New restore project soon

[JonnyCrow]

Hi guys undertaking a new restore project soon, original M-445A flight jacket, see pics, I've done this type of work before, it involves delicately shaving the back of the rips, gluing a piece of skin from behind, after first taping the front rip lips together, then removing tape and matching the lips up, sounds easier than it is but I love a craftwork challenge, and it is a rare jacket so worth it, lastly, zipper replacement with a reproduction Talon, wish me luck haha

 

[JonnyCrow]

 

[JonnyCrow]

 

[JonnyCrow]

 

[JonnyCrow]

 

[JonnyCrow]

 

[JonnyCrow]

 

[flyincowboy]

Just curious to see the repair job done ....

 

[Silver Surfer]

Me too. How about step by step pix?

 

[JonnyCrow]

Just curious to see the repair job done ....

Thanks Fred, preparation first when it comes, I've seen it done years ago on a old Irvin before I attempted one but I've done other forms of restoration over the years

 

[B-Man2]

Sounds like you’ve got some work ahead of you. The problem with many of these jackets is that you can never be sure how much hidden rot is lurking around until you actually get your hands on the jacket and look at it. Good luck with the rehab and take lots of photos .

 

[JonnyCrow]

Me too. How about step by step pix?

When it all comes Victor, I will

 

[JonnyCrow]

Sounds like you’ve got some work ahead of you. The problem with many of these jackets is that you can never be sure how much hidden rot is lurking around until you actually get your hands on the jacket and look at it. Good luck with the rehab and take lots of photos .

Cheers Burt, seller told me, apart from the rips and the buggered up zip, the rest is ok, I was told once that replacing a zipper on sheepskin, leave some meat of the old zipper to sew onto as second stitching on old sheepskin can cause a laddering effect, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it

 

[JonnyCrow]

In any case it will be a valuable jacket done, any restoration has to be better than now

 

[JonnyCrow]

In any case it will be a valuable jacket done, any restoration has to be better than now

Burt, I think originals especially rare ones need to be preserved, I've seen as bad as this and worse been sold on fleabay and other sites as is or projects

 

[Micawber]

Been there, done that. They have an inbuilt self destruct so it's like painting the Forth Bridge, once it's done and you think you have finished you will find another area that requires attention.

Good luck!

 

[JonnyCrow]

Been there, done that. They have an inbuilt self destruct so it's like painting the Forth Bridge, once it's done and you think you have finished you will find another area that requires attention.

Good luck!

Thanks Steve, hopefully not, but I have known some good, some bad, I had one that I finished and gave it a spray with preserver used for suede jackets and boots and it stopped all that, if it was a run of the mill jacket I wouldn't even be bothering, as it is, I have to, it's just the back with problems, the front is fine, as I told Burt I've seen worse on fleabay and militaria sites been sold,

 

[JonnyCrow]

Been there, done that. They have an inbuilt self destruct so it's like painting the Forth Bridge, once it's done and you think you have finished you will find another area that requires attention.

Good luck!

Swings and roundabouts as we say in merry England haha it's not for the faint hearted though as you know yourself

 

[B-Man2]

Burt, I think originals especially rare ones need to be preserved, I've seen as bad as this and worse been sold on fleabay and other sites as is or projects

Agree … they do need to be preserved.

 

[JonnyCrow]

Agree … they do need to be preserved.

I've experimented with a few techniques in the past Burt, I even put back the sheepskin I shaved off inside, I spray glued the leather patch and just put them back, oh and I've used this as a preserver finish also , has beeswax, lanolin, avocado oil, they use it a lot here along with honey oil