My latest buy: Aero M422A Jacket

[HoosierDaddy]

Never seen an original with a near white blond collar. many with rusty colored mouton, but never that light. Are some special ordering them that way..or do all the Aero repros come that way..?
HD

 

[Tefouane]

It's a golden collar...
The knits are not the m422a's one but the double knits from the A2.

 

[nick123]

I think the default for most makers is dark or medium brown. But the blonde/gold collar is an option.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

It's a golden collar...

I can tell that...but did you have to order it that way..??

 

[Tefouane]

Yes, you can choose this one when you order. Sorry if I don't understand very well but I'm French and I'm not speaking very well.

 

[Sloan1874]

THere's a choice of four collars, HD: rust, mid-brown, dark brown, golden.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Yes, you can choose this one when you order. Sorry if I don't understand very well but I'm French and I'm not speaking very well.

You are doing fine Tefouane...

 

[AdeeC]

I have an original G&F M422A and it has the golden rusty brown mouton collar that has faded nicely from the original dark brown. The colour varies depending on the raised or flattened pile of the fur and direction of light hitting it. I am not a big fan of the artificially aged colours. They all look wrong. I would prefer to buy a new one with the original dark brown colour. Or as JC from Good Wear does, is to use mouton from old Laskin Lamb coats he buys from EBay for the authentic faded effect.

 

[Big J]

I had a sample of Aeros golden mouton a few years back that was a gorgeous golden honey color. I'd like something like that on my next jacket.
In the photos of the jacket above, that collar looks as white as my B-3 shearling. I hope it's just an effect of lighting and camera.

 

[Royalcrown32]

Here are some photo's of me wearing the M422A. I took some photo's of me wearing my tailor made 'Buco' J106 size 42 with extra body and arm length too so you can compare the chest size. I asked for some extra length on my 106 because I use that one riding my Triumph. My A2's and the M422A could use some extra body length (I'm 6'5") but I don't want to ruin the proportions.

 

[Tefouane]

It's very amazing how color of leather seems to be darker than mine. I have the same square shoulders. The original waist knits are very longer than A2's one I have choosen.
Btw nice fit for a such tall size and slim guy. Wear it in good health.

 

[thor]

Vintage faded mouton has so many unique shades and variations. On a brand new repro M-422a, I prefer a medium brown/slight reddish brown mouton and just letting it fade naturally over time.

 

[Flyguy]

I recently took delivery of my Aero M422a in size 42. Before ordering I took my measurements as per Aero's size guide and then called them and asked which size I should order. My measurements are: Height 6ft Chest (relaxed) 38.5 inches Chest (expanded) 40.5 inches Stomach (at widest point) 39 inches Waist (actual waist, not jeans size) 38 inches. Aero advised me to order a 42. When the jacket arrived the production sheet showed they had added an inch to the body length and to the sleeves. I assume this was done because their standard pattern is based on a height of 5ft 11ins. The jacket is close fitting and at first this concerned me but having modelled it for my family they all said it fitted and made me look slim. I'm happy with the body and sleeve lengths. Based on my experience, I would say if you want the jacket to fit the way the originals did order your actual size but if you prefer a more relaxed fit order it sized up.

 

[Big J]

I recently took delivery of my Aero M422a in size 42. Before ordering I took my measurements as per Aero's size guide and then called them and asked which size I should order. My measurements are: Height 6ft Chest (relaxed) 38.5 inches Chest (expanded) 40.5 inches Stomach (at widest point) 39 inches Waist (actual waist, not jeans size) 38 inches. Aero advised me to order a 42. When the jacket arrived the production sheet showed they had added an inch to the body length and to the sleeves. I assume this was done because their standard pattern is based on a height of 5ft 11ins. The jacket is close fitting and at first this concerned me but having modelled it for my family they all said it fitted and made me look slim. I'm happy with the body and sleeve lengths. Based on my experience, I would say if you want the jacket to fit the way the originals did order your actual size but if you prefer a more relaxed fit order it sized up.

+1

 

[Big J]

So, here's a picture of my size 50 Aero M442a (+1 inch to sleeve and body length) that I received first;



Like I explained over on the G-1 thread a while back, this is based on real G&F patterns, so it is a 100% accurate wartime pattern size 50. But it didn't suit me; the shoulders and upper sleeves were way too baggy. G&F was making these for men built like gorillas. As Ken explained, this is an effect caused by the way G&F increased the size of the pattern going up the size range (smaller sizes will not be exactly the same shape). Anyhow, Ken very kindly was sympathetic to my plight, and after consultation with John Chapman, remade my order based on Willis & Giger patterns that have a different shape at size 50, as seen in the picture below;



I am extremely satisfied with this jacket, and cannot thank Ken, Aero, and John enough.

For the record, according to my height to weight ratio (based on one of those charts you see at the doctor's office- which incidentally all are based on data collected by the wartime US Army draft board IIRC) I need to lose about 40 kilos! I'll admit I could stand to lose maybe 10 kilos, but my measured chest is 49 inches (hence the size 50 jacket) and measured waist is 39 inches (I believe that a 10 inch drop is considered ideal), so I think that a size 50 would be the proper issue size for me. As you can see in the photo above, I'm wearing it with a T-shirt (which is how I'd normally wear it. Not shorts though, it was like 28 degrees C when I took the photo today). But in the photo below I am wearing the jacket with a a thin white cotton undershirt, and a repro USN wartime tan shirt from WPG. As you can see, that's the limit on what I can wear under this jacket- it's a good, proper wartime M442a fit IMHO.

 

[repo]

This thread is making me want to order one. I used to have an ELC M442a but was too baggy for me. Been a while since I've ordered something that wasn't on the sale pages - I wonder how long the waiting time is these days!

 

[Worf]

Good thing you're all the way on the other side of the World Big J.... That's one jacket I DON'T have but could be talked into.... if I were nearer... Sigh.... And you... THOR! Stop showin' off!!!!! Stop temptin' poor, broke retiree's with all them vintage jackets!!!! To the O.P. Nice job. Thanks for sharing.

Worf

 

[ButteMT61]

BigJ - that new jacket is superb. When you get tired of it I guess Worf and I can fight over it
100% improvement over the first one.

 

[Tefouane]

You are doing fine Tefouane...

Thanks HD. The essential is that you understand what I try to say ! [emoji1]

 

[Flyguy]

repo - I ordered my Aero M422a in March and it took 10 weeks to delivery.