Hi! I’m looking at a copy of a Squadron publication called Panther in Action that has a color illustration of a Panther Ausf G Berlin 1945. It looks to be panzer gray with dark brown camo markings. It also has the zimmermit coating, what looks to be a late G mantlet (has the chin at the bottom), and the gun cleaning tube mounted on the rear deck instead of the side. I really like doing German armour in the gray scheme - was there any Panther G’s with zimmermit actually done in this color scheme? I have other references for the Panther but this is the only one I’ve seen with this color scheme.
Charlie…(in regards to the paint job) This has been the subject of MANY heated and near violent dicussion on a number of websites… It has never been resolved with fact (documentation) that I know of. (call it a artistic interpretation if you will) If you want people to talk about your model then paint it gray but otherwise I would stick with a red brown primer or green base camo for late war rigs… But then again i am no expert so anyone with more information please step in I would love to hear what ya’ll have.
Zimmerit was halted before the late G was put into production… Like Claymore said below It could have been a mistake or possibly an earlier G model Panther with a replacement late mantlet but that doesn’t explain the camo…
your the artist, choose what you want to do, and who cares what other people say about it. its still a panther either way, just make your unique. if grey is what you want to do then go for it, follow your vision.
Tough question Charlie! The use of zim was stopped when vehicles were getting a 3 color scheme in 1944. The Panzer Grey/Dark Brown or Red Primer scheme (On a late G) would have been done at the end of the war due to paint shortages hence no factory zim.
It could be a crew applied paint job or the colors were inaccuratly geussed from a B/W photo. If there is a photo I would love to see it.
Hi! Thanks for all the help with the feedback! I guess my major issue is that I have already painted the undercarrage and the wheels panzer gray. The metal tracks are mounted as well and don’t cherish the thought of trying to paint the wheels with the tracks on. I’ve removed all the detail from the upper structure already and put on the zimmermit coating in anticipation of making it an “early G” - not the late one I origionally planned. The kit is the Tamiya Late G but the zimmermit mantle doesn’t have the late G chin. I’ve posted the question on that one before and was told that there were no late G’s with zimmermit so I changed my strategy. This build has been a real learning experience!
Charlie, The early G didn’t have the raised engine grille on the left side either. We’d all sure love to see some pics of this guy when you get a chance. It sounds like a cool build.
Thanks for the additional comments on my “project”. I’ve bit the bullet and gave up on the gray color scheme . - it’s now the good old 3 color camo that everyone loves and appreciates. I was careful not to mess up the tracks and painted the wheels with a circle template I bought at the local craft store. I did my best to get at the chassis behind the wheels and hopefully I got most of the gray. I haven’t made up my mind as to whether or not I will use the side skirts - hate to hide that great sag from the metal tracks!
Bill, I’ll try to get someone to take pictures of the finished product but I don’t have a digital camera so I’m at the mercy of my friends. It will probably take me a couple more weeks to finish it but I will try. I look at all the great stuff you guys put up here and hope that one day my skills will be close to being comparable.
I appreciate everyone’s comments on the build and thanks for not jumping on me for spelling zimmerit wrong - a friend of mine pointed out that there was no such thing as zimmermit!
Charlie,
that word, along w/ Shurtzen, Schurtzen, Skurtsen, Shutzen, etc (skirts)
is one that every one here should be used to ‘reading over’.
if it is spelled correctly 1 time in 5, it’s a miracle! [:D]
we try to worry abt the important stuff.
(like how many Shermans can dance on the head of a pin!) [:p]
I find it interesting that the Tamiya Panther G release includes PE zimmerit. I was under the impression that zim was long gone by the time the G with the chin mantlet was fielded.
Hi! I’m building the Tamiya late G kit with the Verlinden resin Zim kit. This whole mess started with the early G mantlet that comes in the Verlinden set. I think I’ve got it all ironed out now - I’ll be making it into the Early G model with this build stealing the correct parts from the Tamiya Early G kit (I have them both). Then, I’ll one day (not in the near future) attempt another one and use the Early G kit with the leftover Late G parts (chin mantlet and high radiator cover) to make a Late G. I promise all of you that I won’t use zimmerit or gray paint - it will be done by the book! Choices used in the 3 color camo could be interesting.
Chaz…I agree that you can paint your Panther any color scheme you choose. I personaly believe (whether right or wrong), that there probably was a prototype for any sort of paint scheme, zimmerit, etc. that you can think of…remember, thousands of Panthers were produced and only a handful have been photographed. True, the Germans tried to standardize paint schemes, colors, zimmerit application, etc…but there were also supply issues and armor was always coming back for repairs and these repairs were done with whatever happened to be available. Again I could be wrong though.
Cheers!
Again, thanks for all the time and effort sharing your knowledge with me. The build is going slower than my usual snail pace because I’m in the middle of selling my house back in NJ (I currently live in Ohio) and it’s taking up alot of my time. I’m taking a shot at using some photo etch on the chassis - last thing I did was put the hinges on the tops of the rear boxes - that was a ton of fun since I almost lost 2 of them due to “twizzer spring”. Thank God for the Maglite flashlight! Other than that, it’s moving along. Best of all, it’s been a learning experience. I’m glad you guys are here to help! I actually went out looking at digital cameras today - I may treat myself after the house closing somethime in August.
Hello All,
Was just wondering. If the Panther G late received no zimmerit, what about the G steel wheel version?
Also, what about the Tiger I late? Would it have had zimmerit or not?
Thanks to any and all who may be able to help.
Regards,
Joe
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