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Custom Painted Flight Jacket: This is what one looks like.

Purdue

Chicks Dig Rotors...
pilot
My wife splurged and got me this amazing custom leather coat by Pop's Leather, and had the patches painted directly onto it by a great leather-jacket artist: Dan McQuality. Oh, and we had custom material shipped to Turkey so they could make the liner from a "tropical island print" since my entire career has been served in the tropics/Iraq/hot-fucking-places. Pop's Leather was extremely helpful and easily used our fabric, no extra charge.

I'm posting images here, in case any of you are thinking about getting one of Pop's jackets, or want to see what a painted jacket can look like. I had a LOT of trouble finding detailed photos of Pop's jackets, and what all the options were or how they looked. Photos like these would have made me feel a lot more at ease while ordering. The fur collar is nice, and has been redesigned so it is not so "1970's porno" in size like they used to make. The color of the fur perfectly matches my issue jacket, the leather is superb.

I figured this might help someone out there, even if this isn't your style or you find it gauche. The entire album can be seen at: http://imgur.com/a/6D5qo and anyone can feel free to PM me with questions if they are considering ordering one of their own from Pop's or having Dan do paintwork on a jacket they already have.

Everyone should be able to find a link to Pop's Leather, so I wont include one. The painter, however, is a great veteran who has a shop in Illinois, and his site is: http://www.noseartismypassion.com/ I encourage you to look at his other works (including the one he made for Bush '41).
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Here's what the side entry pockets look like, and yes they are mounted at a perfect angle. They feel very natural:
eCYF7uL.jpg

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Here's what the pen/pencil sleeve pocket looks like:
VF0LfkE.jpg

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Here's a show of the inside of the jacket, with the zip-out thinsulate liner removed. Shows you where they mount the bloodchit, and where the "Custom made for" patch on the left side of the image gets sewn. Also, you can see the optional interior pen/pencil pockets installed.
UvrXNSU.jpg

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Speaking of the zip out liner, here's what it looks like removed. The sleeves zip onto the vest, and then the ends of the sleeves have a button to keep them in place so they don't ride up when installed. Hard to see, but there are access slits so you can still utilize the jacket pockets when the liner is installed:
YWFlJG7.jpg

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Here's what the collar looks like when the really well designed "removable fur-collar" is taken off:
ZSW4c0B.jpg

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And here are some close-ups of the detailed patch-painting done by Dan McQuality, just awesome work. He uses a flex-paint and says his jackets he wears have been painted and are chip-free after 20 years:
8KLuroi.jpg

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Pwgqaj6.jpg

Ud7ADCN.jpg
 

Renegade One

Well-Known Member
None
Sooo…what's the total "nut" for that jacket? Seems like a righteous way to go for your "stick a fork in me…I'm done", end-of-military-flying/retirement jacket (not that that's necessarily your situation). Will get even better looking with wear.
 

Purdue

Chicks Dig Rotors...
pilot
Sooo…what's the total "nut" for that jacket? Seems like a righteous way to go for your "stick a fork in me…I'm done", end-of-military-flying/retirement jacket (not that that's necessarily your situation). Will get even better looking with wear.

Yup, that's most likely my situation. We'll see if I 2xFOS in September or not...

Pop's Leather has their jackets start at $395.

Dan McQuality charges per patch he puts on, but his prices are cheaper than Typsy Gypsy... they look better... and he has a two week turnaround instead of a 8 month wait. Also, he replies to e-mails and has much better customer service than Typsy Gypsy. Dan's prices he quoted me were:
  • Aviator wings = $10
  • Sleeve patches = $35
  • Breast patches = $45
His prices for other detailed work are based on the work that goes into the jacket. If you don't want to send him your jacket in the mail, he does paint leather patches that you can order as well. He has some designs on his website, but will do custom squadron work as well: http://www.noseartismypassion.com/LEATHER-A-2-PATCHES--page-1.html
 

Flash

SEVAL/ECMO
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
The pictures aren't loading for me. Does anyone else have that problem?

They load on my home computer but not at work, maybe you shouldn't just hang out here when you are supposed to be working! ;)
 

Uncle Fester

Robot Pimp
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
That's pretty baller.

I ordered a jacket from G&B not too long ago; took several months to arrive, and I wasn't impressed with the fit or quality. Pop's would seem to be the better deal, with a custom cut and cheaper to boot.
 

villanelle

Nihongo dame desu
Contributor
Are these within regs to wear with a uniform (flight suit) in the same way the regular leather jackets are ? I'm looking for a gift for Husband and while usually I stay away from military stuff, this seems like something he might like.
 

fieldrat

Fully Qualified 1815
If you don't want to send him your jacket in the mail, he does paint leather patches that you can order as well.
I like the overall look, but I just can't commit to painting on the jacket itself. Still, the option of having painted leather patches sewn/velcro'd on is awesome.
 

Purdue

Chicks Dig Rotors...
pilot
Are these within regs to wear with a uniform (flight suit) in the same way the regular leather jackets are ? I'm looking for a gift for Husband and while usually I stay away from military stuff, this seems like something he might like.

I am wearing mine in uniform. Just stay away from the giant back-murals and you'll be fine. It's no different than any other version of patches or leather jacket. The coat is made to regs, just with some modifications... and the painted patches are just as legitimate as embroidered or leatherwork ones.

Also, Villanelle! Having you comment on my post is like having a celebrity moment! I've been using a quote from you in my signature line for the last 8 years...
 

Tycho_Brohe

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
Are these within regs to wear with a uniform (flight suit) in the same way the regular leather jackets are ? I'm looking for a gift for Husband and while usually I stay away from military stuff, this seems like something he might like.
Article 6803 of the regs said:
Brown Leather Jacket. [This part says who's authorized to wear them and with which uniform, blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda]
(a) Brown Jacket Insignia/Patches. Insignia/patches shall be worn on brown leather flight jackets as follows:
(1) Attachments. Logos may be affixed either hook and pile or directly to the jacket. Hook and pile fasteners will be black or brown and cut to the shape of the logo to be affixed.
(2) Left Breast. Black or brown 2 inches by 4 inches leather name tag. Centered in the top field will be the aircrew designation insignia (i.e., pilot, NFO aircrew EAWS, etc.). The name in block letters will occupy the lower field and will include a minimum first name or initial and last name. Where appropriate, billet title (i.e., CO, XO, CAG, etc.) is optional.
(3) Optional Logos. One command patch may be worn over the right breast pocket. Maximum width may not exceed 4-1/2 inches. No other patches are authorized.
Source: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/uniforms/uniformregulations/chapter6/Pages/6801.aspx
 

villanelle

Nihongo dame desu
Contributor
I am wearing mine in uniform. Just stay away from the giant back-murals and you'll be fine. It's no different than any other version of patches or leather jacket. The coat is made to regs, just with some modifications... and the painted patches are just as legitimate as embroidered or leatherwork ones.

Also, Villanelle! Having you comment on my post is like having a celebrity moment! I've been using a quote from you in my signature line for the last 8 years...

Awww shucks. Thanks!
 
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