Aero Leather Real Deal A-2 with 91st Bomb Group Art

[CBI]

Hello All - Here is my second attempt at painting a flight jacket.

Aero Leather Real Deal A-2 in Seal Brown Jerky Horsehide.

91st Bomb Group (324th Bomb Squadron), 8th Air Force, “Rhapsody in Red”. The nose art was originally painted by Tony Starcer who painted many of the group’s a/c during the war. Starcer used a 1944 Varga Girl painting as his inspiration but reversed the image and had the subject’s face in profile as well as some other changes. I decided to go more with the Varga image with the subject looking at the viewer. I also went with a significantly more weathered, worn-through aged look than my first jacket painting attempt (Goodwear A-2 with 4th Fighter Group Art). I am still in the experimental phase and just really enjoying it ………… when I have the time!!! There was one minor sealer mishap over the Varga Girl’s upper left shoulder but it sort of adds to the aged look. For some reason, I can’t get the camera to capture the weathering on the girl. The colors are way off, she’s not nearly as yellow – sorry. The stylized “A” is the 91st BG tail marking. I went with the earlier “stubby wing” 8th shoulder insignia.

 

[Burnsie]

Looks great! The weathered effect looks authentically vintage in the pics - goes with the well worn patina of the Real Deal itself - well done

 

[C.J.]

That looks fantastic!

 

[Good Wear Fan]

Great job! :mrgreen:

 

[PENSACOLA CVT-16]

Wow, "CBI,"

That's one excellent REAL DEAL...and the artwork!!!

Did you speed-up the worn-in-look of your Aero--I just admire the red hues.

Pensacola

 

[CBI]

Thanks guys, more details later - photobucket continues to elude me...............?

A few close ups with flash:

 

[Anonymous]

What a stunning jacket !! :mrgreen:

How'd you get that 2-tone on the hide ? Did it come like that or have you seriously weathered the jacket ? If the latter, then how ?

J_H

 

[CBI]

Thanks guys. It was a fun project. The jacket has been sitting on the back of my office chair since I finished it and everyone who visits the home office just assumes that it’s a 60 year old jacket. Pretty fun. This jacket arrived new from Aero Leather about a month ago. I have never worn it more than a few try-ons. Way too hot here presently. I have been playing with different weathering techniques on leather swatches for some time now. Here’s the lowdown:

Acetone: It works but way too toxic and it takes too long to dry before you can see and monitor/control the look you want.

Bleach: Works well but again, drying time/control AND, if it touches the stitching/knits it bleaches them out as well.

Leather Balm: Works well but not only darkens the jacket but leaves an oily coating.

Vaseline and Sand: Spread Vaseline over an area and then pour lots of sand on it. Work the sand into the leather. The abrasive quality of the sand wears off the finish. Way too much trouble with the same drawbacks as leather balm. This is a Hollywood technique to give leathers the worn “middle ages” look.

Turpentine or Mineral Spirits: If you choose this, go with the mineral spirits, less toxic. Both work but can damage the leather a bit.

The absolute winner is: quick drying, mostly non-toxic, cheap, easy to control, least damage to your leather, instant results………91% rubbing alcohol. Applied with white rag or old T-shirt.

The jacket was also soaked in water and then put in the dryer both right side out and inside out – zipped up of course to prevent unwanted scratches from the tipper pull.

The paints: flat enamel (Testors’ model paints). The paints used in the day were mostly enamel paints for aircraft. A few coats of water based flat coat were also used as a protective coat.

Enamel paint will last however it can crack but I have not had any trouble thus far. I have experimented with Acrylics and Oils as well but I could not get the period look with these. Well, I did with oils but enamel was more convincing.

 

[Anonymous]

After all that 'ill-treatment' you were worried about getting unwanted scratches from teh zipper whilst said jacket was in the drier ???? Methinks you jest !! :lol:

Seriously though, I have used very fine sand paper and hot water (but no drier). I certainly would never have thought of using solvents or bleaches but I'm glad you have and you have thought to advise us of their effectiveness - or otherwise.

