Yes, the flight jacket has turned into my firm favourite for winter everyday wear when out of the woods
Smock, Windproof, 1942 Pattern (the original 'SAS smock'), but made in Ventile in 2026!
- Thread starter Sooty22
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Ventile....there's a good reason to use tape instead of cord, it doesn't rub the channel into a line of holes where it gathers.
Double layers...they're very good on hood, shoulders and arms if you're working in them the inner layer still breathes while the outer one gets saturated and soaks itself tight. You have to use matching thread so that it swells to fill the stitch holes.
Double ventile is a pain in the backside to dry though.
Double layers...they're very good on hood, shoulders and arms if you're working in them the inner layer still breathes while the outer one gets saturated and soaks itself tight. You have to use matching thread so that it swells to fill the stitch holes.
Double ventile is a pain in the backside to dry though.
Inspired by this, and having thought that I really didn't need another jacket, I looked at the Helikon-Tex smocks and found that I could get a brown one on sale very cheap, £50-odd.
....I then thought that I would enjoy modifying an army one more than buying a good one off the shelf.
I looked at used desert DPM smocks and found a former RAF one for less than £16 posted.
I have removed the badges, added more cord locks, dyed it dark brown, reduced the volume & shortened the front (and re-inserted the wire) of the gigantic hood and ordered some zips for the pits.
....I then thought that I would enjoy modifying an army one more than buying a good one off the shelf.
I looked at used desert DPM smocks and found a former RAF one for less than £16 posted.
I have removed the badges, added more cord locks, dyed it dark brown, reduced the volume & shortened the front (and re-inserted the wire) of the gigantic hood and ordered some zips for the pits.
Fantastic! I have never tried dyeing fabric, and I want to attempt painting the 'brushstroke' camo the original smocks were made of in their camo version. I guess different from dyeing. Ever tried painting fabric with anything other than acrylics? Any ideas?
Sooooo...I researched a bit the story with the 'sand coloured' smocks. There was never an official sand coloured version; they were all drab or camouflage. The 'sand' colour versions are the above, boiled for hours by the special forces folk operating in arid environments back in the day. They lost most of the dye, and the tape became that white colour.
On the subject of tape; I have now used the smock in anger in Sutherland. It is very easy to handle, much easier to 'feel' than cord. Presumably, the cord back in the day was also not that strong. And you are right, it would likely cut into skin if tight, over time, something which the tape is less likely to do.
I've been carrying materials and pouring concrete piers for a log cabin, in the most midge- and horsefly-infested place I've ever know. My verdict is single-layer ventile keeps the midges out, absolutely no chance it stops the cleggs! Got several bites through it, I could not believe it.
Also, Ventile sucks for breathability, especially if you sweat in it.
So, next experiment is making one of these in the 'proper' gabardine fabric, essentially a 100% accurate copy, but still single layer, which will be my very breathable, windproof and insect-proof smock. Then, if the conditions dictate, put the ventile layer on top.
All with a merino base layer, and wool for insulation.
As far as I can tell from what I read (not first hand experience though, never used it, thus the 'experiment'), it is not swelling 'tight' to the point it becomes waterproof, and it is letting a bit more circulation of air. Losing waterproofing, but more breathable, and still windproof.
I was trying to find out what the originals were made of, but there is conflicting information. Some sources online seem to suggest Stotz Twill 230 (now 'Ventile Twill 230') is the closest, but that would basically make it Ventile, meaning it just stops breathing the second you sweat enough to saturate it -or when it rains.
Some other sources suggest a cotton gabardine fabric of around 230gsm, which is what I will try with.
Either way, I enjoy the whole sewing thing, and just laugh at how much money I spent over time to buy garments that fitted me poorly
I have been away. When I have fitted the pit zips, I will take some photos.
Rather than buying an off the peg Helikon-Tex, I decided to buy a British army desert smock and modify it. I used my daughter's sewing machine. My sewing machine skills are not great and working with the smock was tricky. The sewing isn't very neat.
I first dyed it Espresso Brown. The colour and pattern have come out well. The light coloured synthetic parts are obviously still light.
I then removed the enormous overhanging front of the hood and tidied up the edge. I re-inserted the hood wire...
I first dyed it Espresso Brown. The colour and pattern have come out well. The light coloured synthetic parts are obviously still light.
I then removed the enormous overhanging front of the hood and tidied up the edge. I re-inserted the hood wire...
That actually looks good, the pattern i meanRather than buying an off the peg Helikon-Tex, I decided to buy a British army desert smock and modify it. I used my daughter's sewing machine. My sewing machine skills are not great and working with the smock was tricky. The sewing isn't very neat.
I first dyed it Espresso Brown. The colour and pattern have come out well. The light coloured synthetic parts are obviously still light.
I then removed the enormous overhanging front of the hood and tidied up the edge. I re-inserted the hood wire...
Yes, I was pleased with the dye.That actually looks good, the pattern i mean
I can't claim that the stitching is neat at close viewing, but it should work ok. I'll not be wearing it for best.
It it interesting how the old camo still shows so prominently, or is it just the camera?
It does show like that. The original brown parts are darker. The poly cotton doesn't fully take the cotton dye.
I’ve heard at different and various times that the old original SAS smocks were made of Ventile and Cotton Gaberdine . I’ve also read that Pilots immersion suits were also made of Ventile, so how can Ventile not be waterproof, what would be the point?
I’ve a bit of an obsession for two things, Smocks and stoves. I’ve currently seven smocks and i am always looking at others even though I don’t want to
and I’d love to make one to my own design someday.
I’ve a bit of an obsession for two things, Smocks and stoves. I’ve currently seven smocks and i am always looking at others even though I don’t want to
and I’d love to make one to my own design someday.I can't say about ALL the original smocks other than that the only 1942 one that had been in my possession was made of a gaberdine-like cotton fabric. It was definitely not waterproof, and it would soak thoroughly quicky.I’ve heard at different and various times that the old original SAS smocks were made of Ventile and Cotton Gaberdine . I’ve also read that Pilots immersion suits were also made of Ventile, so how can Ventile not be waterproof, what would be the point?
I’ve a bit of an obsession for two things, Smocks and stoves. I’ve currently seven smocks and i am always looking at others even though I don’t want to
The ventile immersion suits were likely 2 layers, and with rubber-coated / taped seams (that's how the more modern ones were made). That buys you enough time to get on your dinghy without getting too much of a cold water immersion shock and drowning on your first few seconds in the water. Once out of the water, things are better, and at that point they would act to keep any insulation layers dry for a bit longer, until you got picked up.
The story I've read about those first immersion suits was that these were made for the pilots of Hurricanes that were catapult-launched off freighters to take down long-range german bombers harassing convoys unmolested before the escort carrier concept was developed, and the only option they had was to ditch or to parachute, since there was usually nowhere to land.
