SimonT - Tamiya 1:35 Sturmmorser Tiger (AAGB)

[SimonT]

We shall see Paul

Well there has been some progress over the weekend
Freehand sketched some outlines for the zim to give me something to aim at


and on the front


then I went a zimming

references show the zim on these beasts tended to go right down the side panel under the track guards

takes a while to draw in all the lines but I have done it this way before and it usually looks ok with some paint on

Rear panel still needs to be done but there are quite a few bits to go avoid such as exhaust stacks etc so I shall go back to this later in the build




kit comes with a basic interior which will be good enough for the limited view through the roof hatch

floor and rear bulkhead installed - needed a bit of clamping to keep the hull in contact with the floor and bulkhead


final drive housings and suspension arms in place

test fit of upper hull and engine deck generally looks ok although there is a bit of a gap between the upper hull and the section of old turret ring at the front of the engine deck - need to check the pictures and see if that is intentional

there are also some rather large gaps under the front edges of the side sponson areas between the sponson floor and the upper hull - if these gaps were present on the real thing they would be nicely placed to let in lots of mud!

lifting hooks attached to upper hull corners and the large diagonal fillet plates added to the front end of the side panels


all the track links sawn from their sprues awaiting clean up and modification

I did find a very nice set of metal tracks on ebay c/w turned brass track pins with proper heads and retaining collars from R Model in China but at £40 a set I think that is a little OTT so will probably make do with updating these ones - will just take a while.....

[scottie3158]

Simon,
Lovely work on the Zimm. what did you use to melt in the impressions.

[minitnkr]

Zim came out great. PaulE

[SimonT]

2x Paul - thanks. Zim was done with my pyrogravure. Heats to around 130C and lets you draw in the plastic

[Steven000]

Nice progress Simon, like the zim-work :thumb2:

[Si Benson]

Evening Mr T,
looks like your on a roll and it’s flying together....oh tracks:tired:
Ever tried AFV club workable tracks? I just used a set for my tiger I build and found them easy to assemble.

Love the Zimm effect....does it gets smelly with all the melting plastic?

[SimonT]

Cheers Steven

Si - yes, tracks my nemesis. Not tried AFV ones yet. Done some Bronco workable, they drove me right round the bend and back again

No smell with the zim - it only melts, doesn’t burn

[Guest]

Evening Simon.
Front row please, I enjoyed building mine.
Looking fwd to this .

[Ian M]

I have not seen the zim done that way befor. Looks good and should look brilliant when painted and weathered.

[papa 695]

A great start Simon, and like the others have said great work on the zimm

[SimonT]

Morning John

Morning Ian x 2 - have done it this way before in the past and it usually looks ok. Because it is hand drawn you get a bit more raggedy finish than using such things as etch or resin sheets (that’s my excuse for not being able to draw straight)

[Guest]

I have not seen the zim done that way befor.

It’s the way many (especially British) modelling books and articles from the 1970s and 80s would recommend to make Zimmerit.

[Steve Jones]

Well I am disappointed Mr T. I send you the original recipe for Zim using glue,water and sawdust and then you cast it aside for a bit of melted plastic! LOL

Very effective Simon. I hope you didn't burn your fingers

[Jim R]

Hi Simon
That zimm does look good. I've not seen it done directly into the plastic. Usually some kind of putty is spread on and then the pattern impressed. Your melty method is effective.
Jim

[Mini Me]

I have also seen this done on a 1/72 scale tiger with Testors liquid cement and a very thin, narrow screwdriver. Very effective method if you can't afford one of those fancy wood burner rigs:smiling5:.
Cheers, Rick H.