I am going to be using Tamiya’s Polyester Putty to do my zimmerit, along with the Tamiya Zimmerit tools. Has anyone used this method? I am specifically wondering how much of the putty and how much of the hardener to use…what ratio?
I just started useing it myself and I love it. The ratio I use is a quarter amount of hardner (green)to what ever amount of putty you are using, also you can go abit less on the hardner for more work time.
Hey ho, Chester. A bunch of us have done it that way. The standard ratio is to use a string of the hardener the same length as the one of putty you use and mix them together thoroughly. I found that I could get a little more work time (not much) by mixing a little less hardener in it. Don’t mix up very much at one time. It sets up pretty fast! I haven’t seen it in writing, but I think the color of the cap on the putty is what you’re supposed to be aiming for. Like I said, I found it a little easier to go with less hardener than that. I never had any trouble with it not setting up doing it that way.
One suggestion that was made to me when I was doing it was to buy a tube of Bondo hardener from the auto store. I did that, it was pretty cheep. (If you’re interested, I’ll look up the exact name when I get home tonight.) It’s red, rather than green, but the set up time seems to be much longer. I used it on only the last part of my Panther, so I really didn’t have much experimentation with it. I don’t think I mixed quite enough in as it really did take a long time to harden. I wasn’t sure it was going to, but it eventually did.
One thing, make sure you clean your tools up as soon as you can after you finish. I found lacquer thinner to do a bang up job of cleaning them. (Be careful with it around anything plastic, though. Lacquer thinner will melt plastic in a heartbeat!
Good luck. Post more questions, if you have them. And keep us posted on your progress.
ahhhhh a light, a light…must move toward the light…a zimmerite thread…well at least not a train.
chestor thankyou for posting your question. some others have the daunting task of doing zimmerit in our near future and maybe this thread will enlighten us.
sorry for the interuption, please continue with the great advice. but speak slowely i cant write it down as you type it.
joe
What??? I suppose you want a zimmerit tutorial now?? Huh?? Is that it??
Where’s Moses when you need him!
why bill that is exactly what i would like to request. and while i am at it could someone come to my home and do it for me. i mean after all a request for help you know.
hahahahaha
joe
Okay, for the benefit of those who want to test the murky waters of applying zimmerit… and since Moses is busy with the family, let me recommend a compound called “Zimm-It-Rite”, by R&J Products. I’ve used it on my 1/16 Tiger and am in the process of applying it to my 1/15 Stug. A $10 amount easily finished the Tiger and I’m still using what’s left on the Stug. It’s water soluble until cured, non-toxic, and gives you plenty of working time.
Okieboy