ALL REPRO R.A.F. Irvin type jackets

[Spitfire]

@ John:
Can't say if it's a Bellshape - but they are deffinately wider at the shoulders and tight at the wrist. At the momen - untill it's broken in, I have to unzip the wrists, to get my hands easy through.
But then again, I won't get wind up my sleeves when flying open cockpit,
will I.

 

[John Lever]

Thanks for the reply. The arm shape always did let the Aero version down.
It looks great on you. What do you fly ?

 

[Spitfire]

Thanks for the reply. The arm shape always did let the Aero version down.
It looks great on you. What do you fly ?

Thanks John.
Nahh - just a joke!!! I do not have a certificate to fly. Not yet, anyway.
But who knows? Might take one when I retire in a couple of years.

 

[fleet16b]

Well

After a long a carefull consideration, I decided to order a ELC 1940 Irvin.



Looking into things further and talking with the Eastman people, I have been advised that I am a size 44 in the B of B Irvin. Order has been placed
Gary has concluded this based on my RW 1401 being the same size.
They further suggested that at 5' 11" , I do not need a long body version so I hope they are right as I do not like the look when it appears to be short bodied.
How does this all sound to you guys
Do most of you Irvin buyer go for thes stock size or do you go with a longer body
Do the ELC Irvins tend to fit small or large?
By comparison, I have a size 6 original Wareings Irvin that is fine but slightly snug while wearing a sweater or flight suit

Anyway just thought I would give you guys an update.
Peoples thoughts and advice would be helpful

As everyone on the FORUM says "now the wait begins

FYI I will sometime soon put my WPG Irvin up for sale.
It is also a size 44 . It is in near mint condition except the bottom of the zipper is starting to fray them seem to do . It does operate with no problem but will need repair one day
They are $350 brand new so I will ask around $275.00 cn because of the zipper issue
I will offer it to the Forum members in the BUY/SELL section shortly.

Thanks in advance for any replies and or advice

 

[jamespibworth@n]

Spitfire, that’s a mighty fine jacket you have there. It looks darker then my Aero Real Deal Irvin?

Whish I had asked them about the sleeves but I simply did not know enough at the time. Maybe they can make me some more sleeves but it hardly seems worth it.

Anyway, I am now inspired to go up in the loft and retrieve it from the moth balls.

Before I put it away I turned it inside out and trimmed the forearm fleece a little so as to give more room in that area, worked ok, as the fleece is so deep there is still plenty left!

Again, great jacket and good fit.

Fleet16b,

Both my ELC and Aero Irvin’s are 42” and I usually have 40’’ in my jackets. I would recommend erring on the larger size. I think Irvin’s look ok if a little big but not so good if a little small.


James

 

[Smithy]

Fleet,

I have an ELC 1940 Pattern Irvin which I love - great jacket.

I wear a 40'' shirt/dress jacket size and stand 6' 1'' but ordered my Irvin as a 42'' with an extra long fitting (an extra 1 and a half inches on the arms and body) and mine fits perfectly. It is roomy enough that I can wear a jumper underneath but also wear it with just a shirt without looking swamped. The length is also perfect. There should be photos of mine and me in it on this thread somewhere - don't think I have deleted them from my photobucket.

If it was me I would order one size larger than your shirt/dress jacket size and for you I would maybe be tempted to go for a long fitting (an extra inch to arms and body), as I said I'm 6' 1'' and went for the extra long and it fits perfectly.

Hope that helps.

 

[Zemke Fan]

Man that's a STUNNING Irvin, Soren...

What do you gents think?

If you don't mind me asking, what did that puppy set you back?

 

[fleet16b]

Guys thanks for all the advice.
My only real concern is the length of the body as I do not like the short body look of some Irvins I have seen on people.
As my chest size is a 42'', the ELC size chart says I am size 44. and Gary's people agree.
Really I want the bottom of the jacket to come past my belt line slightly but
I will stick with the stock off the shelf jacket. That way at least I can exchange it if the fit is wrong.

 

[Spitfire]

@ James: The colour is not as dark as it seems in the photos - best proof of the right colour, is the shot showing the neckstrap

@ Zemke fan: No secrets there: The price was the same as on their website: £ 465 including postage.

