**NEWS EXTRA**Good Wear flying jackets take vintage authenticity to new heights!!

[Mike K.]

That's really great information to know...thanks fedoralover!!

Out of curiosity, are there any other Good Wear jacket owners out there who can provide similar feedback. It would be beneficial to know how other A-2 contracts fit in comparison to the Dubow (when made the correct/authentic J. Chapman way).

 

[Smithy]

Oh no you've gone and done it there Fedoralover! After deciding on getting the 27753 you go and post this Dubow. Now I'm going to have to have a rethink :eusa_doh:

Beautiful jacket you got there :eusa_clap

 

[fedoralover]

Here's a couple pics after a week or so just to show how some of the grain is starting to come out. I've noticed that unless there is inherent grain already in the leather it will always be smooth. The right front panel is staying smooth while the left one is getting a lot of grain. In the arms it's just the opposite with the right one getting grain and very little in the left. It makes a nice mix of unmatched hides.

fedoralover

 

[aswatland]

Very nice indeed. It now looks like a lightly worn original, which is the idea I guess.

 

[handworn]

That looks really good, Fedoralover. The only thing is, it makes your digital watch stand out. I'd look around for an A-11 to be really correct.

 

[CBI]

Goodwear A-2 with 4th Fighter Group Artwork

My "new" Goodwear inspired by 4th Fighter Group ace - Pierce "Mac" McKennon and his "Ridge Runner" P-47/P-51 nose art

A FEW ADDED CLOSE-UPS

I FORGOT TO MENTION, I DID SOME EXPERIMENTING A LITTLE AND ADDED WEAR TO THE SEAMS WITH PAINT. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME. IN PERSON, IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL ITS PAINT.

 

[Senicko_Spain]

May I ask, who did your artwork?

 

[Eyemo]

Very Nice..oil or acrylic?.

 

[CBI]

Its my first attempt at painting a jacket myself. I have been experimenting on leather swatches for quite some time now with all types of paints, primers, sealers, etc. Bending, folding, trying to destroy the paint job seeing what is the most durable over an extended time. I painted a few test patches recently and then decided to take the time to paint this jacket. After all of the thought, planning, etc. the actual painting did not take very long and I really enjoyed doing it. The wife likes it and I plan on doing a few more. I simply wanted to make sure I got exactly want I wanted in re a paint job so I decided to do it myself. I do have a little graphics/art background. The main thing was to get the period look/aging as close to correct as I could. Still learning but it’s a fun “new” hobby. Too bad I can’t seem to find the time to do it. Pierce McKennon was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas (hence the Arkansas Razorback) and I currently live in the same city so it made sense to do this. Also, I love the boxing eagle and 8th AF insignias so it all “worked” in terms of all of the insignia I wanted on a jacket.

Oh - enamel paint since that's probably the kind of paint used in WWII, whatever was in the aircraft repair shed.

 

[Senicko_Spain]

Its my first attempt at painting a jacket myself.

Well, you sure did one hell of a job, looks fabulous. Also glad the misses likes it, that's a big plus.

 

[CBI]

thanks so much. I can't wait to do another one - so many choices of great nose/jacket art!!!!

 

[CBI]

I added a few more photos to my first post

 

[Eyemo]

Excellent work... very clean.

 

[Mike K.]

Very nicely done!! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

My grandfather had a very similar jacket when he served with the 4th. The biggest difference was that his had the boxing eagle emblazoned across the entire back panel of the jacket! Unfortunately it dry rotted and somebody threw away the jacket before I managed to get to it.

 

[CBI]

d'oh!!!!!! I hate it when that happens. A great jacket that ends up getting destroyed. Sorry to hear it. The 4th FG insignia is one of my favorites.

thanks.

 

[Senicko_Spain]

Excellent attention to detail, but your first project on a Goodwear thank goodness you didn't screw the pooch, I wouldn't have been so bold, maybe a mall jacket or something and then move on to a GW. Well, good thing it turned out ok.

 

[CBI]

I had done some practice painting of all the insignias on leather swatches first. I bought the GW used for a song so very little risk really.

 

[Edward]

Looks very period, well done! Is the original on display anywhere? Would be great to have a photo of the two together, were that possible.

 

[CBI]

thanks so much. I came up with this grouping of insignia:

Pierce MacKennon was in the 4th Fighter Group (breast patch), the 4th was part of the 8th AF (one of the first units) so I used the ealier "stubby wing" 8th insignia. MacKennon's plane was the Ridger Runner so I copied the nose art.

So, many cool ideas, my next jacket is 6 different jacket/insignia paint schemes that I just can't decide on.

Lots of fun

 

[aswatland]

GW Rough Wear 27752 contract

John Chapman is selling some discounted A2s on the VLJ forum. I have just bought his remarkable RW 27752 jacket in a size 42L. Here is the link to jacket.
http://www.goodwearleather.com/photos/RW_06_sz42L/