Suggestions for putty for Zimmerit

Josy11

The Squadron putty looks a little thick ( perhaps thin it with lacquer thinner?)

         That's what and how I use it myself, if it hardens up just refresh the area with thinner and move on. The hardest part is just getting yourself to jump in and try it

 No fancy products needed...............

 Try it out on a old part first to get the hang of it and don't go thick with it.

Personally I use Milliput white for adding Zimm. When I mix it up I do it in water. I find having it wet makes application easier. I use Zimm stamps, not sure how the Tamiya tools work on it.

I have limited experience doing Zimm. Usually I have used Squadron putty. Practice on some scrap first to get your basic technique down, then go for it.

I use Squadron white putty.

I am gonna try that on whatever my next project is for appling putty zimm. The Green stuff worked just fine on the few that I have done. My Green dried up near the end of the tube and all I have now is the White tube I bought.

Just be careful about thinning the Squadron putty too much--it will wind up settling after you make the zimmerit ridges, and will lose its ridges--like as if it were formed of ice and you sat it in the sun. Try, if possible, to use it unthinned for best results.

Another vote for Milliput from me. It doesn't attack the plastic surface so if you are unhappy with how it has gone on you can wash it off with water & start again.

There's a great article in the Osprey Modelling book, Modelling the Panzer IV in 1/72 Scale, by Alex Clark. He basically rolls the milliput flat between  wax paper, carefully peels it off the paper and applies it to the sides. Then he trims it and uses water to smooth it over. He then uses a stamp with the proper pattern.

I can't imagine trying to do zimmerit with Squadron green or white putty. Maybe a small corner where two sheets of Cavalier zimmerit come together, but that's about it.

It is a tedious time consumng task with Squadron putty and those Tamiya tools. I have done a StuG.IV, Sturmpanzr IV, and King Tiger that way. A Panther also, but it was easier because I did a "tile" pattern using an xacto once the putty had set a bit. all in 1/35. I can not imagine doing zimm in 1/72... yikes!!!! On some older builds I used putty and a flattened nail head to produce each individual ridge...

There have been threads for zimmerit applications on this Forum for years. Using the Search the Community feature on the right turned this one up from earlier this year. http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/3/p/155447/1674610.aspx#1674610

You could keep digging here until you came up with what you are looking for, I'm sure that it has been answered before.

Rob Gronovius

There's a great article in the Osprey Modelling book, Modelling the Panzer IV in 1/72 Scale, by Alex Clark. He basically rolls the milliput flat between  wax paper, carefully peels it off the paper and applies it to the sides. Then he trims it and uses water to smooth it over. He then uses a stamp with the proper pattern.

I can't imagine trying to do zimmerit with Squadron green or white putty. Maybe a small corner where two sheets of Cavalier zimmerit come together, but that's about it.

I haven't seen that tip, that sounds like a neat idea, i'll have to try that.

I couldn't imagine using squadron putty either.

Bish I also use Milliput but what type of stamps do you use. So far I've hand made tools where a stamp would save time and look better.

Who sells the different stamps?

I have these Airwaves sets. I I have had mine for a few years and I find them really handy.

www.hannants.co.uk/.../AEC35085

www.hannants.co.uk/.../AEC35091

I find them really easy to use. I prefer to keep the Miliput wet while I am working it, and now and again, the putty will lift off with the stamp, but not very often and its easy to deal with.

Not sure if you can get Airwaves stuff in the US. The brand is owned by Hannants, I now you can get some Hannants stuff over there.

Bish thanks, I've been out of town. I'll order a set.

If you can't get them in the states, let me know. I think you have to have a minimum order for Hannants to send it abroad and the postage could be very high.

I found a set on ebay, thanks. I actually thought of making a set out of some ceramic leftovers with a dremmel tool but its a lot easier buying them.