nightshiftmodeller
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Ah, zimmerit
🕑 Added 2019-11-12 21:28:57 +0000 UTCSo while I've been considering this Tiger as my next build, I took it out of the drawer to take a look at it, because it's been a while since I did what you see here. Before you ask about the heavy flaking, this is the Gruppe Fehrmann F13 which had most of the zimmerit coat fallen off :)
This is my first "serious" attempt at hand-made zimmerit. My previous 2 efforts date back to my early teenage years.
At the time I was stoked about the results, but now I know I'll have to remove most of the pattern and do it again. Luckily, I didn't finish the coating on the rest of the tank, only what you see on the picture.
The grey panel is a test piece where I tried different methods of application and texturing. The second one from the right is the one I was most happy with, but now I know it still needs some improvements.
My technique was rolling Tamiya Epoxy Putty into thin sheets (the very same process as rolling tarps) and after positioning them on the tank I just applied the pattern with Trumpeter zimmerit tool. Now the obvious flaw of this method was that in order to roll the putty, you must keep it covered in baby powder to prevent sticking. This makes it almost impossible to hold tight on the model and the whole technique is pretty much useless.
I decided to use this method because I wasn't able to spread the putty in thin enough layer over the model, hence why I decided to make these "pre-made" sheets. But looking back even they aren't thin enough in most places.
Where am I going with this? I'd like to give it another try on a scrap piece of styrene, you know, to really get a good hold on the technique before I perform it on the model. I'm thinking about doing a video about it, something along the lines of "My first attempts at zimmerit".
Also, no I won't build this model just now, first I want to build that Rutscher because I also need some practice with German camouflage (I've been building allied stuff for years lol).
And that leads me to the final point of this long post: I've already decided what the next few videos will be: How to make shell impacts, How to make bullet holes and then the Zimmerit video. I just need to make a few easy to produce short videos because my time is in very short supply these days. And while those videos will be airing on Youtube, I'll be working on the Rutscher and if everything goes well, the construction video will be out just before Christmas.
If you managed to read all the way down here, how does that sound to you? :) Also, do you have some cool zimmerit techniques of your own?
Comments
Night Shift
Roller tools wouldn't work at all, but I also have those saw tools. RFM adds them to their Tiger kits. These would work with regular Tamiya putty as well. Well since I have the tools, I'll try to get myself a tube of that Polyester putty and give it a try, because I've seen only good results with it.
Night Shift
Yeah, stickers, PE zimm and other gimmicks are sure great for fast and easy results, but they're not very realistic - too perfect, even and flat. The zimmerit you see on my Tiger was still quite thick and I didn't manage to get the pattern look just right and in scale. Plus the putty kept tearing off which resulted in those wavy lines. It's one of those techniques that requires practice on a piece of scrap, as there are so many variables that can affect the result.
Brett Barrow
I've only done one zimmerit job that I was even remotely happy with and it was with the old-formula Tamiya Polyester Putty (back when it came in a bigger tube and had a green hardener) and the Tamiya "saw-type" zimmerit tools. I don't know how the polyester putty would work with the roller-type zimm tools, it's very soft and sticky but when it's cured it chips off very easily to make damaged effects.
Fllipz
Actually, I think you've done a great job, especially on the right side panel of the Tiger. It look's very realistic. In the past I've only used the pre-made Tamiya zimmerit "stickers" and they are faaaar from looking realistic and also suck when it comes to cutting them out and sticking correctly. I've always wanted to try to make zimmerit myself so a tutorial would be very welcome. Shell impacts and bullet holes would be a great addition:)
