Recent content by SpitfireIV

Well it's not been exactly Irvin weather in this part of the world (Ireland) or probably not in the UK either but I'm surprised there's not been more activity on this thread. Are Irvins falling out of fashion? I did get to wear mine briefly yesterday on the way to the workshop. It's had a fair...

Hi all, I've recently picked up a somewhat 'war weary' and battered (but still with lots of life and potential left!) pre or very early war Irvin flying jacket, maker unknown as of yet. I reckon now having spent some time addressing rotten stitching and tackling a few repairs that the jacket...

Ok, so I recieved the jacket yesterday. First impressions? It's incredibly light! My only point of reference being an old Cirrus Irvin which would seem to have a heavier gauge leather and thicker fleece. The original is far lighter and has a very short pile fleece although it may not look it in...

Never say die! This old Irvin keeps battling on! But when is enough enough? Triggers broom comes to mind. Discovered this while doing some research on an Instagram page called 'the_leather_workshop_ma'. He got it in to carry out some repair work on it?! Please note this is how it was received...

Experts, I need your help, thoughts and opinions on this purchase.... I've not recieved it yet so have to work off a description and photos. It's a 38" chest apparently and would seem to have had a hard life! From what I understand it would have been an early war example with double panel...

Don't I know it :) When I'm not trying to pass myself off as a tailor I'm playing the roll of a craftsman and making these...

Cheers. Yeah I think I'll squeeze another half to 3/4 inch out of it when it comes to adding the waiste band. Thanks. Yeah I'm happy enough with how they turned out. Speaking of which, they are now functional. I should add I know nothing about tailoring so I'm sure there are proper ways and...

Ok, so done a little bit of work on the jacket today, but first some fit pics... I need to lose some belly! Otherwise I'm not sure how I feel about the lenght, I want to keep it pretty high waisted as per the originals but I might try adding another half inch when adding the waiste...

Hi all! So I had a thread going back in Jan 2018 about a previous and my first attempt at leather work and turning a cruddy old jacket into something resembling a 40's French cycle jacket, or perhaps more commonly known now as a 'luftwaffe' jacket. From this: To this: Original thread below...

1971 Triumph Spitfire MkIV :-)

....or better still know where I could source one?!! I've another DIY French cycle/'luftwaffe' jacket project in mind and I'm trying to locate a buckle like this or one very similar if at all possible. I've been scouring Google searching every term I can think of but can't come up with...

Ok, so I've been tipping away at this jacket on and off when I can get a few moments. 70-80% of the jacket was dry as stuff, like paper, literally, with not much force in certain areas you could push your finger through!! I know there's not much life left in it being realistic but it's being a...

Cheers guys! :) With a closer look I can indeed make out 'Cirrus' on the label. Happy enough with that so. I'm guessing just by the feel and smell that it's an old one! The leather is bone dry and many patches will be required to get this one presentable!! :D ^ not the jacket featured here.

Hi guys, Just looking for a few pointers on a recent accusation. So I picked up this beat up 'Irvin' style flying jacket for pretty cheap from eBay recently. The seller didn't give much info and I didn't want to ask too many questions that might alert them to the fact that it may have been a...

DIY Cycle/Luftwaffer jacket now with added buckle...