WOW!!! Cockpit Re-Issue A-2 Part 2 WOW!!!

TXFlyGuy · Mar 2, 2017

OK...all of you doubters gather round! Just got my Cockpit Reissue A-2 back from Don at Minsky's Tailor Shop. He worked a miracle on my jacket. Where the original shoulder measured 21", Don did exactly what I wanted and took it in to 19".
Remember, this is a size 42R. It now fits perfectly. But alas, I have lost 20 pounds! I could have had it taken in another 1/2 inch.

Very happy with Minsky. And, a big shout out to "Fanch" for providing the positive feedback on Don.

I just love this A-2. It is perfect, even in temps up to 68-70 degrees. A classic leather windbreaker.

Hypoxic · Mar 2, 2017

Hmmmm... I should have him take in the sleeves on my Cockpit G-1. They're about an inch too long. Got a mailing address?

TXFlyGuy · Mar 2, 2017

Hypoxic said:
Hmmmm... I should have him take in the sleeves on my Cockpit G-1. They're about an inch too long. Got a mailing address?

Yes. I can highly recommend him. And Fanch (a contributor here) has had very good luck with Don. He told me that this is a common alteration. Don alters full leather racing suits, plus real (real!) WWII A-2's, G-1's, etc. Most often he does the knits, cuffs, liners, plus sleeve shortening, etc. He has the right equipment to do the job. He has done a number of heritage type jackets for those who actually served during the war.

His price was a paltry $70!

Minsky Tailors/Cleaners
819 West Arapaho Road
Suite 28
Richardson, Texas 75080
(972-783-0307)

bn1966 · Mar 2, 2017

TXFlyGuy said:
OK...all of you doubters gather round! Just got my Cockpit Reissue A-2 back from Don at Minsky's Tailor Shop. He worked a miracle on my jacket. Where the original shoulder measured 21", Don did exactly what I wanted and took it in to 19".
Remember, this is a size 42R. It now fits perfectly. But alas, I have lost 20 pounds! I could have had it taken in another 1/2 inch.

Very happy with Minsky. And, a big shout out to "Fanch" for providing the positive feedback on Don.

I just love this A-2. It is perfect, even in temps up to 68-70 degrees. A classic leather windbreaker.
View attachment 68885 View attachment 68886

Very pleased it worked out for you TX...must be quite some tailor

TXFlyGuy · Mar 2, 2017

bn1966 said:
Very pleased it worked out for you TX...must be quite some tailor

To be honest, I was nervous. Real nervous! What a pleasant surprise when I slipped the jacket on, and it fit! Just like I wanted! Yes, call me a Happy Camper.

Hypoxic · Mar 2, 2017

Thanks Tex. I'll send my jacket in.

Peacoat · Mar 2, 2017

Glad it worked out for you. I don't have any alterations that need to be done, but it is nice to know of someone who can do them in the future if needed. Also glad our Fanch had good luck with him.

HGalindez · Mar 2, 2017

Looks great- like you can't even tell it was altered!

Fanch · Mar 2, 2017

All's well that ends well. He's always done great work for me too.

TXFlyGuy · Mar 2, 2017

A side benefit, the sleeves are about 3/4 inch shorter now. They actually fit better than before. More like a size 42R should fit.
Funny, you wonder why Cockpit does not make them like this in the first place? These are supposedly Issue A-2's.

daw · Mar 2, 2017

What a bargain you got! Glad it worked out well.

TREEMAN · Mar 2, 2017

Well done TX......

TXFlyGuy · Mar 2, 2017

Here are some photos in bright sunlight, so you can see the color, as well as the shoulder cut.

seres · Mar 2, 2017

Beautiful workmanship! I've noticed that the sleeves on my Cockpit jackets are slightly long.

El Marro · Mar 2, 2017

TXFlyGuy,
I am glad to see that it worked out so well for you! I responded to your earlier thread and commented on a similar alteration that a tailor performed for me with good results.
Just like you, I did a lot of second-guessing from the time I dropped the jacket off until the day I picked it up. In the end it was the right call.
The jacket looks great, enjoy!

TXFlyGuy · Mar 2, 2017

El Marro said:
TXFlyGuy,
I am glad to see that it worked out so well for you! I responded to your earlier thread and commented on a similar alteration that a tailor performed for me with good results.
Just like you, I did a lot of second-guessing from the time I dropped the jacket off until the day I picked it up. In the end it was the right call.
The jacket looks great, enjoy!

Yes, I do remember. Lost a little sleep over this one, thinking that maybe a custom jacket should have been ordered. But in the end, it was a pleasant surprise for us!

Thanks for the compliments.

Seb Lucas · Mar 3, 2017

A promising fix. From the back it certainly has a less puffy look. What's it like on - is the rest still in proportion?

Because our population is so small and we have a tiny army, there's almost no where in Australia that can do that work for under $150. And even then, I can't imagine them not screwing it up.

Deacon211 · Mar 3, 2017

Glad it worked for ya Tex. I'll definitely will be keeping this guy's name in my back pocket.

TXFlyGuy · Mar 3, 2017

Deacon211 said:
Glad it worked for ya Tex. I'll definitely will be keeping this guy's name in my back pocket.

As you know, I'm a big fan of Cockpit U.S.A. We have purchased no less than 5 of their jackets. Jacky Clyman has always been responsive in the past with answering my email questions. But no response when I inquired about the sizing on the Reissue A-2. I did get a response from a representative on this forum, stating that the 21" shoulder span was their spec. As we all know, that is simply too large for a size 42R. Jacky did advise ordering this size, as the 21st Century A-2, in size 40R, fit like a glove. It actually was a better overall fit than this A-2.

Minsky's Tailor shop is truly a good place to go if you need leather jackets altered. As Don said, he has done many WWII vintage jacket restorations. Not only is his work good, and fairly quick, but he is very reasonable on the charges. Check out the link below.

I will use him again, perhaps soon. I need to sew on a cloth 5th Air Force patch on my Alpha Vintage B-15.

http://www.minskytux.com/cleaners/leatheralterations.htm

Darkjedi007 · Mar 3, 2017

Nice jacket TX!! And thank you for the info on Minsky's!!

WOW!!! Cockpit Re-Issue A-2 Part 2 WOW!!!

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