Buzz A-2 Fit

I had a few requests to see the fit of my A-2. Here are some decapitated shots.
I'm also wearing the Kapital jeans in these pics. No, that isn't my backyard.

In the pics, the sleeves may appear slightly long. I do feel that the jacket is the correct size, and I have read that Buzz do tend to make their knits longer than other brands. Perhaps in the distant future I will get shorter knits.

Buzzrickson Roughwear A-2 (BR80090)

Back from holiday.

I got this A-2 from Hinoya Osaka. The staff provided excellent service, and had the jacket shipped from Ueno whilst they kept another jacket on hold so that I could compare the two. They also had the shoulder stencil added before I had decided, and they gave it to me at a sale price because it is the end of the winter season.




Jacket, Flying Summer, Type
A-2
Roughwear Clothing Co. 1943 Model

●MATERIAL：1.2mm Bronco Hide　
●COLOR：Seal Brown　
●TANNING：Vegetable　
●FINISH：Aniline　
●LINING：100% Cotton Broad Cloth　
●FASTENER：TALON Mil Specs Nickel Finished　
●NECK HOOK：Solid Brass Chrome Finished　
●SNAP BUTTON：Brass Oxidized Black Ball Stud Type　
●LABEL：Rough Wear Clothing Co.

The Rough Wear Clothing Co. was one of the most prominent of all manufacturers of flying jackets during WWII. Some of the most distinctive features of Rough Wear A-2’s are the collar, being constructed with a collar stand, and the pocket flap profile, which is fairly rounded.

Talon-zip

Pocket-close up.

Label & hook strap

Shoulder stencil. As you can visibly see at this angle, the Buzz Rickson stencils are a single sticker.

Under the collar.

Buzz Rickson's Black MA-1 Long

Here are some pictures of my Buzz Rickson's MA-1. I got it at the start of summer, so I haven't really had a chance to wear it until now.

You can read about the Black MA-1 at History Preservation, or the Buzz Ricksons site.

You can read how William Gibson wrote about the Buzz Rickson's Black MA-1 before it existed.

...and then you can read the Gibson book "Pattern Recognition".



Here is a close-up of the nylon oxygen mask flap.


A close-up of the zipper.


In this close-up you can see a peg between the top teeth to stop the zipper.


This picture shows the bunching of the nylon on the inside of the arm.

In Pattern Recognition Gibson talks about the sewing machines not being able to grip the fabric (because nylon was still relatively new) so this was evident in the bunching and skewing of these seams. On my jacket it seems like the bunching/skewing is done on purpose to shape the arms.

A close-up of the front pocket with snap and bar-tack.


The lining, with the inner pocket - which looks the same as the finishing on the outside.


Impressions so far: The jacket is suprisingly heavy and VERY warm. It isn't like the modern versions you might see. It feels like it contains a double blanket layering between the nylon shell. I think it's only wearable for days where the maximum temperature is below 19°C.

Thanks to DDML for posting pics of his MA-1 and for sizing advice.

Real McCoy's Funbook 2007

Earlier I mentioned the Real McCoy's magazine that I got at Kinokuniya in Sydney. It's really a catalog that you have to pay for, but it's got some great pictures and probably some good information if you can read Japanese.

Here are some of my favourite parts.

Layout showing the various parts that comprise an A-2.

The internal padding/insulation of a B15. I presume that this filling is quite similar to what is inside my Buzz Rickson's MA-1.

Shortening my A-2 list

I've tightened my A-2 shortlist to a jacket similar to the following:

Buzz Rickson
BR80105

http://www.mil-mil.net/buzz/jacket/br80105/br80105.html
156k yen

The Few
AC29191

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/beatstyle/818847/942413/
160k yen

The Few
AN6-012

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/americaya/an6-012/
168k yen

Real McCoys
MJ6103

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/americaya/mj6103/
158k yen


Toys McCoys
TMJ6603 (B.Rickson)

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/klax-on/tmj6603-051/
184k yen
(A jibe at the their competitors - the Buzz Ricksons brand)


Toys McCoys
V.Hilts

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/beatstyle/818852/833512/
180k yen
(This is a replica of the A-2 worn by Steve McQueen in "The Great Escape")

So I've given up on the idea of a jacket with patches. Preference is for a dark Seal Brown Horse Hide, with the shoulder stencil, and perhaps the name badge.
I am trending towards the Buzz 80105 because it has the Crown Chevron zipper. But I really need to see the leathers and try it on in person before I decide.

Replica Flight Jackets

A handful of Japanese manufacturers make incredible replicas of WWII Flight Jackets.

The top manufacturers in Japan are:

The Real McCoys
Toys McCoys
The Few
Buzz Ricksons

I'm considering getting a Flight Jacket during my next trip to Japan. I have a Buzz Ricksons MA-1 (Black), and now I'm thinking of perhaps an A-2, A-1, N-1, L-2, or L-2B. My list is long because these jackets are almost non-existant outside of Japan. So I'm researching the options over the next few months.

One of the first decisions is whether I should get a remake of a specific historical jacket (with patches), or a plain jacket. The patches can be loud and make the jacket look arrogant, but some of them do look cool and the historical aspects are interesting.


Toys McCoys Cotton Tanker Jacket (Phantom Batman) has an interesting back stencil.

It also has blood chit patches on the shoulder, and inside the jacket. Read the wikipedia link about blood chits. It is interesting, and strikes me as a weird situation that the Japanese are remaking these jackets with the text "I am an enemy of the Japanese. "


This remake of a Flying Tigers Jacket has some impressive historical significance. The Flying Tigers had a key role in the conflict with Japan, and they flew the incredible Tomahawk planes painted with the aggressive shark face.

The jacket also includes blood chits.


This Real McCoys "Gentlemen from Hell" jacket is a remake of a jacket from the 487th Bombardment Group. This is my favorite visually, but I don't know if I could really wear it. I also need a telescope to look at the price tag.