My plan was to make the jacket like I did the shirt. So I would make the body of the jacket full length in blue and make the bottom in white and then join the two.
My plan was to make the jacket like I did the shirt. So I would make the body of the jacket full length in blue and make the bottom in white and then join the two.
Once I knew the circumference of the white I computed the required width of the red stripes.
Sewed up the red strips and the star.
Each photo represents one day of work.
Opened the seam between the blue and red just enough to insert the red strips. Installed the waist belt and then tucked and sewed the bottoms of the red strips. Installed the buttons. The epaulets show that I can't pin and sew so I used masking tape.
Put on the sleeves, figured out where the adjustable cuffs needed to be, and then attached the star.
Tired on the jacket and I can't raise my arms past horizontal without the waist rising up.
No iconic pose of holding the shield over my head.
So I opened up the seam in the arm pits, inserted a piece of paper, raised my arms and traced a football shaped piece to fill the hole and allow me to raise my arms.
Pants. Would have liked a pair of paratrooper pants dyed to match the blue of the jacket.
Certainly, not going to do it to the ones I have, not buying a new pair, and certainly not making a pair.
So I got an unhemmed pair of EMT pants. Unhemmed pants give a better blouse than those with a hem.
The belt is an issue black belt with black square buckle.
Well done man, I love the "Ultimates" WWII Cap outfit and it looks like you're getting there fast.
Need to change the webgear.
The pistol magazine pouch on the vertical belt is actual WW2 issue. The vertical belt is a cheep copy from Amazon. It's tied together with 550 cord.
Looking great so far! I wish I had taken progress pics of mine while it was being sewn by the wife.
Glad to see others are doing the Ultimates WWII Cap! Can't wait to see more!
Fly and Dan, thanks so much for the info on getting that dang general purpose strap to work. And, Fly, even though you aren't doing the rescue costume now, thanks for the routing instructions/pics! That will be really helpful and save me the time of cutting and sewing.
One more question to you, if you don't mind. How in the heck did you make such a nice rounded top out of that shield? Everything I think of feels like it would make an ugly cut or make that top part very sharp.
Ask away, Crusaderman. Happy to share. Sorry that I didn't show more but,
there are so many shield threads, admittedly most are the round version.
If you don't want to cut your shield you could make the one in the lower right hand corner.
For the movie top I used a Proxxon with a small cutting disk. Proxxon is a German version of the Drumel.
I then smoothed it out with a big metal file and sand paper. It would have been easier to clean it up with a bench top grinder.
Prior to cutting I drew the desired curve and then taped the good side of the shield. The edge of the tape is where you cut and is a helpful guide since the pencil line disappears when you start cutting. An added bonus is multiple layers of tape provides protection, for the shield, if the cutting disk kicks.
When I first had jacket problems, my wife volunteered one of her old jackets. She had a suede patch work with knitted cuffs. I was a nice offer but couldn't help for the movie uniform but it would have future use.
I had no idea for a pattern and no head bust to work from so I wrapped my head in tissue and then masking tape in a mirror. After some cutting I had a pattern.
More like DC comics "Unknown Soldier" but I took the bits and transferred them to the packing paper.
I didn't cut up the suede jacket but disassembled hoping to learn how to make better sleeves and the internals of a jacket.
The inside of the suede was a nice looking smooth leather and very thin.
I couldn't get a pencil or chalk to draw a good line so I scotch taped the pattern to the leather.
Ordered a pair of goggles from Amazon.
The bottom edge of the mask is a length of 550 cord with the leather rolled over.
The head band for the googles is inside the helmet. I tried passing it through the outside but the angle was too extreme for the correct location.
I used an old race number belt and made a separate strap for the outside.
I wondered what to do for the sweater since it was a turtleneck. I knew the RAF and submariners wore white turtlenecks in WW2. I have a US five button sweater but that was brownish green.
Found an LL Bean four button sweater in mountain red
Ragg Wool Sweater, Button Mock: Henleys and Zip-Necks | Free Shipping at L.L.Bean
and just wear it backwards.
While I like your method of running the suspenders through the strap slider Fly if you look again you will notice there are actually three All purpose strap ends with D-rings visible... and they are stitched onto the suspenders. One is also done over each of the original metal bracket mounted D-rings at the Y-points. I went over the hi-res shots of this setup in great detail.
On the jacket, you could've just done a search on me in here... I am the only guy doing an exact replica of the Cap jacket out there right now.
the pic here was with the licensed shield, I'll have to get updated shield/outfit pics with all the distressing together at some point.
Fly4v said:
TheMan, Please feel free your not stepping on any toes. I am sure that many have done this uniform and I hope even more join in. It may be movie accurate but the straps don't need to be cut and the general purpose strap is only on the right shoulder in this picture.
Very cleaver. I see the problem now. Good eye. That is why you are "TheMan".
Looking at the pictures even closer shows that I have the wrong 1936 suspenders.
You and the movie have the first issue pattern while I have the later metal re-in-forced suspenders.
Very Important tip.
Sadly, I didn't know about you or LogansCloset.com when I started. Most of my planning was done in a relative vacuum. I found RPF because of Chris Field's shield work. Yet, Very happy to learn about this and hope to get one of your jackets but chances are it will be a year out.
Last edited by Fly4v; Jun 13, 2012 at 2:37 PM.
Thoughts on my "ultimate" uniform.
The mask doesn't fit very flush on the sides in front of the ears. Just enough space to ruin the effect.
Guess it is because of the goggles, could have put wire inside the 550 cord to force the edge to hold its shape. May get a venetian mask from amazon and glue it inside the leather of the front mask flap.
Jacket is fine for a first try. Need to do better on sleeves and stars. Could do well with a liner.
At least, it doesn't look like it was from gypsies.
Last edited by Fly4v; Jun 13, 2012 at 3:36 PM.
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