zemmerit coating??????????

J-man,

There are a lot of ways in which you can simulate zimmerit coating.

1.) Using Tamiya Polyester Putty and the zimmirit tool that comes with the kit (if not available you can use a steel saw blade). Others use different brand of putty.
2.) P/E zim which is considered an aftermarket stuff.
3.) Using a hot screwdriver pressed again the surface of the kit to create an impression simulating the zimmerit.
4.) Carving out the zimmerit lines using a hobby knife (what I did)

I suggest that if it is your first time to do the zim try to experiment on a piece of plastic sheet to be able to familiarize yourself with the said methods.

Good luck.

Are you guys talking about that "wrinkled" surface some german armor has? I'm a newbie. What's it's purpose?

MGM, it is a pastelike material applied to the vertical surfaces of German tanks to prevent magnetic anti-tank mines and explosives from sticking to the tank surfaces and therefore preventing much damage even if the mine/explosive explodes.

Here is the VLS page for the Eduard PE zimmerit set;
https://www.modelmecca.com/cgi-bin/shop.pl?go=Search&partnumber=EU%2035564

Ther are several others as well. Use the search engine, type in "zimmerit"

Cool. It has always amazed me how much technology and variations in technology was developed in so short a time.

thanks very much I will try it all and see which I like.

Martian, yes zimmerit is that wrinley looking stuff on German armor. It is an anti-magnetic mine coating. I'm new to armor also so I don't know what it was made of.

The Germans only used it for about a year- 1943 to Sept. 1944. They discontinued its use, because it was reputed to have caught on fire.

What would most of you suggest?

Some info about the stuff, as well as it's composition.

http://www.panzerworld.net/Zimmerit.htm

Beat me to it, MMF

The PE or the resin stuff is the easiest, just glue it on. Putty with saw blade or special zimmerit tools is a bit more difficult and requires a little more patience, but looks good if you are careful. The hot screw-driver / pyrograph method carries the danger that you could end up melting through the kit and screwing it up badly. Never tried carving it, but I would think that to be somewhat labor intensive.

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman The Germans only used it for about a year- 1943 to Sept. 1944. They discontinued its use, because it was reputed to have caught on fire.

wow![:0] really?!
no wonder thay stopped using it!!
regards,
nick

i had not heard it was flammble!
my understanding was that they lost their need for it as they switched from
an offensive posture to a defensive one.

ed.

Do a search for zimmerit and you'll probably find a few threads with some pictures of zimmerit that Moses did. I think everybody agrees he does excellent zimmerit.

FSM did an article awhile back on zimmerit options. It was pretty good too.

I've used squadron white putty and a screwdriver in the past but that white putty does tend to attack the plastic to some degree. And it sets up faster than I preferred. By the time I spread the stuff out and finished up a small section the putty had setup more than I liked. I'd like to try the Polyester putty. Its supposed to setup slower so you wouldn't feel so rushed.

I saw a Tiger with the glue on Cavalier zimmerit. It looked nice. I've seen hotknifed zimmerit and it looked convincing too. But from the pic's I've seen I think the zimmerit that Moses has done is the most convincing. Especially on something like a King Tiger.

I've heard several different reasons why they stopped using zimmerit. The ones stated above, as well as that the Russians started using anti-tank weapons instead of magnetic mines. Cold have been a combination of all of them, I guess. One of those OBE things!

I've done pe zim and used the Polyester Putty method mentioned above. I do not care for pe zim (at least, not on 1/35th scale. On 1/72, it's probably okay). First, it doesn't have enough relief to it. Second, there are gaps between the edges of pe pieces.

As far as the putty method goes. Tamiya Polyester Putty is about twice the cost of Squadron Green or White putty, but you get about twice as much, so I think it workds out about the same. It's a two part putty and the set up time depends on how much hardener you mix in with the putty. I keep putting less and less in. It still sets up pretty fast. Not nearly as fast as does Squadron, but faster than I'd like, most of the time. It also (to me) has a much stronger oder than Squadron putty. One thing thats really good about it is you can sand/scrape it off it you don't like it. It's also relatively easy to chip it off areas where it got accidently (i.e. weld seams).

Another couple of products that you might want to consider are Zimm-it-right. I'm not sure where you can get this stuff. The other is called Apoxi-Sculpt and it's available from R&J Enterprises. They are both supposed to be great stuff for doing zimm. Their "set up" time is in the hours, rather than minutes. I haven't tried either one, as yet.

If you decide to zimm something, find some good ref pictures on the zimm pattern used and where on the tank it was applied. Especially if you're doing a specific tank. For instance, on a Tiger I, some tanks had zimm on the front, lower hull between the fenders. Many didn't. (I found this out the hard way, right after I'd zimmed that part of my Tiger Mid Production!!)

Good luck with it.

J-man: I would definatly go with a resin kit for the zimmerit , It is very easy to apply and they give you replacement parts in resin ( well detailed BTW ) for the curved parts , IE ,mantels, ball turrets etc an australian company called Cavalier makes very nice kits used it on this tank ( highly recommended !)

Now if you feel relly motivated to do it yourself , heres a good article on the milliput technique ( seems easier than modeling putty , which is just a race against drying time ) http://firestorm1.topcities.com/how/zimmerit.htm I do suggest the 1st one though , way easier and way less time consuming !

Thanks for all yall's help!! I wil see what I like.

Thanks spector822002 that really helped!!

J-Man, here is a picture of my Tiger I that shows the zimmerit I did using the Tamiya Polyester Putty. This was my first effort. The zimm isn't quite as rough as it looks in the photo. I think that's a result of the photo's resolution.



If you go right to the link, it looks a little better.

http://rongeorge.com/albums/armor/Tiger1Right.jpg

Have fun with it however you do it.

WIPW fine job there , that came out great I must say ! Being an immediate gratifacation type like I am , I have not the patience for that ! Kudos my friend to you !

Why, thank you! That's very kind of you. I've never been able to find the Cavilear for the kits I've been working on. I'd like to try it sometime.

Thanks, again!!

Bill

wipw hi,
just checked out your link...and the zimm sure looks great there!!!
regards,
nick

Thank you very much, Nick. I feel like such a "pauper", skill wise, when I look at the beautiful stuff people post out here. It's nice to know a few things are working out.

Bill

I used the ol' 'liquid cement and day of pressing into it with a screwdriver' chestnut on my 1/72 Panzer IV.. Each zim-lump os about 1.5mm wide..

Note the zimmerite through the lost skirt panel..


Zimm on the front of the hull and turret

Michaelvk: I love that model of panzer 4 ,.... that is going to have to be a must for one of my future projects very nice job on that mini there !

Never been brave enough to try ( or even thing too hard about) putting zim on a 1/72. Nice job, Michael!!

Bill

Bill, looks like you did a dandy job on the zimmerit.

Bill, great job on the zim. Two thumbs up for you on the zim.