For Sale: 1945 Tanker Oversuit

[Neil Ashley]

I would agree with Tim's suggestion to see a sample of the material as there are some very strange turquoise green shades of Denim out there. Its very subtle but stands out in the flesh.

I threw away one set of Denims I had brought because they stood out so badly against originals. You cannot ell from these pictures.

[Tim Bell]

I've sent Dusan my postal address and will let you all know what we think... that said, the pictures do look good and if the colour is right then happy days!

Cheers

Tim

[Bob Carriere]

....once washed and sun faded and grease stained they will look even better.

.....and they can always be redied darker if necessary.

Hoping the denim is tough and substantial enough......

I am in !!!!!!

Cheers

[Jim Burrill]

My new source in Pakistan says he will make this for 120 US$. Swears he can match the fabric sample I sent him, but I have yet to see it.

he is shipping by DHL a prototype to examine for pattern construction and fit that I should see this week.

I have one of the European made ( Das Adler?) denim tank suits and it is the best so far, but still not the right color compared to my original, but wearable.

I will see if the Pakistan source comes up with the right fabric.

Note - orders will be made to measure individually
Note - Also sent him a Pixie suit to pattern. Those would also be made to measure.

[Jim Burrill]

Proof is in the actual sample.

My source just told me he has a cloth mill that will make up a roll of denim to be an exact match for the sample I sent him.

In the past, that has been the problem as a mill in China 5 years ago would do it for a 1,000 meter minimum. This new source said they would do a 300, maybe a 200 yard/meter order to our specs.

I will be sent fabric samples and cost by DHL courier end of next week, along with a prototype made from wrong fabric to test construction and fit.

Not to rain on Dustan's parade, but if we can nail the right fabric, I may be able to get Jerry Lee to buy a larger roll to make up the working jacket and pants out of the right fabric for a change. Might make our tank suits cheaper.

So far, he is talking in the US 120$ range for the unlined AFV Crew Suit.

Will keep you all posted.

[super dave]

Sounds promising, I would be in for a pair

[Lauren Child]

A quick question for both, are the loops reinforced the same way to drag a casualty out of a vehicle?

If one of us had an accident it would be nice to have tanksuits that could be used to drag a crewmember out as well as looking the part. That's difficult to find in normal civvy overalls.

[Jim Burrill]

Heard from the shop in Pakistan.

He sent pics of the test sample for the tan winter Pixie suit. This is to test fabric and fit and construction. He used black zippers for the test, but will use brass for the order.

He didn't use khaki wool for the lining in the test, so that will have to be sorted.

Price is still up int he air, but about US$200 or so made to your size.

I will get the sample Pixie, along with the sample Denim AFV Crewsuit later next week - he is sending it Monday by DHL.

Also, he says he made a good match for the denim green I sent him from an original.

Will be checking the mail anxiously to see just how close he came to the right stuff.

Everyone - if the samples are good, and the collected experts here agree it is good enough for you to be seen wearing one at War and Peace, or Reading MAAM airshow, etc, we will need to work collectively to place an order.

I just can not afford to front the entire order and wait for people to get around to sending me their money.

I hope if we agree these are worth getting, that we can figure a plan to let each person send their measurements and payment to Irfan directly, and perhaps he holds on to the order until he gets his minimum to set up the production.

There would need to be a deadline so that either we got out money back, or we paid more for a one-item custom order, or we nudged our mates into getting their orders in.

Suggestions? Comments?

Note - the dark green is the post war Dutch (?) Pixie I sent as a sample. The tan one is the new replica.