What is the best way to apply decals to a zimmerit coating? I will be using a Cavalier set for my Tamiya Tiger I. I made my own zimmerit for my Jagdpanther, but the decals didn't look good on it at all. Thaks for the help.

-Joe

Walthers Solveset

its strong so you have to apply in several light applications.. but it is the best in snugging down decals..

1/72 scale tiger.. I used Solveset on the decals..

Trim the decals as closely as possible. Use lots of repeated applications of Solvaset or Micro-Sol. Eventually they will suck themselves down into the contours.

Thanks. Is that something a local hobby shop should have or do I need to order online?

Most hobby shops have it.

Just a note..

I get mine from a local hobby shop, but the Hobbytown USA's in my area (2) don't carry it..

Decals over zimm? Blah!

I'd recommend using a stencil and spraying markings (for all the larger markings - numbers and crosses, etc. - to which this discussion properly focuses on).

Wherever I can, I mask and spray on insignia and numbers. This is the most appropriate approach for such applied over zimmerit, for this is how the real markings were mostly applied.

To me, the problem of applying decals over zimm is more than just the mechanical issues of getting decals to snug into the zimm, which have been well-addressed in above posts IMO. It's a matter of distortion of length vrs width in markings caused by applying a flat film over a topography...

Zimm is a "3-dimensional" surface with hills and valleys. Think of the hills and valleys on a topographic map vrs the real area surface. The larger or higher the hills you go over, the further you walked to go the map "straight-line" distance.

For 1/72, the scale or size of the zimm hills and valleys relative to the thickness of the decal is pretty small - so the decal can set pretty well onto this surface and not be very distorted by "folding" into and filling zimm grooves. For larger scales - 1/48 and more so 1/35 - the zimm hills and valleys are much larger relative to the decal film thickness, and the decal starts to "fit" more the surface of the zimm. In effect, you walk down into valleys and up those hills, rather than from hill - top to hill - top.

So, paradoxically, larger - scale zimm allows better decal-set per the routes described, but yields more-distorted markings. (It may be instructive to carefully measure your decal marking while on its paper-backing, and then measure the same decal marking once applied, to see this effect).

So, I spray them on. It's really very easy, and I get to skip messing around with decal-set issues and application of solutions, carefully and closely-trimming decals, possibly needing a "future" patch, risk of silvering, etc. And the stenciled markings don't distort or re-size over zimm!

IF a real marking was brushed on, it would not generally fill in to the troughs or cuts/valleys in the zimm. And some markings were apparently brushed on - with or without using a stencil. So use the stencil, brush it on and get that true brushed-on effect!

Just my opine and a suggestion, folks!

Bob

i've sprayed vinegar on decals in the past with great results, and is cheaper than all the lhs brands for doing the same thing.

but i do agree with bob on stencils for zimmerit, easier in the long run and much more original looking.

reb