I’ve decided to go the dry transfer route on my Panther, so I just ordered some MIG Productions dry transfers for German tactical numbers. (Wiking Panthers wore just white numbers in Spring 1944.)
Archer says that you can use a piece of sponge to press the dry transfer down over zimmerit to get good coverage. Is this true of all dry transfers? Anyone here ever used MIG transfers on zimm? If so, advice welcome.
Also, how do MIG transfers dry? Time only, or do you have to seal them on with a spray coat of lacquer?
I’ve used Verlinden dry-transfers on zimmerit. I rub them on with a blunt pencil, since the graphite acts as a lubricant and allows the pencil to burnish the transfer smoothly and it covers the backing paper so you can see if you have missed burnishing any spots. I then hit it with some decal solution and poke it down in the grooves with a “stubble brush” (one that is just stubble left). Seal them with a overcoat of your favorite finish.
I’ve used Verlinden and Archer products. On irregular surfaces I just burnish it enough (with a blunt round toothpick) to get it off the carrier then I gently press it down with a tissue. If it needs more convincing I get after it, carefully, with the toothpick.
How does graphite act as a lubricant? Only between the pencil tip and the backing paper, just so that the act of burnishing happens smoothly. Graphite is made up of microscopic, flat, tabular crystals. Oxygen atoms trapped between the crystals act as ball-bearings, allowing the flat crystals to slide past one another. This doesn’t work in a vacuum, since there isn’t any oxygen and the crystals stick together. Powdered graphite is used as a lock lubricant.