US Wings Transformation -

[dougc]

I bought a US Wings China made clearance jacket back when they were available (was it two years ago?). I absolutely loved the leather, it was called "antiqued lambskin", best leather of any Indy jacket I've ever owned. Unfortunately the jacket wasn't SA enough for me, primarily because of the seam down the middle of the back panel and leather facing behind the zips.
So, I thought I'd buy a US made one and have a local craftsman alter it for me. I narrowed the body and arms a bit, raised the side straps and also had them correctly attached to the front of the jacket, added rectangular sliders, a cotton body and satin sleeves (material obtained from Todd's costumes) and add a small gauge nickel zipper (also from Todd's). Then I very lightly sprayed the surface with Meltonian's "Nu-life" color spray for leather in dark brown - this covered the russet color that the jacket came in and made it alot more SA, while allowing the surface to wear and give a great worn look. Here are some before and after picts. Again, this is NOT the chinese made clearance jacket, I believe it to be US made.















Doug C

[winstonwolf359]

Wow, what a big difference! And I really like the texture of the leather, too!

Your tailor does good work! Looks like a perfect fit!

[dougc]

Thanks. It's stronger than any lambskin you've ever felt, New Zealand lambskin is totally unlike any lamb that the other guys use. This stuff is tuff and heavier etc. The tailor did a good job for the most part but there are a couple items I could nitpick and he took alot longer than he promised he would, as I recall. The fit is a little deceptive, it looks better in the pics than it actually feel on me - it's a little snug (like some people warned me of). I'm a 40 long and this is more like a "80s fit" than a normal. I may sell it soon 'cause I'm not getting any smaller ; )

Doug C

[GCR]

Looks like it came out great! I've got to applaud your ambition as well as the results! Most folks wouldn't have gone to such great lengths to "screen-accuratize" a jacket like that, but for you it seems to have paid off quite well!

It's too bad you're thinking about selling it already though.

[dougc]

GCR, these jackets come and go for me. I guess I'm really just on a quest for the perfect one and maybe it only exists in my mind - I don't know. But I do know that in the end I only want one and am still convenced that sooner or later I'll find it...plus I still enjoy the search and hobby of getting them. I went into this customization experiment with my eyes wide open, I knew it would probably produce a great jacket but probably not my last and that I'd probably even lose a little money on the whole thing in the end. It didn't matter 'cause it was an itch I needed to scratch, had been thinking about it too long, plus I got the thing pretty cheap off ebay to begin with. I've got too many now and am already thinking about the next. It's just a disease!

Doug C