Likewise here in the UK, cost and dispatch times permitting (and how accurate they are)

Hi all,
spoke to Daniel on Saturday and he confirmed that he will make the overalls this summer. He was not sure when as according to him it was also a matter of funds. He will start with most usual sizes and leave any odd ones last. He said he has denim for about 50 overalls left. I will sum up the interest so far so he has better idea of the possible order situation and favourite sizes.
Well, from what he said I would not rely on him for the Normandy schedule Marc.

Tank overalls
 

Guys, I have good news. Just talked to Daniel and he should be starting production in about two weeks. He will start with popular sizes, I will look through what everyone wished here.
I asked him to make some real figure picture with the overall on which he promised to send over this weekend so I will put them here.
I am just thinking that there might be someone who gives it a try first to tells the rest of you what the quality is and how it feels like.

Thanks for the encouraging news.
 

Your renewed efforts are appreciated.

Daniel may want to review what had already been submitted for size and consider going for the larger "normal" sizes as we are all very well fed!!!!!

Bob C

Dusonn

I am also still interested - but would like to see a sample of the material planned to be used to ensure this is correct.

Can you ask Daniel if he would be happy to provide a small piece - he must have some off-cuts which he cannot use and which he could send over.

Many thanks

Tim

If he needs a Guinea pig, I would step up (for a discount of course :D )

Iam 5'10" tall

Medium build

Still need a firm figure on costs though

Your are lucky .......
 

.... to be a "normal" size.......

I was a victim of "poutine"......

Tank overalls
 

Hi guys,

Daniel sent me few pictures of his the overall put on.
Tim, it will be no problem to post the sample, I think I have you address in a PM you sent me last year? You can tell others what the denim is like.

Tank overalls
 

one more picture

Hi Dusan,

WOW, these look great!

We are definitely in the market for a number of these!

Cheers,

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.

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

Looks good to me......
 

....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

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.

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.

Sounds promising, I would be in for a pair :)

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.

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.

Sounds like a good plan to me Jim. Look forward to seeing your message posting the results of the garments once they arrive at your place. I know several of our guys here in Texas will be interested in both offerings.

I am still interested.....
 

Certainly 2 denims and possibly a Pixie suit for colder weather.

Cheers

If the pixie is 200 how much for the denim ?

I would probably go on 2 x Denim and 1 x Pixie also.

Still not had a sample material from the other chap.

Tim

Still interested
 

Jim,

Please count me in.

Peter

Richard, first rough estimate is about US$ 120. Once we confirm the fabric, he will be able ot tell me just what that does to his estimate.

If the fabric is right, Jerry Lee of WPG said he might buy into the roll for a larger amount that might make the cost per yard/meter a bit cheaper.

At times, I wish I was a real sutler/dealer. But I am happy to do all this at cost so my lads and me can get the stuff.

Open to passing this along to a real dealer if they want to carry either of these as stock, (and don't jack up the prices to the folks here who have spoken up with support.)

Afraid that's exactly what would happen mate

Denim Comparison:

• 1950s washed and used
• 2016 CZ sample (as it came - not washed or treated)
• 1942 ATS NOS

I do have a used early war British BD somewhere, but not found it yet.

Attachment 82321

I will cut the CZ sample in half and give half a good wash and see where it takes me.

Hope this is of help

Tim

Hi Tim,
It appears there are two horses in the denim CrewSuit race.

Right now, my horse in Pakistan says the mill can make a match for my original sample but a 250-500 yard run is needed. So I am checking with some makers of the two piece denim cover-alls to see if they want to buy in.

The sample of the AFW suit in the wrong fabric - dyed cotton twill - proves they can sew properly.

BUT - your horse has already made and sold theirs, and you have shown a color that while not yet the "green" as originals, at least is probably acceptible to most of us.

There really isn't room for two horses to win this race.

Personally, I am leaving it up to m,y horse to provide a sample fabric before I do anything further on the AFV Crew suit.

HOWEVER... I am proceeding to have the tan Pixies made up.

The sample sent for testing looked pretty damn good, but I had a number of details they need to fix. Also, I am DHL-ing them an original hood so they can match the wool lining.

I am also working to make up a size chart that uses the British numbering system and extend that up from the last WW2 size of Size 8 to go up to a 7 and an 8.

I have a size 2, a size 5 and a size 6 originals, so I am, measuring the actual sizes of select pattern pieces and building a scale to send the tailor.

In other words, if you know you need a size 7 to get a chest size 46, he will know how much bigger it will need to fit over your BD.

Happily, all the orders will be "made to measure" where you send in measurements over your own body wearing the most you expect to wear under the Pixie.

I may have to front paying for some stock sizes to be built to reach a minimum order, so I don't want to be stuck with a box of suits that a buyer will need to be present to try on, otherwise we get a lot of back and forth packages.

Back to the denim suits... I am still holding out for a green fabric to match and will need to reach a go/no-go point with my horse.

I have a war dated denim tank suit if you need a comparison for colour and cloth. Send a sample and I can post some pictures on here.

Ben

Two items that would be concerns if going to the effort of making decent reproductions are the dye being color fast and potentially having the material pre-washed to set the color and reduce the risk of shrinkage.

Certainly not game stoppers but someone having a known size sample of material that could be photographed and measured prior to being washed a few times for comparison would at least let people know how best to clean the new garments.

I tend to hand wash and hang dry reproductions anyway. But some people might toss them in the regular washer and dryer which could result in major disappointment.

Members of 6th AARR in Texas are still interested the denim and heavier tank suits (even if unlined).

Good points David. I took a swatch of the sample he sent and used a sharpie to mark off about 6 inches and then washed it in detergent on heavy soil cycle, then dried them on heavy bedding cycle for a lot of heat for an hour.

When measured to the marks, I got no shrinkage. The original green cast washed out and it came out as a brown.

Real denim should be dyed in the thread before weaving.