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To zimmerit or not to zimmerit?

3923 views

14 replies

erush

Member since
May 2003
From: USA, GA

To zimmerit or not to zimmerit?

Posted by erush on Friday, July 11, 2003 7:41 AM

That is the question. Big Smile [:D]

Big Smile [:D]

I finally finished bulding the modelkasten tracks for my Jagdpanther (Late version) and am ready to move along on the kit. On the box art, none of the versions depict zimmerit on them and I was wondering if it was uncommon at that point of the war? I thought I read that they weren't using it as much late in the war and this is Tamiya's late version.
I really want to try a zimmerit coat now that I got Tamiya's application tools (thanks Moses) and some Zim-it-rite and even though I'm not a "bolt counter" I'll do zimmerit on it if they usually had it. If not, I'll pick a kit for my next project that needs zimmerit.

I decided to try the Zim-it-rite after reading the link someone posted on zimmerit. I ordered it from R&J Enterprises and they are great people to deal with. I've gotten other hard to find import stuff from them before and their service is great if you need something they carry. Oops I digress from my topic.

Ok, to zimmerit or... Big Smile [:D]

Big Smile [:D]

Eric

Hi, I'm Eric and I'm a Modelholic too. I think I have PE poisioning.

"Friendly fire...isn't"

Reply

Moses

Member since
February 2003
From: Long Island

Posted by Moses on Friday, July 11, 2003 11:40 AM

hey Erush, glad you picked up the Tamiya Zimmerit tools. Creating zimmerit will never be so easy an fun now, especially with Zim-it-rite. Ok Late Jagdpanthers did not have Zimmerit applied to it. Only early ones before September 1944. Out of all the models you could have started, ya had to pick one that doesn't get Zim Disapprove [V]

Disapprove [V]

I am sure someone will have an excepion to this, but as far as I know, Late Jagdpanthers did not have Zimmerit.

Cheers

Rob

"ZIM FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER!!"

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 11, 2003 11:56 AM

just be creative and give it a coat anyways... unless you want to be historically accurate you can always build another for your diorama if your doing one.

Reply
Edit

erush

Member since
May 2003
From: USA, GA

Posted by erush on Friday, July 11, 2003 12:22 PM

Thanks for the info Moses! I know, it's been in the build process for over a year (my whole life got out of wack when I got activated last year for 6 months) and I cleaned off my desk after posting that gawd awful picture of the clutter Tongue [:P]

Tongue [:P]

. I think I origanally picked it because I didn't think it needed zimmerit and I wanted to research before doing one. Boy did I find the right place to hang out!

So, I have a couple Tiger I and II kits in my stack. I guess a mid production on either would be the one to start my zimmerit experience on??

Eric

Hi, I'm Eric and I'm a Modelholic too. I think I have PE poisioning.

"Friendly fire...isn't"

Reply

erush

Member since
May 2003
From: USA, GA

Posted by erush on Friday, July 11, 2003 12:30 PM

One other question on the Jadgpanther. If I do the salt weathering technique on it, what color would the primer be on it. Would it be the red they used on a lot of their stuff?

Eric

Hi, I'm Eric and I'm a Modelholic too. I think I have PE poisioning.

"Friendly fire...isn't"

Reply

djmodels1999

Member since
December 2002
From: United Kingdom / Belgium

Posted by djmodels1999 on Friday, July 11, 2003 12:50 PM

I would have thought it was that very rusty red you're talking about indeed. Some German tanks supposedly left for combat straight from the factory with only red primer applied onto them... Desperate times, desperate measures..

Reply

Moses

Member since
February 2003
From: Long Island

Posted by Moses on Friday, July 11, 2003 12:50 PM

First Airbrush makes a good point. If you don't care about being historically accurate, go for the zim, but I am sure you won't ;)

Second, the Tiger 1 Mid pro is a great start for trying zimmerit, but I highly recommend you break out some old models or a few feet of Stryrene to practice on, just so you can get a hang of it. Once you do, you'll be a pro.

Third... late Jagdpanthers had a Red primer as far as i know, According to Achtung Panzer, this was the case. So i say go for the salt technique. It is something i would like to try myself on a future model.

Your right dj, alot of German Armor at the end of the war left the factory in just it's Red Primer (very similar to many T-34's during germanies invasion of Russia)

On a side note, I will be partaking in a few zimmerit projects for Ron's site (possibly a Brummbar, Tiger 1, and Stug III with waffle pattern zim) all using Tamiyas polyester putty.

