RMCNZ B3 Whiteskin

[mr_lits]

Just received my new B3 Whiteskin by Real McCoys New Zealand. I have waited years to find one in whiteskin, though strikes fear me to have a white leather jacket. Quite happy with the fit and feel, I think I will end up living in it this winter. The leather is soft and smells like heaven. Sleeves are a bit long but I haven't rolled the cuff yet and think I could take up the slack that way in a jiffy. I will post up some detail pics this evening.

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[Sloan1874]

Lovely. What's the finish on the skin like? Is it shiny or suede-ish? I think they look great but I'd fear getting filthy walking from the house to the car...

 

[mr_lits]

It is a suede-like finish, creamy white in color. And yeah... it scares the hell out of me and think that in time I will just need to embrace the way it will take marks.

 

[Sloan1874]

Best way to approach it. I've handled an original and they are very cool, but they certainly don't look 'as new'.

 

[mr_lits]

Best way to approach it. I've handled an original and they are very cool, but they certainly don't look 'as new'.

You have handled an original whiteskin B3!? Holy crap that's like riding a unicorn to take a swim with a narwhal!!
I have a B3 photo archive and this one matches the 1937 SFAD almost to a T.

 

[Sloan1874]

Aero have one in their archive - I think it's a B7, but it's the white skin. I think it's a good look.

 

[ton312]

Just received my new B3 Whiteskin by Real McCoys New Zealand. I have waited years to find one in whiteskin, though strikes fear me to have a white leather jacket. Quite happy with the fit and feel, I think I will end up living in it this winter. The leather is soft and smells like heaven. Sleeves are a bit long but I haven't rolled the cuff yet and think I could take up the slack that way in a jiffy. I will post up some detail pics this evening.

That jacket looks like it will serve you well in Alaska man. I agree with your sentiment. Wear it like it was meant to be worn and it'll be all the more genuine. That's an absolute fortress!!!

 

[mr_lits]

Thanks Tony, it is a beast for sure.

Here are a few more shots of it with some of the details. I like the Talon zip but it is a bit finicky. I'm hoping that with a bit of use it will smooth out a bit.

Still trying to figure the use of the buckle on the chest though.

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[bn1966]

Extreme Man.............I love it & your attitude!!!!

 

[bn1966]

The path less trod Way to go mr_lits!!!

 

[Doctor Damage]

And yeah... it scares the hell out of me and think that in time I will just need to embrace the way it will take marks.

Once it's worn in and worn out and marked up it will look amazing and everyone will try to steal it from you. It's only going to get better with age.

 

[mr_lits]

Once it's worn in and worn out and marked up it will look amazing and everyone will try to steal it from you. It's only going to get better with age.

Yeah I totally agree, but the first few marks are going to be painful though.....

 

[willyto]

Embrace the damage. Don't babysit it, it will only look better with age and wear and it will look less like the jacket is wearing you.

 

[Cooper A-2]

Terrific jacket!

 

[Doctor Damage]

Still trying to figure the use of the buckle on the chest though.

I suspect it's a way of securing the collar down when the collar is closed. One of the two loops on the collar might fit into it. Experiment.

 

[alfyman]

Just received my new B3 Whiteskin by Real McCoys New Zealand. I have waited years to find one in whiteskin, though strikes fear me to have a white leather jacket. Quite happy with the fit and feel, I think I will end up living in it this winter. The leather is soft and smells like heaven. Sleeves are a bit long but I haven't rolled the cuff yet and think I could take up the slack that way in a jiffy. I will post up some detail pics this evening.

View attachment 58114 View attachment 58115 View attachment 58116 \

Wow! I love it, very Nice..Wow..

 

[HPA Rep]

I suspect it's a way of securing the collar down when the collar is closed. One of the two loops on the collar might fit into it. Experiment.

Absolutely correct, Doc, that is what the chest buckle is for! This early design didn't have the press studs mounted on the upper chest found on the next B-3 generation, which allow for the collar to be secured to the jacket body to keep it from flopping around in the wind in open cockpits or if near an opening in the a/c while in flight.

 

[HPA Rep]

Congrats! That is a real masterpiece B-3 that seems to be executed to near perfection. I have owned three of these civilian-contracted vintage B-3's (not the depot-made versions as produced by SFAD), all manufactured in 1937, and I've handled about three more, all being the same regarding spec., though made by three different contractors. Buzz Rickson's made one many years back that was perfectly detailed and based on the mintiest one I owned (still has the large inspector mark in a blueish ink on the outside of the lower hem sheepskin panel) and I wish I had gotten one from BR; they made very few and found it too costly to make it worth offering again.

Those Talon and Hookless zips with the large fantail puller and riveted base can sometimes be stiff. I've written about these in at least one other thread and all of those that are problematic I've seen were readily fixed by simply resetting the gap between the two halves of the slider (it's usually too tight).

It's great to see someone offering this B-3 that was still sparsely but noticeably worn in combat in WWII (even by VIII Bomber Command), but I thought RMNZ was gone. Have they resumed ops now???

Good luck!

 

[Worf]

Lovely jacket but it would get stained when I looked at it. What can I say, I'm a slob!

Worf

 

[kowalski]

Hi Mr Lits
Absolutely beautiful jacket , these jackets won the 2WW
(for the love of them i decided rebuild my original B3 )