@ fleet16b : I am 6' 3" and - like Smithy - also asked for one and a half inch longer body and sleeves. Strongly recommend it.

 

[fleet16b]

@ fleet16b : I am 6' 3" and - like Smithy - also asked for one and a half inch longer body and sleeves. Strongly recommend it.

Spitfire / Smithy

I spoke with Rob Brace at Eastmans and got the following measurements from him for a size 44. He took them right off the actual patterns

Sleeve length = 27.5 " to the base of the turn up
Neck nape to base of turn up =27 ''
Main zip = 23.5 ''

Based on those measurements, I think I will be OK.
I can see that at 6' 3'', you would require larger sizes but at 5' 11'', I am hoping that a regular 44 will be OK.
If not I will return the jacket for a better fit.

If Eastmans is correct you jacket measurement would be 1.5 " longer than mine ?????

Thanks for all the help from you and the other Forumites

 

[fleet16b]

Fleet,

I have an ELC 1940 Pattern Irvin which I love - great jacket.

. There should be photos of mine and me in it on this thread somewhere - don't think I have deleted them from my photobucket.

Smitthy

I can't seem to find those pics but would love to see them for size comparisson

Fleet

 

[Hawk_Eye]

Amazing jacket there Soren. I've considered getting an Aero Irvin myself sometime in the future to go with my ELC, they're use of thicker hides (or so I've heard) appeals to me. How do you find the hide on your jacket?

 

[Spitfire]

Hi HawkEye. Thank you.

I am really, really happy with my new Irvin. Unfortunately I have never handled a ELC Irvin, so I can not compare the hides. But mine is deffinately "solid" and seems very strong (as stong as sheepskin can be, that is)
It still needs a lot of breaking in - but when that's over, I am pretty sure, I'll have a Irvin that will last a lifetime - or more.

The best part is, that they really have gone far to make them as close to the originals as possible. The shape of sleeves, the zippers and even the strap on the back of the collar. It's all very neat. The fleece is also pretty close to the pre war models (See picture of "Killy" from 1939/1940). Even the slightly rounded collar are like the early Irvins from Links - one of the pre war producers.

 

[aswatland]

Killy's Irvin looks newly issued. Shame about the size though-two sizes too large for the guy! Soren is correct to date it to 1939-40 and its almost certainly the work of the premier maker-Irvin Air Chute. Links was issued with their first AM contract in 1940.

Soren's new Aero is the best I have seen from Aero in terms of Irvins. I like the more authentic sleeve shape and the elastic collar securing strap. The hide is thick like my pre-War IAC Irvin. Soren's zips are losely based on Lightnings and I wonder how well they will stand up to wear and tear. The jacket has come just in time for the colder weather this autumn.

 

[D-503]

Hi, chaps.

I've been wanting either an Irvin or a B-3 for a number of years now (preferably both ) and now that I'm out of college, it looks like I'll finally be able to afford one. I know that Aero and ELC produce the absolute best museum-quality repros, they're awfully expensive and I'm just not sure about plunking down that kind of money for a jacket.

've been looking hard, then, at WPG. I know they're cheaper because they skimp on materials and have some artificial facings (and the Irvin they sell isn't terribly authentic) but I'm more concerned about their warmth. It seems a lot of the Irvin/B-3 wearers on the forums are from warmer climes where they only get to break out their jackets a few times a year, but I live in Minnesota, where I need a jacket that, with the proper undergarments, can stand up to at least 10 below zero.

So I wonder, how cold can the WPG Irvins (I believe they are 1/4 pile?) operate in versus the ELC/Aero models? (Pardon my atrocious syntax!)

 

[Smithy]

Hi, chaps.

I've been wanting either an Irvin or a B-3 for a number of years now (preferably both ) and now that I'm out of college, it looks like I'll finally be able to afford one. I know that Aero and ELC produce the absolute best museum-quality repros, they're awfully expensive and I'm just not sure about plunking down that kind of money for a jacket.