Cheers

Mo

"ZIM FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER!!"

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 11, 2003 1:16 PM

the Tamiya Jagdpanther is a great kit ,im making one myself, the base coat is dark green and ive put steal wheals on it
some tanks were painted in aircraft colours near the end of the war
the first model i tryed zimerat on was a Sturmtiger i used the Tamiya tools aswell
i want to do more zimmerat kits but im still not confident enough

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Edit

erush

Member since
May 2003
From: USA, GA

Posted by erush on Friday, July 11, 2003 1:20 PM

Moses, you're right. I'm not a bolt counter but I like my models to "look" right so I'll skip the zim on the Jagdpanther and do a mid pro Tiger I next!!

Did you see muzzelflash's picture in the techniques forum on the salt topic yet???? It's awesome looking!!
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3497

I want my jagdpanther to look like that!!

I'll practice on some sheet styrene with the Zimm-it-rite and let you know how that goes.

Eric

Hi, I'm Eric and I'm a Modelholic too. I think I have PE poisioning.

"Friendly fire...isn't"

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 11, 2003 1:27 PM

what is Zim-it-Right ? is it putty
ive tryrd Squadron red putty but dont know if its any good
ive tryed milliput but was too hard

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Edit

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 11, 2003 1:51 PM

Guys, being an old hardcore sort of guy, I've always doe my own Zimmerit. Using Squadron white putty and the stamps and scrappers. The past few years have seen some changes you might want to consider. Cavalier makes a resin based Zimmerite and now Eduard does a brass set. I've not used either yet, but have purchased the Cavalier. I have seen the results at MOdel shows, and bad news guys, they seem to be held in high esteem over our old ways, generally one using the after market stuff beats out the guys doing t the hard way

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erush

Member since
May 2003
From: USA, GA

Posted by erush on Friday, July 11, 2003 2:12 PM

Captain Caveman
Zim-it-rite is a 2 part putty sold by R&J Enterprises. It's workable for up to a couple hours from what I've read and has gotten good reviews. I think the Tamiya putty Moses uses would be the next best option (not saying your's isn't the best Moses Big Smile [:D]

Big Smile [:D]

)
You can get zim-it-rite here...
http://www.rjproducts.com/

jdeltaarrow
Thanks, but a contest is the last thing I'm worried about. I"ve seen the cavalier sets and they do look pretty good but I think I'll learn to do it right!! Big Smile [:D]

Big Smile [:D]

Eric

Hi, I'm Eric and I'm a Modelholic too. I think I have PE poisioning.

"Friendly fire...isn't"

Reply

Moses

Member since
February 2003
From: Long Island

Posted by Moses on Friday, July 11, 2003 2:26 PM

Ahh, shucks erush Tongue [:P]

Tongue [:P]

Zim-it-rite is a great for zimmerit. i just prefer Polyester Putty. As for Cavaliers resin zim, I have to agree..it is great. But I only use it on Panzer IV's, if I don't feel adventerous. I really do not care for Eduard etched zim or any photoetched zim for that matter. It is too uniform, and just looks unrealistic to me (I have tried it on a SturmTiger and was not to happy).

For those who have not seen..here are some pics that I posted awhile ago. The kit is much further in production then these pics now enjoy.

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4218&SearchTerms=zimmerit

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/message?forumid=110741&messageid=1057944883

Cheers

Rob

"ZIM FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER!!"

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 11, 2003 3:17 PM

Until recently I have always done my own zimmerit with milliput putty using the techniques in Tony Greenland's "Panzer Modelling Masterclass". I tried the Cavallier resin on a late Tamiya Tiger I and was pleasantly surprised at the ease of aplication and the finished look.

Reply
Edit

Moses

Member since
February 2003
From: Long Island

Posted by Moses on Friday, July 11, 2003 4:54 PM

Grouch, Tony Greenland was also a huge inspiration for me when it came to his techniques. I have used Milliput for zimmerit, but I always found it to be a little to difficult to spread on the model (even with roughing up the surface). I have used Tamiya's Polyester Putty for a while now and it works like a Basic putty, but has a much longer curing time.

Again, I am a big supporter of Cavaliers Resin Zimmerit. Especially with their made to fit line. The Panzer IV Ausf. H zimmerit is the best on the market in my opinion.

Cheers

Rob

"ZIM FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER!!"

Reply

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