Latest and Last evolution of a crew cap

[deanglen]

This cap has gone through several stages. It is a leather vintage cap that began as a totaly red hunting cap. I modified to be a crew cap for a post-war bomber crew. Originally a navigator's cap for a 9th Bomb Squadron, 7th Bomb Wing craft, It now has a black and white scheme, more accurately reflecting photo documentation I have found for a similar cap. Using fabric paint that flexes well and looks leathery, I hand numbered, lettered, and colored the cap to be the headgear of an "AC" on a 509th Bomb Wing aircraft circa 1950, with his home state indicated on the visor, which is my own. "AC"s for "Airplane Commander", left seat in the cockpit. The Triangle "C" is the tail insignia for the 509th BG and the 26 is the last two digits of a fictitious aircraft serial number. It goes well with my 1950s nylon flight jacket collection.

dean

 

[RBH]

Great work!!
:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Glad to see you Dean.
I have missed my thin ribbon brother!

 

[deanglen]

Thank you Rusty! Never gone, just not posting much. I've been doing jackets and such more of late than fedoras. Who else could have an obession with idiomatic headwear like USAF crew caps from the last century, but yours truly. You guys are looking great in your civilian felts, as always! Thin ribbons rule! Take care, friend!





dean

 

[deanglen]

Found this over on the VLJ. The cap in the photo is probably fabric, but it's the style I was trying to re-produce.

dean

 

[Carlisle Blues]

I have visited this thread a few times as I wanted to fully appreciate your work. That cap is a real beauty...and the detail is outstanding...Nice very nice..:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[deanglen]

I have visited this thread a few times as I wanted to fully appreciate your work. That cap is a real beauty...and the detail is outstanding...Nice very nice..:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Very kind of you Carlisle, your appreciation is gratifying. I'm already modifying the cap as it is in the photos having done some research that revealed to me that the letters are too large, too close together, and could have an angled vertical slash between them. These kins of projects are fun, and goodness sakes, there's no want of fedoras featured here. Mixin' it up!




dean

 

[deanglen]

After further photo research and just a bit more careful attention to such pictures as this:

I updated the cap as follows. I think I've got this time. There is
a minor difference in the lettering, but unless I get too complusive I will probably let it slide. The slightly distorted letter "C" is due to an undulation of the leather of the cap which has defied my efforts to remove.

dean

 

[deanglen]

Compulsively updated! Can't help it! Just noticed... the letters are TOO LOW! Gawd! There may be a limit to compulsion.

dean

 

[duggap]

Careful Dean, or you will get drafted.lol Actually it looks like a real good repro.

 

[deanglen]

Thanks for the compliment, duggap! Moved them up slightly. Not sure if I can live with it, but I just had to do more work on it. Compulsion has no limits.

dean