Hi folks. I've recently acquired an Academy Panzer IV H with side skirts. It was dirt cheap so I couldn't resist! Imagine how pleased I was to recognise an old friend, viz the Tamiya PIV from about 1976! I figured that with it being so cheap & old (like me) I would have a go at Zimmeriting (is there such a word?!) using the old putty method (up to now I've cheated & used on old Italaeri kit that had sheets of generic Zim in, but I think the pattern isn't really heavy enough). OK now for the question - do the tools & fittings like the air reservoir on hull side go on the tank first then Zimmerit round, or do you put the putty on first, then mount tools over the top? I'm toying with using a nit comb for the pattern, what do you reckon?

Hi Steve,

It's much easier to apply the putty in an even layer if you leave the tools, aircleaner etc off, and add them on top of the zimmerit afterwards.





I'm not sure it that will create the right pattern. Without going into the rivet counter debate of " the pattern was applied at such and such angle" , the pattern on the Pzr IV was not that regular. The bestway I found is to use a small (watchmakers) srewdriver or like. Just make the indentations, from the top down, in rows next to one and other.





Don't make the coating to heavy, if you compare to original photo's, the layer (texture, depth) could be very thin and only just add a small amount of texture.
I made the zimmerit on my first attempt (this Tiger I) far to thick



I'll see if I can find some more pic's that I have, but that'll be tonight after work.

Cheers
Henk

Thanks for the quick reply Henk. It's interesting what you say about the heaviness of the coating. It does seem to vary. Here's what the Italaeri effect produces. Are you saying that the pattern could be OK? If so that gives me something to aim at.

Steve,

The scale of that zimmerit is o.k., but the pattern is not very often used on the Pzr IV. According to this site (scroll down a bit) the pattern was used, but pattern no. 1 is more common..

Cheers
Henk