My well worn ELC RW 1401 A2 Part 3

Well over the years I have read about many many ways to age our repro flight jackets. Some of these ways have proven to show not too bad results .
However, none of these methods seem to catch the real look.
When I was a kid hanging around airports with my Dad, many of the old guys would joke with a newbie when he showed up in a brand new shiney flight jacket.
They were all wearing their old worn jackets and the new guys always wanted theirs to look the same. As the old pilots said, " you have to earn that look thru experience , you can;t make them look that way". The old boys wore their old leathers as a badge of distinction.
I think they were right, the only way a leather jacket will get "the look" is thru use . Nothing can artificially create the wear and tear of use.

Here are some more updated pics of my jacket
Bought in 2003 , she now has close to 1000 flight hours on her.
98 % of those hours are done in my 1940 Fleet Finch biplane


LEFT ARMPIT FRONT

RIGHT ARM FRONT

RIGHT ARM REAR SHOWING RUBBING AT THE ELBOW FROM THE TIGHT COCKPIT OF THE AIRPLANE

REAR VIEW SHOWING WEAR MARKS FROM THE SHOULDER HARNESS BUCKLES


COLLAR


LEFT SHOULDER FRONT



RIGHT SHOULDER FRONT


RIGHT ARM


LEFT ARM ELBOW REAR


RIGHT POCKET


FRONT TOP HALF


FRONT FULL

Like fine wine!










dean

Now that's just lovely! Thanks for sharing.

Kent

That's what I call time worn
so cool !!!

Marco

Thanks for the comments

I am sure there will be some forum members that will be horrified by the condition of my jacket but it was bought to be used for the purpose it was designed for - Flying
None of my flying clothing collection is for display and all of it is used.
Nothing against the collectors that buy repro jackets and then store then away to be kept in mint condition. (That is wise with the originals). To me that is a waste but hey, everyone has their own style.
I also have the ELC B oF B Irvin and in a couple of more years it will be just as worn as the A2

Looking at my pics , I never realized just how abused the jacket has become but I will say , it is one tough jacket. It is a testament to the quality of the ELC Product
Though the finish is not robust, the horsehide is still strong and not getting thin in any of the high wear areas. Sometimes I think about sending it to Eastman to be dyed but the jacket has gone thru alot of flying adventures with me and it shows.
Next , I would like to obtain an A-1 Jacket but I doubt that the capeskin would stand up to this much abuse

Just off the top of my head, the jacket has approx 90,000 flying miles on it :!: :shock:

I think a worn rather than aged jacket is preferable.
If that were mine I would treat it with pecards now, none of the character would be lost in my opinion but that 'sanded' look would mellow.
Of course it is yours so I am not suggesting you should, rather that I would.

Tim P said:

I think a worn rather than aged jacket is preferable.
If that were mine I would treat it with pecards now, none of the character would be lost in my opinion but that 'sanded' look would mellow.
Of course it is yours so I am not suggesting you should, rather that I would.

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I agree. This wear stage is when Pecards is more useful to blend and soften the harshness.

Vcruiser said:

Tim P said:

I think a worn rather than aged jacket is preferable.
If that were mine I would treat it with pecards now, none of the character would be lost in my opinion but that 'sanded' look would mellow.
Of course it is yours so I am not suggesting you should, rather that I would.

Click to expand...

I agree. This wear stage is when Pecards is more useful to blend and soften the harshness.

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Believe it or not, I treat the jacket every fall with Pecards.
Once applied it really looks good again and softens all the scuff marks but once the Pecards soaks in it doesn't stay that way and goes back to looking like in the pictures.
I think I am applying it correctly

Good for you, a mix of resistence to abuse and response to proper care is why leather is even used at all for boots or work clothing.

Old guys like this one?

she's simply splendid

PLATON said:

Old guys like this one?

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LOL :lol: Pretty much the same look on the face and the same attitude except not quite that many badges

fleet16b said:

Thanks for the comments

I am sure there will be some forum members that will be horrified by the condition of my jacket but it was bought to be used for the purpose it was designed for - Flying

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On the contrary. Most of us nonpilots are envious! :mrgreen:

Next , I would like to obtain an A-1 Jacket but I doubt that the capeskin would stand up to this much abuse

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Look for one of ELC's old-type steerhide A-1s. I like mine quite a lot, inauthentic tho it is (they were drawn up from photographs).

Just off the top of my head, the jacket has approx 90,000 flying miles on it :!: :shock:

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...or a little better than 3 1/2 times around the world. Magnificent!!!

You've inspired me to stuff and soak my old and somewhat beat ELC 1401. It's got incipient scuffing just like yours, but doesn't get out, because it's too tight and one pocket's come part way unsewn. We'll see what happens...

Fantastic. Are you sure it's not an original ? What an A-2 should look like.

Next , I would like to obtain an A-1 Jacket but I doubt that the capeskin would stand up to this much abuse

Click to expand...

Look for one of ELC's old-type steerhide A-1s. I like mine quite a lot, inauthentic tho it is (they were drawn up from photographs).



Awesome A-1 I really like the look in horsehide . :mrgreen:
I have always loved the look and nostalgia of the A-1 design
Must get one. :!:
Definitely tougher looking than the capeskin examples.
The russett look reminds me of how my A2 looked at one time
Thanks for posting the pic.