Opinions on Zimmerit

Yes, I built several of Italeri kits with that type of zimmerint many years ago.  Not my prefered  way.  I made it by sanding it a LOT on back side to make a bit thinner to fit, espcialy on the Tigers.  I don't recommend it.

ridleusmc

Did I miss any?  What do my fellow modellers prefer, and why?  

Thank you,

Chris

Oh, there is another form of zimmerit that I forgot. Italeri did very thick injected molded zimmerit pieces. They sold it separately as well as including similar zimmerit in both their 1996 Panther and Tiger I kits.

Yes, Monogram had zimmerit pre molded on several of their kits in the early 1970s.  They were the 1/32 scale kits.  They had the Brumbar,and the Jagdpanzer 4.  It was pretty nice.  Scale didn't bother me too much.  At that time i was a senior in college,  ( go Iowa!)  Tamiya was new.  We had very few choices.  It was nice to do this hobby then.  It was like being in a new country.  Models of all types were inexpensive, maybe $3 or so. I startet modeling in 1956, fun times to be a kid.  Paint a model!  Crazy talk! 

Rob Gronovius

But there are some outstanding modelers who could pull it off.

I can still remember Steve's (aka Crockett) exquisitely carved Zimmerit, albeit in 1/35 scale, using a soldering iron. Unfortunately, the photos are no longer available, but the technique is described somewhere here on the forum.

ridleusmc

Really?  Old Monogram kits had molded Zimmerit?  I thought that was a relatively new thing.  I thought it came in with modern slide molding.    

Even some of the old 1970s Aurora 1/48 scale armor kits had molded on zimmerit. King Tiger and Panther come to mind.

ridleusmc

I'd have to imagine that the rules completely change in 1/72 scale.  Would it be possible to scribe the zimmerit straight into the plastic in the smaller scales?   

I guess scribing zimmerit could be possible on 1/72 scale armor, but it would be very tiny and the heated blade would be so small and might be too fragile to put enough pressure on the plastic. But there are some outstanding modelers who could pull it off. I am not one of them. I do tend to choose kits that do not require zimmerit or sometimes leave off the zimmerit (as in I do not add it to a kit that should have it) because I am lazy and don't care.

Really?  Old Monogram kits had molded Zimmerit?  I thought that was a relatively new thing.  I thought it came in with modern slide molding.    

Back in the good ole days,  I made it by using spackle and a small HO scale trowel.  I had a good result.  I have used the photo etched ones.  I didn't like it as well.  I do like the resin a lot.   Did many of those. It's hard to find them now.  I am liking the new decal sticker ones now.  When the kit has it l use it.  I'm getting lazy in my old age I guess.  I never liked sculpting my own.  I have also used sets of pre printed zimmerit. Those were very easy to use.  So over the decades, I am back to liking the moulded on stuff the best.  Heck, I now remember those old monogram kits that had it pre moulded on.

^Check out the link from Andy's Hobby Headquarters on Youtube.  It's like no decal I've ever seen before.  

    I have yet to try to apply zimmerit to any of my kits for the same reason I haven't done a BMF on an aircraft, I want to do it right.

    When I do try it my plan is to use putty or other form of model clay. The real stuff was a paste so IMHO it should be on the model. While a decal is a fine idea, I think it would look flat, no shadows or texture. To be honest I have not seen the decals so its just an opinion.

I'd have to imagine that the rules completely change in 1/72 scale.  Would it be possible to scribe the zimmerit straight into the plastic in the smaller scales?   

In 1/72 scale, I was happy with photo etched zimmerit. Just enought relief too look good under paint. I've used Cavalier zimmerit on a 1/48 scale King Tiger, very nice stuff. I have some Atak resin zimmerit for a 1/72 scale kit, but have not used it. It replaces parts of the Sturmtiger hull with resin pieces. It's almost like a conversion as opposed to just thin resin coating.

I apply my own useing Milliput white. I like it because you can put damaged patches into it and items such as tool holders can be placed into the zimm on on the metal rather than sitting on top of the zimm. I have done one kit with molded Zimm and while i do like it, its not my preffered option, and given the choice of a kjit with no zimm that i have to apply myself and a pre zimmed kit, i will go for the former.