Armortek

I'm proposing to replicate the effect of Zimmerit coating on my Late Production Tiger 1 and basically haven't got a clue where to start.

What kind of preparation is required before starting ?

Material to use ?

Tools required to replicate the typical Zimmerit 'look' ?

Technique/method used to apply the Zimmerit ?

I've looked in books and searched the internet for pictures to give me some indication as to how wide the Zimmerit pattern should be, other than trying to scale it from the pictures I have.

The other point that springs to mind is all the fastener holes on the hull would be plugged and obscured by the coating. Is this a thing that you just accept and hope that you will never need to gain access to a fastener ever again ?


regards,
Mike

Hi Mike

I was in your exact position in regards to my Panther and zimmerit awhile ago. I am by no means a modelling expert but here's my thoughts based on my own experience.

Preparation-same as if you were going to paint it.

Material- most people use a product called milliput or a two part epoxy putty for the zimmerit coating. For my Panther however, I ended up using a joint compound, the type used for dry walling, taping etc. (you can see and read more under the "Panther" section thread. (page 3 and 4 have pictures of zimm)
http://www.armortek.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... c&start=30

I tried samples of all the different materials on a board before I did my Tank and found the joint compound,for me, was the best look and easiest to work with. Durability is not as good as epoxy but I figured hey, the real stuff was knocked off too. So far, it's actually held up a lot better then I thought.

Tools-I would highly recommend Mike Stannards zimm tools. He sells three different sets that offer various zimmerit sizes. Worked really really well! You can find his contact info under the "crafstman" section of the forum. His tools come with technique/method for applying the zimm with his tools. The pattern in his example is perfect for a late Tiger.

I finished most surfaces before zimmerit so yes, fastener holes for the hull were covered and finished smooth befor applying zimm. Never to be seen again.

Hope this helps. I plan on zimmeriting my late Tiger as well and will use a slightly different pattern then on my Panther.

Can't wait to see your Tiger!

Kind regards
Tim