1st jacket project 2025 - B-58 themed BR MA-1

[Shanghai-Mayne]

Command patch must included.

 

[Griffon_301]

i am also leaning more towards #2

the Test Force patch is rather big, I hope it fits above the elbow together with the Trophy patch...
we will see, but many many thanks for your input

 

[B-Man2]

short update, jacket goes to the tailor today.

these two are the final options for the patch layout and I am still a bit unsure.
let's see how the whole monty looks wenn fixed on the jacket provisionally...

any comments welcome, I will be at the Taylor in about 15 mins though

View attachment 175767

View attachment 175769

In my opinion the 2nd photo version looks much better. Not so much stuff and the command patch is where it should be .

 

[Griffon_301]

i went for the second version

 

[Griffon_301]

this is how it looked after fixing the bow ches provisionally...might head to the tailor in Monday again to do a slight though, putting the 43rd wing patch a bit further out and the Test Force and Trophy patches in the sleeve a bit further up..

 

[B-Man2]

this is how it looked after fixing the bow ches provisionally...might head to the tailor in Monday again to do a slight though, putting the 43rd wing patch a bit further out and the Test Force and Trophy patches in the sleeve a bit further up..

View attachment 175851

That looks so much better and authentic than any of your previous choices. If it were mine I would still try to find a name tag that would enhance the authenticity of the jacket. Maybe your name with a non existent Air Force.
In the past I’ve used;

Burt xxxxxx
Flight Crew
The Royal Turks
and Caicos Air Force.

Since they don’t have an Air Force , no one finds it offensive and the tag looks good on the jacket .

 

[Rutger]

Is it a period correct SAC patch?

 

[Thomas Koehle]

That looks so much better and authentic than any of your previous choices. If it were mine I would still try to find a name tag that would enhance the authenticity of the jacket. Maybe your name with a non existent Air Force.
In the past I’ve used;

Burt xxxxxx
Flight Crew
The Royal Turks
and Caicos Air Force.

Since they don’t have an Air Force , no one finds it offensive and the tag looks good on the jacket .

i second Burt's opinion: the 2nd version looks better to me as well and yeah - why not foolowing that suggestion with a non-existing Force so noone feels offended ...

 

[Griffon_301]

Is it a period correct SAC patch?

to be honest-I don't know! having to buy patches from eBay and being located in Austria does not give you an abundance of choices in that regard.

living in Austria, I could choose whatever airforce I like as no-one here would know the difference.
also, that jacket in all probability won't leave this country, so the chance to offend anyone with a period correct USAF name tag and wings would also be nonexistent I guess.
and lastly, it's a repro that I wanted to make a fun project out of just as I did with my red knit L-2.
It need not be 100% period correct and out of that reason, I guess it will stay wingless and name tag less.
it will be an hommage to the B-58 Hustler, most probably one of the most beautiful jet aircraft to have ever graced the skies...

a big thank you to all of you gentlemen for your comments, tips and guidance.
I have learned quite a few things again and it was great, being able to count on your knowledge and your support again!

fit pictures to follow when I get the jacket back at the end of next week

 

[Shanghai-Mayne]

Phil glad you got fun from this project.

 

[Griffon_301]

to be honest it was fun diving into the research, digging up the few books I have about the 58 and checking some online resources as well.
also, looking up MA-1 related info was very interesting and yielded a few great pictures and a book order

I am looking forward to the finished result then...

oh and here are some of the pictures I found (I know, those are L-2s)...they revolve around another Convair delta jet, the F-102, but they are great I think. and look at those caps
...and before you mention the name tags...my jacket will stay tag less for reasons discussed here...

 

[CBI]

Love these photos. The Air Force has always been somewhat strict on patches. There would occasionally be some more latitude with Air National Guard units. Odd for the Group patch (or Wing) to be on shoulder and then a patch BELOW it. Their Air Defense Command qualification patch on the other shoulder. I'll bet the squadron/group commander wanted some additional bling. Currently, the Air Force allows "Friday Patches" or "Morale" which are non approved but appropriate patches to be worn (typically on Fridays).....but wont way more often!

 

[Griffon_301]

those pictures were taken at an annual William Tell meet so I guess the crews participating there where allowed some more freedom to show off their proud unit heraldry

 

[CBI]

probably...........and truth be told, I am sort of thinking of adding a patch to my Bronson B-15c. Probably an Air Defense Command patch on the right chest and a white name strip on the left. just thinking about it.

 

[bn1966]

Love an L2, some great photos there picked up an L-2B years back (ground crew issue) that has a decent length and therefore does get an airing occasionally

 

[Griffon_301]

last change on the layout maybe:

due to the size of the test force patch, I might move that one to the left shoulder and place it above the USAF decal. I have seen such a setup on another jacket where a squadron patch was placed over the decal.

What's the opinion from you guys?
the pic shows the right hand sleeve as it would look now:

 

[B-Man2]

last change on the layout maybe:

due to the size of the test force patch, I might move that one to the left shoulder and place it above the USAF decal. I have seen such a setup on another jacket where a squadron patch was placed over the decal.

What's the opinion from you guys?
the pic shows the right hand sleeve as it would look now:

View attachment 176127

I think that they would look better if they weren’t upside down

 

[Griffon_301]

you have a point, but...
unfortunately for the jacket it's too late now, everything is fixed and after annoying my Taylor three times today, we have agreed on the final set up... next pictures will be fit pics