Hi Everyone

Does anyone know what Zimmerit pattern used on Panther A fighting in early 1944 Italy?

I found a number of vertical columns of horizontal ridges.

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missinglynx/panther-number-two-t289057-s10.html#p1516119

Does anyone know if they ever used "waffle" pattern applied by Daimler facility?

James L.;

Probably the surest way to get a real and verifiable answer to your Q is to search pics of Panthers in Italy.

Panthers came from multiple assembly plants, and, unless all of the Panthers seen in any given time-period came from only one plant, likely there could have been examples with different zimm patterns. It seems more likely that the earlier one goes in Panther-in-Italy history, the more likely it is to get exactly one zimm pattern for all present in theater.

But bear in mind other complications to the question: Were all Panthers in Italy shipped as "new"? If not, then they could have arrived from other units wearing some different zimm pattern. Were any of the Panthers in Italy "refurbs" - such as survivors of some action sent to Nibelungenwerke for rebuilding (and zimm application)? Recall that Panther A only started coming off the line in Aug 1943... But any recovered damaged Panther A sent there in later 1943 could have gone on to Italy after refurbishment. In which case, it would wear the "Nibelungenwerke" "patterns".

Note that the Panther was present in central and southern Italy from early 1944 (Pz. Regt 4) - from Jan '44 - with a mix of D (refurbed) and A (some newer, some refurbs). First Allied "Panther kill" by a tank only in May 1944. So probably almost all pics claiming Panthers in Italy were 1944+ pics.

Just food for thought! I suggest go search for Panther in Italy pics and study the apparent zimm patterns.

Cheers! Bob

The most common Panthers (Pz Reg 4) were early models (with the letterbox hull mg flap), and small square pattern zimm.





This is fairly easy to make yourself.

Echelon details makes a nice decal set for these.

The zimmerit pattern was unique to each factory. Each one applied it differently. Theater of operation had nothing to do with the pattern.

The tanks in the above pictures were both produced by M.A.N.

Mark,

Pz Reg 4 was the only unit with Panthers in Italy. Most of these had the small square pattern, which according to "Panther: external appearance and design changes", was used by Daimler-Benz and M.N.H.

Many thanks Marc, I did not know the 2nd photo in your post is for a Panther in Italy. I came across the same photo in Pinterest, but the photo was incorrectly captioned as in Western Europe!

There are quite a few incorrectly labeled pics on Pinterest. It's not really a historical site.

Go here and poke around. There are 3 albums of Panther picts. Most are labeled and there are some from Italy.

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/germany/tanks-2-3/

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/germany/tanks-2-3/panther-panzer/panther-and-panzersoldat-italy-2/

James,

I did the zimm with Mori Mori putty (availble from Amazon), and these two tools.


For the D-B, M.N.H pattern, the ridges should be 2,5 mm apart.

Here's one I did with the M.A.N. pattern.

Yup I figured it out, after cross-checking with photos provided in Axishistory forum.

Thanks heaps! Marc. i would try my best to keep the ridge "2.5mm apart"!

I did the zimm with Mori Mori putty (availble from Amazon), and these two tools.

Do you have a link on Amazon for Mori putty? a quick search didn't turn it up.

Thanks

You're welcome.
I used the information from the Osprey "Modelling the Panther tank" book.

The rake really makes it much easier.


It's 4 x 1 cm, but you should just make it a size that's comfortable to use.
It's basicaly a plastic strip with ledges glued to it. The dressmaker pins are superglued to the plastic and then two part epoxy putty is added for strenght. Only important part is to position the pins evenly.

Enjoy your project.

Superb!! mate. Sharing is caring!!!