Under construction

[Geek44]

Yes they do. I'm pretty sure Tamiya has one.

[McCoy]

Tamiya sells their PE blades, Lion Roar n' AFV Club have their roller plus Mig's n' Firestorms waffle zimmerit stamps in resin.

[lufttiger]

I would love that roller type, mine was a stamp made out of metal.

[Whiterook]

The blades sound difficult to use. The stamp sounds like it could be messy. The roller (as Goldielocks said) sounds JUST Riiiiight! You lads care to do a thread sometime with explainations, demonstration pics???? Hmmmmmmmm, wink wink nudge nudge!!!!????

[Geek44]

The one time I tried my own zimmerit I used Milliput two part putty and sculpted the pattern with a screwdriver blade dipped in water occasionally. I'd do it this way again except that I'd apply the Milliput differently. Next time, I'll roll it out like dough to get a consisitent thickness.

[Lemm]

Hi Guys,

Nice job LT and I like the brown...as you said anything goes with German late war camo patterns and colours. They mixed their paint with whatever was handy so of course you are going to get various tones of paint. Nice job of zim as well. I am still doing my Elefant and I have been doing zim on it with Milliput and a blade tool that came with a PE set for the Elefant. I like that tip you just posted G44 as I am having trouble with thickness....rolling it like dough then applying sounds like a good idea. Thanks mate.
Did anybody miss me/...........

Phil

[Geek44]

Absolutely we missed you Phil. Wasn't the same without ya mate.
I zimmed Tamiya's Jpz. IV L/70. Not a bad kit and I'll build one again...it's one of my favourite German AFVs. The Milliput went on okay but as you say, the thickness varied. At the time I was happy enough but I've pearned in the meantime. You can roll your Milliput to the desired thickness just like biscuit dough. You can also use talcum powder (or indeed flour) to prevent it sticking to your 'rolling pin' too.
BTW, what Elefant kit are you working on and how good is it? I've been collecting bits and bobs for one for a while now. I have two aftermarket PE sets and Friumodel tracks for an Elefant...I believe Dragon has one and I'm very interested in that...but I'm also open minded.
Peace.

[Lemm]

Due to changing aspects of my life during the last two months or so I have done very little with the Elefant. Its a Dragon Kit No.6126. To be honest I have always prefered Tamiya kits because I am a lousy model maker. When I buy a kit I want it all to fit and fit well but as you know that is not always the case with some kits where as Tamiya mostly seem to go together well. I guess thats why I like tanks because you can always disguise inability with mud and whatever takes your fancy. That said....the Dragon Elefant goes together pretty good but I am having a hell of a time with the tracks. I dont use much in the way of after market items (I like to keep the hobby cheap) so I go with the tracks provided and normally Dragon tracks on Stugs and PZ IVs go together well and I can make a complete run before putting the tracks on to dry in place. The Elefant tracks are a bugger and I have been forced to do small runs, glue them in and let them dry. I bloody hate it. If you already after after market tracks then the kit shouldnt be a problem.
Thanks for the tip with the zim and milliput.....I will most certainly try it.

Phil

[Geek44]

Mate...I love a Tamiya kit as well but if they make an Elefant I'm unaware. Having said that...I LOVE Dragon armour kits even more. I've found that the fit is comparable to Tamiya but the parts count is much higher and I believe that the model you get at the end is a better representation of the real thing in terms of shape and 'sit'. Many people however, aren't interested in working on the same project for six months as Dragon kits are more labour intensive I think. Man...I've tried individual plastic links twice...never again. They'll make good spare runs for 'applique' armour on later models.

[Lemm]

Yeah you are right Tamiya dont make an Elefant. I always reckon Dragon have more parts thanks to the F$%King individual track links if nothing else but all things aside they do build up to be a good model. I am not a perfectionist in that I dont count rivets and whinge because something is not quite the same as the real thing. Just so long as you can look at it and say Hey nice Panzer IV or whatever then I am happy. On the subject of Elefants...I built one years ago in 1/72 scale and it was an ESCI kit. God it was a good kit...fit perfect. Best kit I have ever had the pleasue. Trouble is now with my eyesight I cant even see 1/72 scale Cheers

Phil