How essential is to have Zimmerit on an Ausf A? I'm building one, and this set looks really promising for this purpose. (Truth be told I don't think the interior/exterior sets are necessary... the model is extremely detailed as it is. Perhaps the pre-painted instrument panels and radios.)

Only a small number of early A's had no zimmerit, so unless you are modeling one of those specific vehicles you will need zimmerit.

The instrumentation looks solid, but I already paid $30 for the ATAK Zim with shipping from Poland.

Would the ATAK fit? (I don't like PE zim.)

It is new and specific to the TAKOM kit.

According to Eduard, they are available individually also so you should be able to get the dials alone.

According to Eduard, they are available individually also so you should be able to get the dials alone.[/quote] The interior set includes brass PE as well as the dials.

Holy Bright Brass Batman! My eyes! Geez that's a lot of PE for one kit! I understand that the Takom Panther is extremely well-detailed and while I think the world of Eduard I question the need for it here -especially for the exterior. Zimmerit -even from the factory- resulted in rough-coated surface that was specifically designed to resist magnetic and sticky mines from being attached to the tank, so something as flat and uniform as PE won't do the job properly or convincingly. It is sort of like PE aerials: kind of, well, flat. Interior details like gauges and ammo bins, on the other hand: do what makes you happy!