1:48 Zimmerit Coating Sheet for Panzer IV Ausf.H

Self-adhesive Zimmerit for the Panzer IV Ausf.H, 1:48 scale

This is an accessory, not a vehicle model. The sheet carries the texture of Zimmerit and is self-adhesive: the parts are cut out, stuck onto the matching surfaces of the model and painted along with it. That removes what most modelers fear about Zimmerit, namely applying the paste by hand and scoring it, where the result is easily spoiled and hard to repair. The sheet is cut to the shape of this particular late version of the Panzer IV, so the parts match the surfaces that really carried Zimmerit.

The real subject

Zimmerit was a paste-like compound applied from 1943 to the vertical armor surfaces of German vehicles. It was neither camouflage nor added armor: the compound was meant to stop a magnetic charge from sticking to the armor. A regular pattern was pressed into the fresh paste, which enlarged the surface and kept the magnet from seating. Application stopped in 1944, so Zimmerit is also a reliable dating clue: a vehicle carrying it belongs to a period of roughly one year.

Usage tips

• Degrease the surface before sticking the part down; the sheet will not hold on a greasy surface.
• Lay the part down from one edge and press it gradually so that no bubble forms.
• Press the edges down with a blunt toothpick, as that is where the sheet lifts most often.
• Paint over the applied sheet together with the model; the primer coat blends the joint in.
• Suggest battle damage to the armor by chipping the Zimmerit away in that spot, which matches the real thing.

Who it is for

The sheet is for modelers of German vehicles who are building a machine from 1943 and 1944 and want Zimmerit without working with paste. It is a markedly faster and more reliable route than applying it by hand.

It is not a vehicle model. The base kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.