My original B3 and repro 2 in 1

[kowalski]

Hi all
Please assessment ( sory my English is not good)

History my B3 and rebuild

a jacket found in the attic house on village by a man who was a witness katastrofy liberator B24 Dinah Might 13 september 1944 .Man claimed that he got B3 from pilots. B24 .Jacket was in very poor condition but I decided to repair
Skin of a sheep prepared my friend who is a tanner profession and is a glider pilot.(hobby) ( it Zdzisław Bednarczuk)

that's him; ) http://pre.egc2013.eu/pilots/132/


From oryginal B3 I try to recover from it all the elements that are good only ; belts, trimmings, buckles, sleeves skin, spec label , skin hanger ect. All sewing my colleague ( furrier professional) Z Suchanek, from my city Bielsko. This is his workshop here sewing my B3 ; (clik TERAŻNIEJSZOŚĆ (picture )

http://www.kusnierz.com.pl/terazniejszosc.html


B-24 Liberator „Dinah Might” nr 42-51408 from 761SQ, 460 BG 15 USAAF disaster 13 september 1944
Here in my village and the unveiling of the monument which was founded by residents .Old man it bombardier Charles Keutman is one of the pilots b24 who flew from the USA especially for the occasion .
He DIED IN SEPTEMBER 2016 IN USA


http://dzieje.pl/aktualnosci/zmarl-czlonek-zalogi-liberatora-zestrzelonego-nad-jelesnia



badges, zip Conmar \conmatic (oryginal it was Conmar ) and name tag purchased separately on eBay

 

[kowalski]

Hair is quite long but over time will begin to knead from the use of this, from wearing i think ( rain and snow also do your) Sewing lasted a very long time( four months )since it has to be very carefully and the same as the original B3 . Seam in the seam, the thread in the hole

more foto soon

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Wow..what a transformation.
I do hope that it is now strong enough to wear. Many can be very fragile overall.

 

[kowalski]

thanks Mr HoosierDaddy
yes, skin and other details from oryginal B3 they are very strong and can be worn without problems for many years.This is not fragile.
Tomorrow I'll do some pictures as it looks on me

 

[Xopher]

That looks fantastic! I've been wanting to undertake a project like this but I am having a very hard time finding the sheepskin hides. Very nice!

 

[aswatland]

This B-3 has been nicely restored. I would advise trimming the fleece at the cuffs, hem, windflap and collar as was done on originals as it currently looks very strange in those areas.

 

[kowalski]

Hi mr xopher hi mr Aswatland
Thank you for your feedback
Order to properly historically; since I want to put that on the sleeve should be 15th patches , and not as now 8th patch. Unfortunately, 8th more I like it

mr Aswatland it is true ;hair in these areas should be slightly shorter.( although I have seen some models with long hair from Aeroleather, but of course it may be incorrectly historically /contract )
My sheep was not even at the hairdresser

more picture and details ; last foto ; family ; B3, Irvin eastman and A2 aeroleather

 

[kowalski]

and ; ..

Ps

I tried to buy the castle to my b3 was the most similar look to the original company
left ; oryginal B3 zipper Conmar and right ; Conmar/conmatic zipper
I think it is good
best regards

 

[kowalski]

Meanwhile, today I decided to make a gift of my b3. I did two stamp on the bars of the collar because it was not their before
My hands were shaking , because I only had one attempt

 

[Siggmund]

I admire your B-3 restoration a lot. I wish I knew a source for the sheepskin that was used. I really like do-it-yourself projects such as this. Well done!

 

[kowalski]

Hi Siggmund, it's nice, what you write, and it sounds like a reward
Skins obtained from Private tannery Podhale (city Zakopane ) region Mountains in Poland
The temperature is very low there in the winter and the sheep have long thick fur
Tanning, dyeing was held according to old recipes method the same as formerly, years ago
In this region before the war a lot of people emigrated to work to USA (Chicago)

ps

How so advised me Mr aswatland cuffs, belt, collar area , windflap , this has now been trimmed
Better looks much.
And little a correction to a bug ; Two sewn skins on samy bottom of the castle were badly horizontally, vertically IS now well

 

[kowalski]

first snow in B3

 

[Worf]

Outstanding. Congrats on a job well done!

Worf

 

[kowalski]

such opinions comments restores faith in what you are doing
Thank you very much mr Worf

 

[Xopher]

This is simply amazing! I mean truly fantastic. I have always wanted to do such a project but like mentioned before I could not find the correct hides to do it. I half wish I could just have you build me one. Very well done Sir!

