Flight Suit Musing. Looking for new direction

[mjhenks]

In my quest to join the ranks of the TB i feel like i have done my research and i had things in place to get my flight suit where i felt I needed to go. The best plans though....

 

So....

 

- I have a Ladysewforus suit that i think is really nice. Deep black, nice heavy cotton and well fitted. I would have ran with this one if i were 8" shorter than i am.

- I also have a redcap that i was going to tailor up i find to be just OK. Poor fitting and not very black.

- I have looked at the racing suit inspired ones too. They seem to be better fitted and heavier material but not alot of detail on them.

 

I now find myself starting over. I plan to tailor the suit myself this time and pondering a few things before i strike out again. So, being that i am very tall and slender I would appreciate input from the experts on what we are trying to match screen wise that might not be gleamed from the "scout on the bike" reference photo.

 

So.... IT probably does not really matter but Is the flight suit supposed to be:

 

Baggy, loose fitted or form fitted?

Flat Black, Matte Black, Blue Black?

Cotton or Poly?

Heavy fabric or light weight.

 

Any patterns out there that people have used to make their own? (searching for this is like a jump back to the 70's)

 

Thank you for helping me re-set my direction.

 

Matthew

[khazara]

I'm also somewhat tall and slender (6' 170 lbs) and used a Redkap suit for my build. Many sizes come in a Tall version, which is what I needed for the torso sizing, otherwise the Reg was too tight on me between shoulders and crotch.

 

The suit just has to look appropriate for your body type, and being not too baggy is one of those determinations. I took in the legs on mine by several inches.

 

With the numerous layers to the costume, I sweat quite an it when wearing it (especially outdoor troops here in So Cal), so a lighter weight material is to your advantage, and I find the RedKap is pretty decent in that area.

 

Hop that helps!

[Stroker]

I'm having a custom suit made to my measurements. I'm 6'5" 185 pounds. Its a love hate with redkap. I know the struggle.

[Retrofire]

One thing to keep in mind is that the TB is three layer suit. Four if you include your undershirt. You have the flightsuit, vest, bund then chest armor over that and a belt around your waist. After troops I'm soaked and so is the inside of my armor. I'm in AZ so that's part of the territory but Todd is right you might want to avoid thick cloth for your suit. I had my redkap tailored but it still feels a bit heavy and I am hunting for a lighter weight material to work with. Racing suits can fit the bill but nomex doesn't breathe and can be dangerous when you're trooping in the heat. Make sure you consider the environment you're trooping in and pick the fabric that will keep you comfortable.

[BikerScout007]

As Tim said, Redkap is love/hate. It's cheap, easy to get and very hardy. But it doesn't breathe well. The cotton/polyester blend is very heavy. And you should order the Tall so you can get more room in the torso. The double zipper is also a huge bonus.

 

According to the Costumes book, the screen scouts used a modified Avirex flight suit. I know those are pricey. And the ones available seem to have a lot of damn zipper pockets on them!

 

So I would go cotton if you could. Loose, but not baggy. And certainly not form fitting like spandex. Color is black, not shiny.

 

Just looking at the MOM scout and how the material wrinkles, it looks like a very light cotton:

 

http://forum.bikerscout.net/index.php?app=gallery&image=102

[mjhenks]

Thanks guys.

 

Everything stated so far makes alot of sense and i realize that most of the suit is covered up. I plan to wear cooling packs under mine as i already know what overheating is like with my ESB Vader. I hope to get something that wears well and looks right.

 

I know for sure i am looking for something better than the Redkap. I am 6' 5", 210 pounds and the long version looks terrible on me and is not very black. The "Ladysewforus" unit i have is alot heavier cotton that give body but i am sure will be hot.

 

Anyways, keep the feedback coming.

 

Any input on suitable patterns to start with?

 

Matthew

[mjhenks]

Any thoughts on this flight suit as a base? It is a Tru-Spec CWU-27/P flight suit. $50.

 

Black and already has waste, and wrist Velcro straps. Two way zipper up front and zipper ankles too.

 

All the pockets can be removed except the waste. They are thru. Not sure what to do there yet

 

Thought it might be a good starting point.

 

Comments other than "smile" or that I need the next size up? ðŸ˜

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mjhenks]

What is the general thought about leaving access zippers in the side of the flight suit to access your pockets under the suit? In the last post above, last picture there are pockets in the side which allow access to inside the flight suit. This is not on the original suit but is the a no-go for approval?

 

Thanks

[Stroker]

That's a lot or work. You remove all the zipper and so on it should work fine. The side pockets if you can't see them when you have your bund on I'd leave them. I left mine. You do the mods right you shouldn't have a under suit problem with approval.

[nsbuff28]

That’s the suit I used on mine I’m working on it was a lot of work to remove the zippers. But once they are off it looks good.

[Chopper]

I looked at the tru-spec when I was working on my coveralls. Ended up not going that way as the hip pockets are actually cut through all the layers of fabric, so they're impossible to hide once the pockets are removed.