It'd be helpful if they actually used their own photos for the site. Notice that the 2 WAAFs are models from the WW2 British Women's Uniforms book with another female's head stuck on them!
Edit I'm sure the No.6 dress is also lifted from the Rathbone Website with another transposed head!
The "OA serge" that I saw most recently in Feb this year was an awful light blue/green colour. The RAAF effort was some kind of half-converted USAF tunic. Other than this I can only offer second/third/fourth hand stories which isn't condusive to your needs. Anyone with first-hand accounts should add more.
This message has been edited by __richard__ from IP address 82.110.109.212 on Oct 29, 2009 6:03 AM
Not that its so relevant here, but the two WRENS uniforms are also from the Brayley book with transposed heads. I'd agree that the tropical uniform also is from Tod Rathbones site. I know Tod so might ask him if he knows!
Considering they are genuine uniforms, its a bit naughty, even if they have permission from the authors to use the photos, and in my opinion reflects badly as its not a photo of their own product.
On the insignia front, the side cap badge has the eagle facing the wrong way.
I just last week received an RAF Officer's FS cap from Warhorse. My assessment:
Colour - the cap is more of the corrent RAF barathea blue, which is definitely more of a darker blue than wartime barathea. It's not too bad, and if I can manage to fade it some it will be a closer match. It will be okay with KD's where the colour comparison isn't so obvoius.
Cut/Construction - It's made pretty well. My hope was that Warhorse made their stuff in the UK, but judging by quality and construction I would bet they farm it out to the usual Indian/Pakistan market. The main issue is that the construction is too thin and flimsy. My original seems to almost be lined with a stiffer material that gives it better form. Quality is apples and oranges; BUT having said all that it must be realized of course that the type of quality acheived by British tailors in the 1930's and 40's cannot be replicated for an affordable price today - so for 25 quid or so that it cost, it is what it is.
Customer service with Lee and Co. and Warhorse is questionable at best. I'm certain he's a nice enough fellow, but I sent him a good number of emails and received only one or two replies. I had ordered the cap, never received confirmation of the order, eventually receive d one that they were out of stock and had to be made up. Several months passed anmd I oompletely forgot about it. Suddenly a charge came on my card and was labeled something like 'pictures of historic Devon' or something which totally threw me off guard. I thought someone had stolen my card # and canceled the card. A big snafu which could have been avoided with a bit more communication.
So in synopsis; the cap is usable. Detractsions are that it is to 'flimsy', the 'bill' that folds up on the front of the cap is too long (although as different makeers tailored these caps during the war you could chalk it up to that). The part that buttons together with the two small buttons in the front is too long so that there is a good half inch of material stuck out after the buttons. These are all fixable by a competent tailor.
Personally I wouldn't order a Service Dress uniform or anything else without seeing cloth samples and finished examples as well. I've heard great things about Warhorse, but my experience didn't leave me willing to try them again. Perhaps later today I can take a few photos and pop them up.
My experience was it is best to call the shop and find out if the item you want is in stock. I ordered an original cap that way. His service was quick, and his description of the item was accurate. Worked out to be a good transaction from my point of view.
I would agree email communication isn't his strength.