've been looking hard, then, at WPG. I know they're cheaper because they skimp on materials and have some artificial facings (and the Irvin they sell isn't terribly authentic) but I'm more concerned about their warmth. It seems a lot of the Irvin/B-3 wearers on the forums are from warmer climes where they only get to break out their jackets a few times a year, but I live in Minnesota, where I need a jacket that, with the proper undergarments, can stand up to at least 10 below zero.

So I wonder, how cold can the WPG Irvins (I believe they are 1/4 pile?) operate in versus the ELC/Aero models? (Pardon my atrocious syntax!)

Can't comment on the WPG one as I don't have one but my ELC Irvin did a sterling job when I was living in Norway and winter in Arctic Norway where I can tell you it gets bloody nippy. I swanned around in mine in -30 Celsius and was as snug as a bug in a rug.

Spitfire here has a WPG which I think he was fairly happy with. They don't appear to be a bad jacket but the collar is not the correct shape for an Irvin. Best of luck with whatever you end up getting.

And Fleet,

Sorry I must've removed the images from my Photobucket account. I'll try and dig them out for you and post them here so you can have a shufti.

Cheers,

Smithy

 

[fleet16b]

Thanks Smithy , I would love to see them

D503 - I have a WPG Irvin and used it all last winter up here in Canada.
It holds up nicely in the cold and no problem when in an open cockpit bi-plane.
They are a pretty good reproduction but as stated the collar is not as accurate as it could be. The zipper is fraying slightly at the base of mine ( a common issue with WPG Irvins)
I have recently decided to upgrade to the ELC 1940 Irvin and have decided to put the WPG Irvin up for sale. I will eventually put it on Ebay if there is no interest .Size is 44
People can PM me for further details

 

[Windsock]

Sorry I must've removed the images from my Photobucket account. I'll try and dig them out for you and post them here so you can have a shufti.

Cheers,

Smithy

Here're your posts Tim, you must have deleted the modelling shots

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=386772&postcount=334

By the way, I just took delivery of a 1940 pattern broken grain ELC (yes my first repro Irvin ) and I wouldn't mind seeing how your adjusted fit worked as well.

 

[Spitfire]

@ D-503: Yes - as Smithy says, I have a WPG. In many way a great jacket for a very low price. I have had mine for one winter - used it even in minus 10-15C. But allways with a sweater under it.
The fleece is no way nearly as thick as my Aero. And the skin is sort of thin and "flimsy" - where my Aero is thick and solid.
The design and accuracy of the jacket has allready been described.
I enjoyed it when I got it - but also knew deep down, that I wouldn't be happy untill I got "a real one" - which in my oppinion is either ELC and Aero.
(So now my WPG is up for sale too)
I would strongly suggest that you save you money - and buy the real thing, when you have the money for it.

P.S. depending on your size you might even find a original vintage WWII Irvin at almost the same price as ELC and Aero.

 

[D-503]

@ D-503: Yes - as Smithy says, I have a WPG. In many way a great jacket for a very low price. I have had mine for one winter - used it even in minus 10-15C. But allways with a sweater under it.
The fleece is no way nearly as thick as my Aero. And the skin is sort of thin and "flimpsy" - where my Aero is thick and solid.
The design and accuracy of the jacket has allready been described.
I enjoyed it when I got it - but also knew deep down, that I wouldn't be happy untill I got "a real one" - which in my oppinion is either ELC and Aero.
(So now my WPG is up for sale too)
I would strongly suggest that you save you money - and buy the real thing, when you have the money for it.

P.S. depending on your size you might even find a original vintage WWII Irvin at almost the same price as ELC and Aero.

Sound advice, Spitfire. I have one of those really awful and cheap A-2 knockoffs from Korea (thin, flimsy leather, handwarmer pockets, synthetic knits, and a liner that is a map of Korea, for some reason, but I only paid $20, so I guess I can't really complain), so for an Irvin I want as much quality as I can get. Really, the only reason I'm looking at WPG is because I can afford it in the here and now before the onset of winter, whereas if I save up for an aero or an ELC, it'll already be April or May by the time I get it, and so I'll have to wait another full year before I can break it out! Oh, the choices we have to make...
But what sizes for the originals are we talking about here? I wear a... well, I can squeeze into a 38 on some shearling jackets with just a tee shirt, but I should be really wearing a 40 or even a 42 if I've got on a thick sweater.