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Time Worn option?

1970Novass

New Member
I recently (3 months ago) took a chance on ebay and purchased a new Eastman 1401 size 48L. At 6'3 225 the size and length is a perfect fit !

So now I'm looking to get another with patches, name tag, etc. for when I fly my Cessna.
Looking at Eastman's website they offer a 'time worn" option. Plus you can pretty much build your own jacket, patches, name tag, rank, etc.
My question- has anyone used the time worn option ? If so what are your comments ? Also patches or other tags ? Are they period correct ?
Thanks for any advice
 

Roughwear

Well-Known Member
I have owned TW jackets from ELC. Some were aged well, but not all. These days I would simply recommend not paying for the treatment, which is a form of sanding, but wearing a new jacket to give it natural age. After all newly issued Wartime A2s did not have an aged appearance! I have several mint originals in my collection which do not look anything like TW Eastmans!
 

1970Novass

New Member
Thanks for your reply

do you recommend Eastman accessories? Patches, name tags, etc. or have them done elsewhere? Or maybe painted ?
 

a2jacketpatches

Active Member
I highly recommend the leather patches :D I make them for Eastman. The 23rd Fighter Group has my own twist to the design but the method I use to make them is very accurate. The other set I do for them (75th Fighter Squadron) with shoulder patches and Blood Chit are copied from an original that Gary Eastman owns. I make a wide variety of other patches and do custom work as well. Also, name tags, leather wings, and zipper pulls. And anything you want out of Ebay can be removed and discounted 10% if paid as Friends and Family to [email protected]

Here's a link to my Ebay store or just PM me for details on custom work.

http://stores.ebay.com/a2jacketpatches/
 

fleet16b

Well-Known Member
a2jacketpatches said:
I highly recommend the leather patches :D I make them for Eastman. The 23rd Fighter Group has my own twist to the design but the method I use to make them is very accurate. The other set I do for them (75th Fighter Squadron) with shoulder patches and Blood Chit are copied from an original that Gary Eastman owns. I make a wide variety of other patches and do custom work as well. Also, name tags, leather wings, and zipper pulls. And anything you want out of Ebay can be removed and discounted 10% if paid as Friends and Family to [email protected]

Here's a link to my Ebay store or just PM me for details on custom work.

http://stores.ebay.com/a2jacketpatches/

I will second this as a2jacketpatches made me a 34th B.S, patch for my
ELC 1401P A2 . The workmanship is perfect. In fact so good that Doolittle Raider Richard Cole endorsed its accuracy when he saw it.
 

STEVE S.

Well-Known Member
a2jacketpatches said:
I highly recommend the leather patches :D I make them for Eastman. The 23rd Fighter Group has my own twist to the design but the method I use to make them is very accurate. The other set I do for them (75th Fighter Squadron) with shoulder patches and Blood Chit are copied from an original that Gary Eastman owns. I make a wide variety of other patches and do custom work as well. Also, name tags, leather wings, and zipper pulls. And anything you want out of Ebay can be removed and discounted 10% if paid as Friends and Family to [email protected]

Here's a link to my Ebay store or just PM me for details on custom work.

http://stores.ebay.com/a2jacketpatches/


amazing work brother! i'm impressed! really like the AVG stuff.

i've copied an original blood chit, just trying to figure out the best way to do the text.
 

a2jacketpatches

Active Member
My original method was to print a copy of the chit 1:1 scale and use transfer paper to layout the basic characters. Then I would use an acrylic paint pen to carefully draw them out paying special attention to the thick and thin of each brush stroke. It really matters or it'll look funny to a Chinese person. Other times I would copy the Indian version of the characters because that is accurate, can be read, and looks funny to them anyway. Either way would take me quite some time to get it looking right. The best method I found is to marry a Thai woman that studied the Chinese language and methods of writing for 6 years.

One day I met this lady and a few weeks later she saw a few Chits in process in my work shop. She giggled a little and said "Looks like two year old" Picked up a sharpie and banged out a Chit on a piece of paper in 5 seconds flat. We've been happily married for almost 5 years.
 

STEVE S.

Well-Known Member
a2jacketpatches said:
My original method was to print a copy of the chit 1:1 scale and use transfer paper to layout the basic characters. Then I would use an acrylic paint pen to carefully draw them out paying special attention to the thick and thin of each brush stroke. It really matters or it'll look funny to a Chinese person. Other times I would copy the Indian version of the characters because that is accurate, can be read, and looks funny to them anyway. Either way would take me quite some time to get it looking right. The best method I found is to marry a Thai woman that studied the Chinese language and methods of writing for 6 years.

One day I met this lady and a few weeks later she saw a few Chits in process in my work shop. She giggled a little and said "Looks like two year old" Picked up a sharpie and banged out a Chit on a piece of paper in 5 seconds flat. We've been happily married for almost 5 years.

GREAT story!!!
 

Marv

Well-Known Member
Roughwear said:
I have owned TW jackets from ELC. Some were aged well, but not all. These days I would simply recommend not paying for the treatment, which is a form of sanding, but wearing a new jacket to give it natural age. After all newly issued Wartime A2s did not have an aged appearance! I have several mint originals in my collection which do not look anything like TW Eastmans!

I agree with Andrew on this, some are good and some are not so good.....I have an ELC Pearl Harbor A2 in walnut from 2009 and the TW process is excellent, very subtle and worn in all the areas where you would expect.

I think it's just the luck of the draw in who you get at ELC when the jacket goes through this process, personally I wouldn't bother with TW but with the PH A2 it only comes in this finish.
 

M3Cavalry

Member
Does anybody know if you can have an Eastman you already own sent back to them to have the Time-Worn treatment done? Sorry for the bump of an older thread.
 

Roughwear

Well-Known Member
M3Cavalry (aka Squadron Leader Brian Lane!;)) The TW treatment involves gentle sanding and rubbing and IMO is not always applied to areas where there is most wear, compared with originals. If you really want to age a jacket either gentle sand those areas which would have had most wear in the War, such as the top of the epaulets, leather where the wristlets join, just above the hem for example. Fine grade sand paper is best as it will remove the finish without damaging the leather below.
 

Persimmon

Well-Known Member
I would suggest a email or a phone call would be the best option.

Eastman are back after the Christmas break tomorrow Monday 8th Jan

As I recall they have quoted in the past that that the time option is only available at the time of purchase of one of these jackets and it was not available to pre existing sold jackets.
However worth the phone call as stated for confirmation.
 

Garylafortuna

Well-Known Member
When it comes to speeding up the aging process on leather jackets, most of us here on VLJ are a far cry from what lengths the 'Indy' guys went to create the appearance of 'adventure'. It was beyond belief what some of those people did to beautiful expensive jackets.
 
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CBI

Well-Known Member
yep - I have aged a bunch of $$$ jackets. The best is to just wear them

But for those who live a sedentary life (like me), it can take WAAAAAY too long to break a jacket in with just wear so I do see the interest and a certain degree of validity in such things as time worn.
 
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