I have ben looking through my History of the 653rd Panzerjagers and I can't find out if the flat horizontal plate in front of the driver/radio operator's compartment was Zimm'd or not. The engine deck and the top of the gun compartment were not, but I am unsure on the front deck.

The Aberdeen Elefant has lost it's Zimmerit, so it will not help to look at it.

There was a picture that I saw of the top on an Elefant that was blown on it's side in Italy, Does anyone know the picture and tell if it shows the deck infront of the driver's compartment?

No pictures at hand, but I would bet that it was. I am building an elefant right now and I have zimmerit there, so I hope too.

I have seen so many models with zimmerit on that part. Also, look to other examples. Stugs had no zimmerit on roof, but they did have it on the bow and engine deck.

The surface being flat does not necessarly negate the use of zimmerit.

Jim D.;

Take a look at the Dragon Elefant w/ zimm kit (#6465). This kit portrays this icon with zim on the horizontal plate in front of the radio / driver compartment.

I am quite willing to trust Mr. Dragon and his research, in this case. The Elefants that survived their Russia debut as Ferdinands were shuffled back to, I believe, the Nibelungenwerke for some re-outfitting- including adding the bow MG and zimmerit. This factory zimm coat would likely have been consistent across all the re-fit vehicles in terms of where on the beast the zimm was applied.

So, I think that you are safe to assume that the plate in question was zimmed.

Cheers!

Bob

I am building that kit right now so I hope so too!





Anyways, I am most positive it would be. I would be shocked if it wasn't.

Well, I guess we can go with Zimmerit on that surface and let the bolt counters show the reference to disprove it.