 

[sweetfights]

gorgeous

first snow in B3

well done

 

[Stand By]

The final outdoor photos have the jacket looking great, Kowalski! It's sometimes hard to judge a jacket with indoor flash photography, but the natural light shows the jacket as its best and it looks fine indeed.
I think you did a good job there of taking a jacket that has some historical value but is too precious and fragile to be worn, and yet, in the condition it was in, it had little display value as it was.
So you took what elements you could and restored it and it's wearable as a piece of living history for people to see and admire. And it fits you a treat and looks good on you and will be a pleasure to wear in many winters to come!
If I may, the only thing I would suggest would be to take off the replica AAF patches and put on some nice, vintage ones. There are plenty of mint condition, finely embroidered and affordable ones still available on-line and the vintage ones look amazing and I think they would help tone down some of the "freshness" that the jacket has. Your friend could do switch them over no problem. I have two vintage patches on my B-3 and I could flip you some links of patches to look at if you like.
And if it was mine, I would put a name on the leather name tag (to break up the space), rather than leave it blank - and tone it down with some applications of tea. A good breakfast tea (no milk or sugar!) will "age" it and tone it in nicely with the other vintage leathers you have there on the jacket.
Good job!

 

[kowalski]

[Quote = "stand by, postu: 2179427, członek: 27389"] The final outdoor photos have the jacket looking great, Kowalski! It's sometimes hard to judge a jacket with indoor flash photography, but the natural light shows the jacket as its best and it looks fine indeed.
I think you did a good job there of taking a jacket that has some historical value but is too precious and fragile to be worn, and yet, in the condition it was in, it had little display value as it was.
So you took what elements you could and restored it and it's wearable as a piece of living history for people to see and admire. And it fits you a treat and looks good on you and will be a pleasure to wear in many winters to come!
If I may, the only thing I would suggest would be to take off the replica AAF patches and put on some nice, vintage ones. There are plenty of mint condition, finely embroidered and affordable ones still available on-line and the vintage ones look amazing and I think they would help tone down some of the "freshness" that the jacket has. Your friend could do switch them over no problem. I have two vintage patches on my B-3 and I could flip you some links of patches to look at if you like.
And if it was mine, I would put a name on the leather name tag (to break up the space), rather than leave it blank - and tone it down with some applications of tea. A good breakfast tea (no milk or sugar!) will "age" it and tone it in nicely with the other vintage leathers you have there on the jacket.
Good job! [/ Quote]
Hi mr Stand By

Very nice to hear from you OPINIONS!
About my slices AAF; I bought to go as original Such was at least their description, not repro . Seller was reliable and had good reviews so I bought it.
Name tag ; it True, the color should be darker. Tea is a good idea .There is not a problem. I do it and put the name on the label the name of the skin (to reflect , what is there to write, print)
PS
really you think, so that pathes it is repro ? This is exactly the SAME;
http://picclick.co.uk/Original-Ww2-Wwii-Us-Army-Air-Force-Patch-361323581731.html


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-WW2-US-Army-Air-Forces-AAF-Uniform-Patch-Snow-Back-/201517547961?hash=item2eeb61c1b9:g:mcUAAOSwX~dWs3rv

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW2-8th-A...218259?hash=item46587bc993:g:IW4AAOSwB09YIQMA

http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-WWII-8th-Air-Force-patch-USAAF-Mighty-Eighth-WW2/122259232189?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao= 2 = 38530 & asc & meid = 509427b914664addb250f763147f8d6e & pid = 100005 & rk = 4 & RKT = 6 & sd = 371732291171
best regards

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/a-brilliant-repair-by-alexander-leathers.73104/

 

[Stand By]

Hi Kowalski,
Your link shows what looks like an original patch and the backing is the best way to judge if it is original (other than using a black light to test if they light up or not) - and looking at the backing, I am sure they are original. I think they just look somewhat generic for the jacket you have.
I just thought that they looked very bright and not as vintage as other examples can be - and the repros look similar. And to me, your jacket project is about trying to bring as much original vintage to the new work done as possible.
This is more of what I thought may look better for your jacket - something more matt and that has finer embroidery. These examples are vintage English-made embroidered cotton-on-wool backing - and they could use leather borders but your friend can do that! I look at these and, just to me, I think they give no doubt that they are vintage and, IMO, have more character than the ones you have.

I've changed the patches on my B-3 a few times over the years until I found the vintage ones I really liked and settled on, and you can always do the same - or not at all and keep what you have!
Cheers!

 

[kowalski]

Hi Stand By
that was my first thought would give sew AAF fot. (wool , will be sewn on my A2 Aero ) or all sewn leather (unfortunately, leather patch they are very expensive and are hard to buy hard to find)
The current original patch present I found better quality
Ps
To be honest; Your idea patch in Alexander B3 has inspired me in my B3
Your patch have efect WOW! and very good climate , it delicious !!! I want this !
It true ; The flash can introduce error.
But the idea of tea is delicious and definitely give a good effect in name tag , which stands out for very new

PS
I read Your posts several times from the end to the beginning, and every time my heart grows
and I love my B3 more
Thanks Stand By