Eastman Roughwear - should I give up and move it on?

[Grant]

Agree with Art, the jacket looks cool and fit spot on. Just wear the hell out of it and enjoy. I just got caught in a rain shower while cycling home in my ELC Werber. Looking forward to seeing what the results bring once she dries out.

 

[Edward]

wear it for many months. the break in period hasn't started for you yet. 2 weeks isn't enough time... it needs months of wearing to conform and to relax. my Star Sportswear ELC is a different (and better) jacket now than it was a year ago. the leather is soft and relaxed and the collar has started to droop and relax. looks so cool and I wear it a lot during the winter months (NOV thru March.)

 

[stanier]

Looks like a Roughwear fits to me and a new Roughwear. And a good fit for that, if not a wee bit too long in the body.

Having said that it demonstrates the love ‘em or hate ‘em features of Roughwear, particularly the large collar and more forgiving fit that will settle down with wear and it’ll sit much better, but it’ll always be a Roughwear.

As you say, the leather does look superb, and I suspect you just may not be a fan of the Roughwear pattern.

 

[Pilot]

Thanks guys! I’ll take some more photos soon. The issue is that the waist/knits of the jacket sit away from my body at the rear and don’t “lock” the waist in place. It just feels odd and I’m not sure why it’s happening...

@Bombing IP you’ve misunderstood, I don’t want any longer! This jacket is an XL already!

Will be shot for that,... but it works regardless what some may believe...try a HWT and wear it during the last drying moments.
Also, constantly rub in or treat it with leather balm to keep it soft and flexible during this last drying phase.
The stiffness of the collar will also go away if you treat it with leather balm during the process...plus you can form or model it the way you like it.
The Jacket will shrink here and there and mold to your torso......hence no more loose effect.

 

[taikonaut]

I prefer the shaped stiff collars. All my originals have it.

 

[Lebowski]

There's only 2 variations are possible with any A-2 usually: a bit too small or a bit too big. Don't worry too much about that, this Eastman is perfect.

 

[Officer Dibley]

Will be shot for that,... but it works regardless what some may believe...try a HWT and wear it during the last drying moments.
Also, constantly rub in or treat it with leather balm to keep it soft and flexible during this last drying phase.
The stiffness of the collar will also go away if you treat it with leather balm during the process...plus you can form or model it the way you like it.
The Jacket will shrink here and there and mold to your torso......hence no more loose effect.

All treatments i am sure every WW2 airman did for hours on end between missions knowing their lives could be cut cruelly short........ i wonder what their ghosts think of all this jacket worship.

 

[taikonaut]

All treatments i am sure every WW2 airman did for hours on end between missions knowing their lives could be cut cruelly short........ i wonder what their ghosts think of all this jacket worship.

Don't know but I guess each will have their own view.
WW2 veteran Jack Spratt in some of his youtube videos when he was still alive seems to think A2 jackets aside from its use during the war was good for pulling birds

 

[Pilot]

All treatments i am sure every WW2 airman did for hours on end between missions knowing their lives could be cut cruelly short........ i wonder what their ghosts think of all this jacket worship.

100% concure...if an original WW2 A-2...Would never,...and never inflicted this treatment to a WW2 original...regardless of the type or origin.
Here we discuss a repro, a copy, no original and no history to the jacket... so...no worries ...no souls...to this crafted post conflicts piece of jacket art.

 

[taikonaut]

I think he meant all the fuss about a jacket a WW2 pilot would place compare to us who seems to worship it, ie utilitarian vs fashion statement.

 

[Pilot]

I think he meant all the fuss about a jacket a WW2 pilot would place compare to us who seems to worship it, ie utilitarian vs fashion statement.

Thx, yes, I took it that way...I am not in the repro market anymore anyway, but still love to “watch” lure...the best of the best of these.

 

[Nickb123]

Any jacket in an aircraft, especially one where you'd be walking around in would be prone to getting all kinds of knicks and scratches with all of that exposed metal everywhere! And I also bet many airmen grew to actually loathe their jackets when/if their tour was finished rather than revere them.

 

[Edward]

Any jacket in an aircraft, especially one where you'd be walking around in would be prone to getting all kinds of knicks and scratches with all of that exposed metal everywhere! And I also bet many airmen grew to actually loathe their jackets when/if their tour was finished rather than revere them.

On my one flight on a B-17 a year and half ago I got two mild scratches on my ELC just from crawling around in it so I can imagine those jackets got scuffed up quite a bit. however, other than the pilots and maybe the bombardier and navigator, most either didn't wear them during a mission or their A-2 was buried underneath other flight gear and jackets. I've seen photos where guys had their B-3 or B-6 unzipped revealing they had their A-2 on underneath so those jackets would stay in pretty good shape I would think.

 

[Monsoon]

Looks great! I'd keep it.

 

[MeachamLake]

I'm going to stick with it and see how she breaks in.

Wouldn't be averse to trying out another Star Sportswear to have something a little more 'trim' fitting. Hey, you can own more than one A-2, right!

 

[Lebowski]

I'm going to stick with it and see how she breaks in.

Wouldn't be averse to trying out another Star Sportswear to have something a little more 'trim' fitting. Hey, you can own more than one A-2, right!

Here you're caught, congrats with joining the VLJ effect!))

 

[B-Man2]

Hah..... another A2 addict.....Welcome to the A2 co- dependency club.
We have a 12 step program to help you break the habit

 

[Lebowski]

We have a 12 step program to help you break the habit

Yep... but nobody looks to have been succeeded in that yet.

 

[jeremiah]

If I ever get another A2 it will be a star sportswear.

 

[Lebowski]

That's the very nice choice Jeremiah, though Rough Wear 27752 is an excellent contract too.