Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 12:27 AM UTC
One of the predominant topics on the various Armor Modeling forums covers the complex issue of Zimmerit. Now, news comes of a new initiative from Dragion Models
Zimmerit was a kind of paste or putty applied to the more vulnerable parts of an AFV. It was designed to stop magetic AT mines being thrown or stuck onto the vehicle.

Many modelers have their own particular favorite means of simulating it from the application of putty to using pre-sized sections of Zimmerit produced by several AfterMarket companies. This has also meant the creation of almost a 'sub-industry' by producing a variety of tools (including tiny rollers) to simulate the 'paste'.

Now however, after a number of impressive looking 'testbeds' in their 1/72nd scale range, DML have announced their first model with Zimmerit included in 1/35th scale:

DRA6303 - Sd.Kfz 182 Kingtiger (Henschel Turret) With Zimmerit

Initial information is sketchy, only a few images so far, but we've been promised more updates in the coming weeks...

Watch this space!
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Comments

I'm really excited about them trying this, and I will definitely buy one. I hope they do it right, and I'm not going to throw any barbs based on promotional shots. I'll wait until I see what the actual kit looks like.
AUG 22, 2007 - 08:01 AM
Don't rely on the Zimmerit featured on the Saumur vehicles, as that is a museum addition, and the patterns are not necessarily accurate (their Jagdpanther 's pattern was particularly fanciful). As for exact patterns, that appears to have been largely up to the factory crew assigned that day. Judging from photos (and the interview with Henshel's chief engineer published in "Tiger and Strumtiger in Detail"), the patterns on the side of Tiger II turrets was usually applied with a sheet metal comb, so the pattern might well be parallel to the bottom edge of the turret rather than the top. The turret front on the other hand, was usually patterned freehand using the trowel, as is evident in the 503rd Battalion's 233 photographed in Budapest shown in the thread above.
AUG 22, 2007 - 08:30 AM
I think it was there Herbert and it was seen by an over enthusiastic person in the art department as a blemish or something and used a bit of zimmerit image from elsewhere to cover it. Seems a little different pattern in that area to me. Wonder how they'll achieve the track hangers fitted to the turret sides, tiny pieces like that are not going to fix well to that uneven surface. Guess they'll mod the mould and make it small square flat areas to fasten them. Anyway I'm sure it will be sorted by the time it hits the streets. Alan
AUG 22, 2007 - 09:09 AM
The picture I showed is from the Bovington example - are you saying that this zimmerit is post-war?
AUG 22, 2007 - 10:51 AM
The picture I showed is from the Bovington example - are you saying that this zimmerit is post-war? [/quote] It's the Tiger-B with the simplified turret, right? The one they got recently. That Tiger-B had Zimmerit when it was captured.
AUG 22, 2007 - 05:23 PM
I've only found 2 pics on my HD that show the rear of the turret, and both show Zimmerit to follow the outer "vertical" side of the turret, as Catch22 indicated. I've got my books still packed away so I can't check those for further pics. 2 pics isn't much, but it at least says, it was done that way in those instances. BTW, the Bovington one is turret 104 right?
AUG 22, 2007 - 05:36 PM
I've only found 2 pics on my HD that show the rear of the turret, and both show Zimmerit to follow the outer "vertical" side of the turret, as Catch22 indicated. I've got my books still packed away so I can't check those for further pics. 2 pics isn't much, but it at least says, it was done that way in those instances. BTW, the Bovington one is turret 104 right?[/quote] Bovingtons p6b (not the Porsche) they started to display in 2006 is indeed 104 (SS 501st) captured August 1944 in France. Never believe anything you read.... Most references state 'Knocked out near Beauvais by Sergeant Roberts of A Squadron, 23rd Hussars.', whereas the British Army/Museum state 'On August 29 1944 it was in action with British Sherman tanks to the west of Magny-en-Vexin and after suffering track damage it left the road and limped into a beet field where it proceeded to shell a British-held farmhouse. However, after the driver made a violent swing and damaged the final drive, the crew bailed out, set off charges in an attempt to destroy the tank before capture, and fled. French Resistance Fighters subsequently killed two of the crew. Next upon the scene was a Sherman tank of A Squadron, 23rd Hussars, 11th Armoured Division and, on the principle of being safe rather than sorry, its commander, Sergeant Roberts, put a couple of rounds through the right side of the German tank to finish it off.' which do you believe? Strangely, although the zimmerit looks original (with battered sections, and completely bare areas) I have found a single reference suggesting that whilst in the British Armys care, the original zimmerit fell off, and was replaced with putty.
AUG 22, 2007 - 08:24 PM
That zimmerit looks good enough for me. This one will find its way into my stash
AUG 23, 2007 - 01:52 AM
Looks like a great kit, Dragon keeps turining them out. Can't wait to get my hands on this one.
SEP 01, 2007 - 09:54 AM
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