots. Always liked that look in the original jackets that were resprayed.

 

[fishmeok]

It's cowhide- one of Chapmans' early test jackets.
I have already put it through the wringer in about a million different ways- washed, dried, taken to Europe, worked on cars, etc. This one was always a little big on me, wish I had taken the sides in and shortened the sleeves a year ago.

I was never completely happy with the color, 'specially once I saw some russet originals, and the re-dye jackets are my favorites, plus this one has reddish knits which really stand out with a dark color. Since I didn't want to use my paint gun and spray lacquer all over it Fiebings dye seemed the best answer. It's alcohol based and readily available at any shoe-repair place. The trick is to prep the jacket properly an remove any old dressings, dirt, etc. and then use paint brushes to apply the dye. If you use a small fine brush (about 1") it's easy to fill in the edges by the knits and zipper tape without getting any dye on them. You use capillary action, let the dye flow into the very edge, don't try to paint it in. Kind of a dabbing motion with the brush. The hide this jacket is made of is very porous, it soaks up the dye like a sponge, but other finishes will give different results (see the under panel on the left arm, it's made from a different hide). I think there is going to be a break in period when this will shed a little of the yellow-tinted dye base (also period correct, a happy finding), I gave it a good buffing with a cloth but it needs more so I will just have to careful until it breaks in.

I did lose the contrasting sticthing, but I put two new rows of OD topstitching at the body seams where I took them in which I think gives the jacket a nice worked on look.
Cheers
Mark