G-1 / M-422A Tribute Fantasy Jacket 2

[bn1966]

Just about to embark on my second budget G-1 / M-422A USN 'Fantasy' Jacket (1st attempt back in 2015, very close but no cigar).

First attempt was a 'keeper' really but being in a ruthless mind-set at the time I moved it on (zippering final quarter of jacket caused a bit of mild leather pull). Regretted moving it ever since.

Due to a forced reduction in activity due to C-19, I've saved a few coppers and gathered the usual suspects for another go (decent rust mouton, lining, repro buttons, Rack N Rib knits & a NOS G-1 Conmar zipper). And most importantly someone who I think can pull it off in terms of building the jacket.

Looking at Seal Goatskin co-joined with the above in a fusion of G-1 & M-422A features with hopefully a USN 'tribute' type jacket at a budget cost as the end result (these days I'm not too bothered about accuracy, just a decent wearer).

Completed jacket should hopefully be posted up mid-late June (this year). Fingers crossed

Pictures below of completed first jacket & components going into the new build.

 

[Deacon211]

Love to see the finished product!

 

[bn1966]

Will be sure to post up finished jacket Deacon, after a really light wearer so going down the 1 mm thickness route on the hide which I'm informed was the case with some early G-1 contracts

 

[bn1966]

Well it's been made & now I'm just waiting for it to arrive

 

[Edward]

Looks nice. WAsn't the original Wested? Did you go with them again?

 

[bn1966]

Looks nice. WAsn't the original Wested? Did you go with them again?

Shawn at Five Star this time around, I get the impression Wested no longer do custom (might be wrong on that score).

 

[bn1966]

Another shot

 

[Edward]

Shawn at Five Star this time around, I get the impression Wested no longer do custom (might be wrong on that score).

I've always wodnered why Wested don't revamp some of their line - it seems, for instance, that there's no reason they coulsdn't do a much more accurate A2, or a G1 type for that matter, for a very reasonable rate.... I can only assume that what they do do brings in enough money they're happy... I get the impression they still do work for the TV and film industry, so maybe they do much more of that than gets attention (last thing I remember was I think they were supposed to have supplied the white leather jacket Alex Drake wore in Ashes to Ashes, though sometimes their replicas, like the Captain America jacket (Aero made the one in the film), and the ones they did do the originals of aren't always clear from each other from the outside).

 

[bn1966]

Looked at Wested before I knew of & went with 5 Star.

Wested was no longer offering customisations that I could see and the project was quite protracted the first time around and I no longer own a G-1 for them to pattern off.

Five Stars turn around time, communication and customer service has been second to none. They’ve sent me pics of the above jacket with a tape measure in situ & have nailed all the numbers I gave them.

If the G-1 works out when it arrives then I’m looking at a 5 Star B-3 for the Winter. At their price, having seen pics, it’s justifiable for a few cold days. Would aim for a fit that’s perfect with just a T underneath, where as with an Irvin I’d size up.

 

[Deacon211]

Very good looking so far!

Do they do larger sizes? I thought they had a maximum of like 44/46?

Custom would probably address that I guess.

 

[Doctor Damage]

This looks stellar... looking forward to fit pics!

 

[bn1966]

Very good looking so far!

Do they do larger sizes? I thought they had a maximum of like 44/46?

Custom would probably address that I guess.

Mines a 48, Shawn will go larger too if required.

 

[bn1966]

Just arrived and it’s awesome, well done to Shawn & the Five Star Team, it’s exceeded expectations, broad shoulders and chest but tailored down the torso and in no way blousy. Will get fit pics at the weekend....

Customer service and communication has been epic throughout the build and the jacket incredible for the $$$$$

 

[bn1966]

Jacket constructed from 1 mm Goat-hide with a cotton lining to make it nice and light. Plan was fairly fitted to be worn with just a T underneath. I've had heavy goat in the past and prefer my G-1 types on the other end of the spectrum. NOS Conmar zipper looks the biz but needs to bed in, applied a little candle wax to this end. Mouton is super nice in rust, I think the early USN knits compliment it well in brick red.

Fit pics