I decided to use a scrap model piece, this seemed the place most knowledgable about zimmerit, heh, didnt think the scifi kids would know. I did it with my soldering iron, with the smallest tip I have (the hot knife attachment doesnt work anymore, I lost the screw that holds it in…) 
I dunno, if I’d ever trust myself to melt lines into my models, but maybe someday when my hands steady 
Which areas were your first tries and where was your last try? that would give us more to talk about because there is a difference from left to right.
Also, no matter how good or bad something looks, it might be good to try painting it like you would on a finished project to see how it would really turn out.
That being said, the lines are a bit wavy when looking close up on the left, and far apart on the right.
Another thing that I read somewhere was that zimmermit was an add on to the outside of a tank, not a modification to the metal. That’s why I prefer the added-on zimmerit methods–putting a thin layer of putty that can be reshaped if a line got misplaced seemed well worth the time and effort.
Funny trivia about zimmerit is that it was useless except if the Germans had to deal with their own mines since the Allies didn’t use magnetic mines
That is funny. I started on the right and went ot the left. The problem with the zimmerit for this is it isnt a tank kit. Its for a Hguc Dom tropen. And all I could find online were zimmerit made for certain tanks. No just sheets of it to put on, which would be cool.
I’m thinking of attaching strips of plastic from the vacuform leftovers from my mini-art kit and puting the zimmerit on them and putting them on the kit.
Cavalier make “generic” sheets of Zimm which can be cut to fit any model.
CV118 Generic Standard Pattern
CV119 Generic Horizontal Pattern
CV120 Generic Tile Pattern
CV121 Generic Waffle Iron Pattern
I had read somewhere that the reason the application of zimmerit was discontinued by the Germans was that it was flamable.
A credible effort. To me, it looks a bit thick. Our resident zimmerit guru Crockett, uses the same approach and does an amazing job. Let’s see if he will chime in to add some pointers for you.
That is an urban legend from WW2…there were reports from the field that tanks would burn after being hit…noone thought it might be the gasoline…it was looked into and disproven…The reason it was discontinued was that the Germans all but suspended offensive operations late in the war and also because of the fact that the Allies used far less magnetic mines than the Germans believed…the scare for the Germans came at Kursk when several tanks were destroyed by mag mines…a lot of refs indicate that these may have beeen CAPTURED German stocks used by the Russkies…In most armies, if you have a specific weapon, you presume your opponenet has a version as well…
[quote user=“Manstein’s revenge”]
For years, I thought the reason its application was terminated was due to lack of raw materials, production man hours required to apply, and the increased demand on production output. That was until I read that thing about the flamability issue in “Germany’s Panther Tank, Quest For Combat Superiority” by T. Jentz. He says that the decision to end application was based on rumors that it was flamable. It doesn’t say that it was flamable only that the decision was made upon rumors that it was. He also states that production application was ended by mid-Sept,44. That’s about the only reference material I have on zimmerit. I’ve several pics of hits on T1’s and T2’s w/zimmerit and none look, to me, as if any of the hits caused a major fire.
Thanks for bringing up the magnetic mine point. I’ve always assumed, out of ignorance, that Soviet forces had made extensive use of them, hence the reason for the zimmerit in the first place. It makes sense to me the decision would have been based on what you have stated. As for me, I don’t know, I wasn’t there, It wasn’t my decision, and I just thought that the IDEA of covering an armored vehicle with a paste that you are not sure if it’s flamable or not, was kinda funny. I would have thought that it might have possibly been, maybe like a, tested first. I plead the 5th. Sorry about the way the quote looks.(I’ve tried fizing it, hicup!)
Hey Smeagol,
Please post a pic of the kit. I tried that soldering iron thing once and terrified myself. Does the soldering iron your using have a heat control? If so the only suggestion I could give is maybe to try it at the lowest possible setting and practice, practice, practice, until your comfortable you can get consistant results, then try it. I still have nightmares of that charred tank hull, sort of reminds me of that marshmellow I caught on fire at camp, it was stringing all over[BH]. IMHO the Cavalier generic sheet or a troweled putty would be my approach to zimmerit, not that the results would be better, it’s just because I’m not that confident in my abilities with a soldering iron. Heck, I question all of my modeling abilities. I’ve seen spectacular builds using that method, but like I said it scares me so I’ve never tried again. [2c]HTH Keep posting Progress Reports…
Best Regards,
I found an old school hot knife at a yard sale a couple years ago and in the kit it had about 6 different styles of tips.
one in particuler ( and being the reason I bought the thing) was a tip that could be used to burn Zimmerit in to a tank body.
