I would like to know what the Zimmerite pattern was for the Panzer IV J's in normandy. Does anyone actually know what the true size of the pattern was? I heard that the actual pattern width was only 6 inches wide, is this true?

Hey Wolf,
Hope this model is as good as the posts....lol
Look forward to seeing a future review by you on this site. (maybe crediting the others on armorama.com) lol
Seriously though, will look for the info stand-by!!!!!!

Mate,
Try the following areas:
http://204.50.25.179/features00/pzivhiw_1.htm
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pz3.htm#panzer4
http://www.hobbymex.com/feedback/tips/ZIMMERIT2.htm Look at pattern 1 for the Pzkpfw IV

Güten tag, Herr Hauptmann. I built my Panzer IV/H and J using the product from Cavalier. You should look at this as even if you make your own zimmerite, the Cavalier product is a good guide as to how the pattern should look. I like doing mine myself but these sets help educate the uninitiated. Also here is a link
http://www.track-link.net/articles/15
und
http://www.panzerdiesel.com/data/e/270.html
the Cav. set also includes a handt tool to make the ridges. Just relax and don't expect too much first time out. Its easier with each one.

There is this link as well,
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~firestorm1/How%20To/zimmerit.htm

A lot of the Zimmerit late in the war was either applied in the field or not at all The best bet is to use the cavlier set.

As C/S Barron said most was applied in the field by the crews of the vehicles however in Normandy nearly all tanks had Zimmerit applied, it all depends on what stage of the campaign you are planning to model as the few replacment vehicles that did get to the front probably did not have it applied as there was no time to do this sort of prepareation before going into battle.

Russ

Actually, that's not correct. There is not much evidence for zim being applied in the field. There are some wierd patterns and cases where schurzen had zim on them, and those may have been field applied, but the majority of zim applications were in the factory. There are factory photos of unfinished vehicles with zim. The order to use zim came out in 1943, so virtually all Pz IV H have zim on them. There are different patterns on different types of vehicles. Most pzIV had horizontal ridges arranged in vertical columns on all non-horizontal surfaces (the Ridged pattern). Over on Track-Link Paul Owen has a great article to look at:

http://www.track-link.net/articles/15

There is a lot more detail there and at other spots on the web.

A very similar article was published in FSM about a year or so ago (and used to be on Tamiya's web site).

I've seen original zim remaining on the armor at Camp Borden. It is very thinly applied, with the ridges closely spaced. The ridges 'stick-out' from the armor at most about 5mm. Each ridge is a few inches long, and about 2-4cm top to bottom.

I've done zim a couple of times using Tamiya putty on a Brummbar and Stug IV. It's boring, but easy once you get some practice in! Kind of like building individual track-links.

Cheers
Andy

Actually, that's not correct. There is not much evidence for zim being applied in the field. There are some wierd patterns and cases where schurzen had zim on them, and those may have been field applied, but the majority of zim applications were in the factory. There are factory photos of unfinished vehicles with zim. The order to use zim came out in 1943, so virtually all Pz IV H have zim on them. There are different patterns on different types of vehicles. Most pzIV had horizontal ridges arranged in vertical columns on all non-horizontal surfaces (the Ridged pattern).

herberta is 100% correct by 1943 ALL zimmerite was factory applied. Reserve units produced prior to the general order PZIII,PZIV, or captured tanks might have field applied zim. This was rare on the western front. Zimmerite was used because Germany feared that Russia had developed magnetic mines.

"just my 3 cents" inflation and all.