Cheers,
J_H

 

[CBI]

Yes, some of the scratching can be pretty severe and looks a little "off". I did a little experimenting with this as well. In one case, numerous circular scratches from the zipper pull that made the jacket look like the scratches were added (this, putting the jacket in the dryer). One can always put some tape over the metal parts. Don't get me wrong, scratches are OK but I would rather add them myself (if we are talking about artificial ageing). No question that honest wear is the way to go but I am enjoying this process. I have also learned a lot about how the industry ages jeans, furniture, etc.

 

[A2 B3au]

I’m wondering if u still own the jacket. It’s a shame I can’t see the pics due to photobucket.

 

[B-Man2]

15 years since this threads last been addressed …. Photobucket has long since removed any photos here…..

 

[Micawber]

The original "Dutch" was the BTO on the Harvey crew of OHM, he and his wife were good friends of my family and I.
I have posted about this previously so no need to rehash it all again.

Edited as the predictive text on my phone is an @rse.

 

[CBI]

jacket given away to a co-worker as a gift about 12 years ago. one of my early painting attempts. I have the pics around on my computer?

 

[A2 B3au]

I figured as much, but thought I’d ask

 

[A2 B3au]

The original "Dutch" was the BTO on the Harvey crew of OHM, he and his wife were good friends of my family and I.
I have posted about this previously so no need to rehash it all again.

Edited as the predictive text on my phone is an @rse.

15 years since this threads last been addressed …. Photobucket has long since removed any photos here…..

So what I asked CBI, he’s an active member, no one’s asking either of u to rehash anything, I got an answer from the guy I directed the question too. Old threads should be deleted if your gonna moanabout people queries

 

[A2 B3au]

An Aero real deal was on my wish list,and I’ve been putting of painting a jacket for years, so to see someone’s first attempt and see how the red undertones look after all this time on a real deal woulda been cool.

 

[Micawber]

So what I asked CBI, he’s an active member, no one’s asking either of u to rehash anything, I got an answer from the guy I directed the question too. Old threads should be deleted if your gonna moanabout people queries

Apologies but you miss understand my comments. I have no problem with old threads being resurrected, none at all. I think CBI's painting was a copy of the one worn by my friend "Dutch" in the 91st - a group I have had links with for many years. So my comments regarded the guy, a friend of mine, who flew on Out House Mouse as BTO and painted the backs of the Harvey crew A-2 jackets, including his own. The Harvey crew was the last crew to fly the aircraft in combat. As I stated I have posted about this and more on the subject on VLJ previously and did not wish to bore by "rehashing" it all again when it's already on here (and searchable if required). The "rehash" comment did not concern old threads being resurrected.

Apologies for any confusion.

 

[B-Man2]

So what I asked CBI, he’s an active member, no one’s asking either of u to rehash anything, I got an answer from the guy I directed the question too. Old threads should be deleted if your gonna moanabout people queries

I was commenting on Photobucket no longer being the platform used on this forum and that there was little chance that the photos were still available and accessible . No reason to go off on anyone for a simple comment like that .

 

[A2 B3au]

Apologies but you miss understand my comments. I have no problem with old threads being resurrected, none at all. I think CBI's painting was a copy of the one worn by my friend "Dutch" in the 91st - a group I have had links with for many years. So my comments regarded the guy, a friend of mine, who flew on Out House Mouse as BTO and painted the backs of the Harvey crew A-2 jackets, including his own. The Harvey crew was the last crew to fly the aircraft in combat. As I stated I have posted about this and more on the subject on VLJ previously and did not wish to bore by "rehashing" it all again when it's already on here (and searchable if required). The "rehash" comment did not concern old threads being resurrected.

Apologies for any

Ok guys please accept my apology, I was so hesitant to post it in the 1st place and shoulda listened to my gut, only the insecure side of me understands why I felt the need to defend myself in the 1st place. Honestly chaps it didn’t sit well with me, as trivial as it is, I immediately thought of it when I opened my eyes this morning, knowing it’s prob too late to erase my post. Once again sorry for the misunderstanding and getting slightly offended for nowt. Art