It was 1/4" X 3/8" or so and mad of brass.
It has a perfect pattern for zimmerit.
I suppose you might be able to find a set like this at your LHS or craft store.
As for me, I like the putty and stamp/ scrap methods myself.
I have been able to show the warn, chipped and broken effect with it.
Hard to do with burning it in.
Good luck.
Okay I’m not a armor guy, and have no idea what zimmerit is. But looking at the pic in the first post, if I wanted to create that look and make it an add on part…I’d pound a small diameter solder flat-ish with a hammer then use a piece of brass tubing to distress the lead solder in whatever pattern I was looking for. The just glue the solder to body and then paint as normal. In scale auto we use this method to make weld seams on an old hot rod or something like that.
So…what the [censored] is zimmerit?
If you read the posts you would know what it is. Read up. Also Im not using solder itself, just the hot iron.
no, there is no heat controll, just one setting, hot. I draw an outline and do it quickly, I dont let it sit on the piece so that it doesnt melt it enough to string.
After I do the whole pattern I hit it with a light sanding to smooth it out.
After THAT I took a dremel to it, with a grindng attachment, to points to show damage to it. Pics when paint dries
Makes me want to build a gundam with Zimmerit on it now.[:)]
From the posts I gather it is a non-magnetic material added to the outside of tanks- what is it made of?
I thought of the lead solder because someone said that zimmerit was material added to the outside of tanks, not a modification to the metal. Pounded thin, the solder would be easily cut to any size, and you could etch any pattern into it you wanted to. It would be a bit heavy perhaps. But then again so would be a coat of bondo all over the outside, no?
After a Google search of tanks with zimmerit, I don’t believe your hot iron method captures the look you’re trying for.
The soldering technique is fairly simple, but you have to play by the rules. The first rule is NEVER use over 15W. Some guns have settings (15W-30W). 30W will “melt” and string styrene.
THe next rule is to use the smallest conical tip available. Amd, rule number three, ALWAYS mark the pattern on the model with a rule and pencil before you begin.
A 15W iron:
Mark your lines, (at scale, space them 2-3mm apart):
Use a “drawing” motion, similar to brush painting:
When you’re done…you get this:
For the vertical squarebox pattern used on the Panther, I used a modified exacto blade:
Note the reverse relief areas on the mantlet and slope to replicate “chipping”:
And:
As you can see, the hot knife can produce realistic zimmerit coating. It is fun to do, very forgiving, and cheap.
regards,
Steve
Steve, Those pieces with you “ZIMM” technique are fantastic… no, superb… What I mean to say is that they are works of art on a plastic canvas.
That’s it… I’m so inspired now, that as soon as I get a summer job, I’ll pick up a cheap German tank and try making Zimmeritt on it! [:D]
Hello Everyone,
That truely is outstanding work, crockett! If my one and only attempt would have turned out half as nice as that, I would never have tried alternative methods. WOW, I mean DOUBLE WOW. I kinda figured the problem I had had when I did attempt it was the iron I was using was too hot. What I really like most about the results you have achieved is that the verticle guides are drawn on to the model. And the most important thing is that it looks fun. For me when I do the zimmerit with putty, I’ve always had trouble keeping it thin and keeping the pattern in line, which usually results in going over the same area a couple of times. It appears to me there is no need for any masking and relatively little clean up. that would save a lot of time. I’ll definately give this tech. another go, with my brand new 15 WATT iron. Man, that makes me want to bust out the Tamiya Tiger II that’s settin in the stash and have a go at it, Right Now!
Thanks for posting Steve,
Hey smeagol,
I think your idea of applying zimm to your “MechWarrior”(Old School) is a very cool idea. Back in the day, myself and a couple of freinds scratch built our mechs out of the spare parts box. I always seemed to have the most spare parts.[:-^] The aircraft parts always worked out pretty neat on those things. I really would like to see the completed project. What, if any, camo pattern were you planning? Thanks for bringing up this subject. Keep posting.
Best Regards,
Well I stand corrected and humbled. Crockett that is truly inspired work. Just beautiful.
It didnt come out perfect, or great. But its acceptable. The pics are really close up, its alot smaller then it seems. As far as the chips on mine, I just took my dremel to it.
Hey smeagol,
Me again,
I think that looks great. It turned out alot better than my first attempt. Before long you’ll be doing a tutorial on how to use the iron. I think it would look awesome in a camo pattern, Lots of possiblities.
Keep posting,
Best Regards,