Tiger I late version without zimmerit?

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Gentlemen,
I’m starting to build my Tiger I Ausf. E late version (steel wheels,Tamiya kit). I’m wondering if there was actually any known tank of that version without the zimmerit coating…
Can you help me please?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Luciano Bassotti

2

I don’t thnk so. They started production of the late Tigers after zimm was being applied, and they ceased production of the late Tigers before they ceased application of zimm. Sorry.

3

what larry said…

4

Give the ZIm a try Luciano or use Atak or Cavalier Zim. Cavalier makes an excellent Resin Zim for the Late Tiger I.

Cheers

Mo

5

I saw an article in Military In Scale and they used the Atak zimmerit. It looked quite convincing.

6

I ordered Eduard Zim for that same kit (Tamiya Tiger I Late). How does the Eduard stack up, anybody know?

7

Thank you very much for your info’s.

…I returned to model kits after about 10 years… there’s a lot of new stuff now.
…I feared the reprodution with putty … but the resin zimm seems to be a great chance indeed.

Luciano

8

Luciano,
welcome to the forums!

i have seen the Cavalier resin Zim (for the Stug waffle pattern) and it looked great.
the sheets were very flexible, not at all what i was expecting.
i had thought they would be thin, stiff & brittle, instead they were thin and floppy.
they looked easy to work with.

Ridleusmc - i have built the Tamiya Panther w/ the Eduard (PE) Zim included.
it looks good. i had a bit of trouble getting big sections on straight
(at least on the first try)
but it went pretty well.
you will need to use putty here & there to hide joints where sheets meet,
but no big deal.
one problem i had was putting CA fingerprints on the pattern while getting the piece on.
but i was able to pick out the CA w/ the back of a hobby blade & pin.

one thing to look out for is in the painting stage.
the texture of the Zim will prevent the paint from ‘flowing out’.
so you have to be extra careful to build the color up evenly.
i quickly learned that you can ‘flood’ the ridges if you airbrush too heavily in one spot.
once again, a pin or the back of a hobby blade will clean out the valley and hide the error.

good luck.

9

I highly recommend Resin Zim over Photetch. Photoetch Zim is to uniform IMO and you will need to really work it with thinned down liquid cement and filler putty to give it texture as well as fill all the seam lines.

If you use Resin Zim, I highly recommend positioning it with 2 part epoxy glue rather then CA glue. This will allow you more working time to position the Zim correctly.

Cheers

Mo

10

[#ditto] I agree with moses on the 2 part epoxy. I use the 5 min. type and it gives me plenty of time to position the Cavalier zimmerite when I use "store bought " zimm instead of just putty. Good luck.

11

I agree, PE looks too phoney IMO. I’ve seen a few resins and they look far more convincing.

12

I’ll keep resin in mind for upcoming projects, but unfortunately I’ve already ordered the photo etch. I ordered it friday the 24th, and it’s still not here. Squadron has always been quick in the past, but this time they’re taking forever.

13

I guess time isn’t really a factor. The Tiger GB doesn’t start till Dec.

14

Thanks again to all.

I found some photos related to tigers of end-war period (spring 1945); all the subjects are part of two units: Schwere Panzer-Kompanie Kummel and Tiger-Gruppe Fhermann; almost all seem to be exemplars of an “hybrid” version, too numerous to be simply an exception: stell whells and no filters like the late version, but with the first production turret and cilindric cupola, all without zimmerit; these tanks seem to be early production stuff rebulild by manteinance personnel with items of the last production standard…

I’m strongly seduced to reproduce this “hybrid” version, maybe using an early version turret from a cheap kit (Italeri?)…

What do you think about???

P.S. Is Italeri kit compatible with Tamiya one?

Regards,
Luciano

15

…about Tamya kit for Ausf. E late production…

Two version are provided: late and final production, which differ from each other for the different gun barrel and some slight particulars in the turret.

…now the PROBLEM: there’s no indication about which decals and markings are referred to the two different versions; two set of decals seem to be referred to a paint scheme which in the drawings provided seems plane (without zimmerit… a simple omission or not?) but again no indication about the specific version (late or final production)

…suggestions?

Again, thanks.
Luciano

16

I’ve never tried aftermarket zim, just use squadron white putty with tamiya zim tools and tamiya extra thin cement. It’s tough and paintstaking, but it works pretty good…

17

if you look hard enough you will find some tiger tank unit pics with out zim.like someone already mentioned the i d #s will have to be researched for authentisity.i thought ive read anti mag coating was discontinued in late 44/early to mid 45?please if anyone knows for a fact i`de like to be schooled right…brian