hey guys,
i have been on vacation the past week so now i am back and ready to start 2 new models: a 1/35 elephant and a 1/35 panther D, both by DML. anyway, i am trying to put zimmerit on the elephant and i am using testors contour putty but the stuff is so cakey and hardens so quickly i cant really get a good pattern going. i did a small spot and it looks alright but i know there is better stuff out there. please let me know what you guys use. thanks.
You need to talk to Moses. He just did a fantastic job on a Tiger I using Tamiya putty.
The thread to his Tiger build should be on one of the first couple of pages
Yes, Master Moda will answer all zim questions. For the record some members use Milliput, others still use Tamiya Poly Putty. I think Moses uses Tamiya.
I used squadron… I’ll be quiet now[;)]
I read (but haven’t tried…yet) in Kalbach’s Building German Armor that PowerPoxy is a good zimmerit medium. It is apparently available in Lowes/ Home Depot, takes 20 minutes or so to set and holds detail well. I keep meaning to go get some to try it, but I have been diagnosed with accute zimmeritaphobia
I think I recognize those symptoms…does it involve twitching, sudden shortness of breath, and random mutterings about waffles? [:D]
Check out the last few pages of the Stug GB that all we have been talking about
MMM…did somebody say waffles? [:p]
Those are the symptoms. There is also the blank staring, while holding a putty tube and knife. And now Tigerman has made my stomach rumble with all this waffle talk.
HA HA …Eric!
snif snif…
I use Squadron Green Putty. I apply a small blob and then wet it a bit with a brush of Testor’s liquid cement before tooling it. This has been my S.O.P. for decades.
There are 2 major factors that play into applying Zimmerit. For one, most modellers are afraid to try it and ruin a 40 dollar kit. Also, many feel they do not have the necessary toold to simulate it. My suggestion is to always practice on an old model or a piece of plastic card. As for the tools you will need. I highly recommend Tamiya’s Polyester Putty (man I sound like a broken record [8D]). It has the consistency of a filler putty, but the drying time of an epoxy. It spreads nice and thin and if you don’t likt it, you can take it off with no effect to the kit. Epoxy Putties like Milliput, Duro or A+B force you to score or sand the surface of teh model for better adhesion. You also need to use a copiuos amount of water to keep it workable and you need to think it out. To much trouble in my opinion. The next tool you will need is a rack to simulate the ridged pattern. I use Tamiya’s Zim tools with a large X-Acto Blade handle. It works great and I can Zim a whole model in about 1 1/2 of modelling time. If you can not find the Polyester Putty then I recommend Zim-it-rite. It is very much like the Polyester Putty and it can be ordered at www.rjproducts.com. Rich the owner is a great guy and will be more then happy to help you. You should be able to order the Tamiya Zim tool at any local hobby store that carries Tamiya products. That goes for the Polyester Putty as well. If you can’t get hold of the Zim tool, you could make your own from a razor saw. Here are 2 pics of some Zim work that was posted on these forums using the Polyester Putty and Tamiya Zim tool. Good luck trailer and if you have any questions or probs, please feel free to email me at justaskmoses@aol.com .
Man my zimm looks nothing like that. I guess because I used to flat wooden toothpicks superglued together(and to my finger) and sanded down. I’ll have to get pics of that model, its worse for wear now, been at my inlaws while I do some remodelling here. Maybe I’ll have them on tonight.