Thanks guys. The model is Dragon's 1/35th Early A. I guess I'll stay the course, and nail on some battered Schurzen and the tracks and wheels. The wheels and skirts are mostly done, and I'm drilling out the kit's solid guide horns one by one. Not fun, but I think it will look better. For those more knowledgeable, if a Panther slipped a track would it be likely to "drive off" the track entirely, or would it just come partially off before the crew halted?
Frankly, I'm really quite excited that you guys mostly like the zimm. For those out there who haven't tried zimm, I was just as nervous. I decided one day to just go for it, and wracked my brain for something non-toxic, water soluble, and slow to dry. I came to the conclusion that super lightweight wall patch stuff (it dries kind of like foam) would fit the bill. I thinned it with the old MK I finger, and then spread it out from the middle with a large, stiff wet brush. After it's applied, and set for about 2 hours, you can score it w/ an Xacto. And, the bonus is, it's sandable, completely removable with little work (even when dry), and chips off very controllably. I tend to think I left it a little thick in places as well, and I've sanded down some of the "chunkier spots" since these photos were taken. Overall though, despite the the contrasting textures being a little "over the top" in terms of scale I am pretty satisified with the results to the eye.