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Armor/AFV: Axis - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Axis forces during World War II.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Marking options for Panther A late w/o zimm
thewrongguy
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: October 17, 2002
KitMaker: 448 posts
Armorama: 306 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 07:35 AM UTC
Hi all,

I don't know a whole lot about German armour as I usually stick with Allied equipment, but I received a DML 6358 Panther A late for Christmas and can't wait to take a crack at it.

I don't know much about Panthers in general but I thought the panther A's almost exclusively had zimmerit. Can anyone think of any aftermarket marking options for the A without zimmerit? I'd prefer western front if possible.

Thank you very much for your time.

Jeff
spitfire303
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Vendee, France
Joined: December 22, 2006
KitMaker: 1,437 posts
Armorama: 1,406 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 08:37 AM UTC
I've never seen a picture or heard about a late Panther A without zimmerit. All I've heard is that few vehicles (like 2-5), the first (early) A were delivered two the front without the zimmerit as it was not yet available.

spit
Rouse713
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Wisconsin, United States
Joined: February 03, 2009
KitMaker: 367 posts
Armorama: 326 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 10:48 AM UTC
I would really try to do zimmerit on this kit. The price is so nice (I got another one for about $35). Metal barrel, metal skirt, magic track, etc... enough said.


Given that, the zimmerit required (square pattern) is easy to do.Before you start building, spread putty around all applicable surfaces. Do this in sections at a time.

1) spread the putty on a managable area (1 min total time)
2) use a rough grit sandpaper and sand the zimmerit so it is generally the same thickness(2 min total time)
3) while the putty is still wet is still a little wet, score the grid pattern into the surface with lines from an exacto blade(5 min total time)

If you do the scoring while it is still a little wet, the putty should "shrink" and the cubes will have some definition.


Very easy to do. It won't take long and more importantly, it will be accurate.


GeraldOwens
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Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
Armorama: 3,697 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 01:54 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi all,

I don't know a whole lot about German armour as I usually stick with Allied equipment, but I received a DML 6358 Panther A late for Christmas and can't wait to take a crack at it.

I don't know much about Panthers in general but I thought the panther A's almost exclusively had zimmerit. Can anyone think of any aftermarket marking options for the A without zimmerit? I'd prefer western front if possible.

Thank you very much for your time.

Jeff

A few Panther A models were delivered without Zimmerit because at least one factory did not receive the putty until October, 1944, two months after the Zimmerit program was supposed to have begun. However, these tanks all had the early, letterbox-style hull machine gun port, not the ball mount. If you have a late Ausf. A, it should have Zimmerit. The square pattern is quite easy to duplicate using ordinary body putty and an X-acto knife (the more complex grooved patterns are best done with epoxy putty).
vanhall
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Groningen, Netherlands
Joined: January 23, 2007
KitMaker: 406 posts
Armorama: 391 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 26, 2010 - 08:51 PM UTC
If you don't fancy puttying the the zim. The easy option would be a zim set from ATAK-model.
http://atakmodel.istore.pl/en/authorization/index

For Dragons Late A there's Atak 35019:



or Atak 35021; which has a slighty different turret pattern:

TonyDz
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United States
Joined: December 13, 2009
KitMaker: 420 posts
Armorama: 419 posts
Posted: Monday, December 27, 2010 - 12:44 AM UTC

Quoted Text

A few Panther A models were delivered without Zimmerit because at least one factory did not receive the putty until October, 1944, two months after the Zimmerit program was supposed to have begun


That would be a real trick since they stoped using it in Sept. 1944.
thewrongguy
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: October 17, 2002
KitMaker: 448 posts
Armorama: 306 posts
Posted: Monday, December 27, 2010 - 03:38 AM UTC
I looked into resin zimmerit a little bit last night. One question that comes to mind is applying it to the turret. The turret zimmerit seems to be one piece, does the material have some give to it so it can follow the contours of the turret?

Thanks,

Jeff
Biggles2
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: January 01, 2004
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Posted: Monday, December 27, 2010 - 08:39 AM UTC
These resin zimmerits by Atak and Cavalier, etc. are of a very pliable material and very thin so they are easily shaped around curves.
GeraldOwens
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Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 27, 2010 - 09:15 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

A few Panther A models were delivered without Zimmerit because at least one factory did not receive the putty until October, 1944, two months after the Zimmerit program was supposed to have begun


That would be a real trick since they stoped using it in Sept. 1944.

Aarg, the curse of fat fingers. That should have been October 1943.
vanhall
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Groningen, Netherlands
Joined: January 23, 2007
KitMaker: 406 posts
Armorama: 391 posts
Posted: Monday, December 27, 2010 - 10:43 AM UTC
Hi ,
As Biggles2 says; the resin sheets in these sets are very thin and pliable.
I've never had a problem fitting them around curves/bends etc.

Just to give you an idea how they look: (on a Panther G)


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