Zimmerit appears on Tiger I tanks from July 1943 until September 1944; when Tiger I production ceased. Figarti, Honor Bound, K&C and The Collectors Showcase have all produced Tiger I tanks with Zimmerit; which manufacturer has rendered the Zimmerit most accuratly? Some have been criticized for too thin or too thick Zimmerit; which company got it just right?
The Best Tiger I Zimmerit (1 Viewer)
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Hunter Rose
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Hands down Honour Bound as #1.
The zimmerit on the HB Tigers and Panthers is the closest approximation I've seen in this hobby. Honour Bound Just nailed the texture perfectly.
That's not to say other manufacturers have not done good interpretations of zimmerit. The K&C Jagdpanther and StuG III Ausf G had nice interpretations of zimmerit as well IMO.
I agree that the Honor Bound Tiger Zimmerit is very nicely done, as is every detail on these tanks. I personaly prefer the deeper Zimmerit on The Collectors Showcase Arnhem Tiger I from 2008. The first and best Tiger I that TCS did and the only one in an accurate 1/30 scale, to my knowledge. The new K&C WS 311 has an interesting Zimmerit; which is also deep. Zimmerit had to be applied thickly enough to hold a magnetic mine far enough away from the steel hull so it could not attach.
Phantom Warrior
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Most zimmerit was factory applied and the pattern quite consistent in pattern and thickness as only a few factories produced each type of AFV. Here are a few closeups of zimmerit on Tiger I. I can't compare as I was surprised to find I don't have any Tiger I with zimmerit.
These can be compared to the Tiger I models.
Terry
These can be compared to the Tiger I models.
Terry
Phantom Warrior
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Most of the photos of zimmerit on Tiger Is show a thin coating done in a small pattern of closely spaced parallel grooves and ridges. It appears to be a fine rather than gross application. There are a few photos showing a thicker coating with deeper more widely spaced grooves and ridges with a slightly wavy pattern - possibly field applied zimmerit. To my eye, Honour Bound and Figarti approximate the fine zimmerit pattern typically on a Tiger 1. TCS is a much rougher application.
Here is a thicker, rougher, more irregular field applied zimmerit
Note the coarseness of the zimmerit on the turret as opposed to the fineness on the hull.
Terry
Here is a thicker, rougher, more irregular field applied zimmerit
Note the coarseness of the zimmerit on the turret as opposed to the fineness on the hull.
Terry
Thanks again Terry for the excellent photos, they look like the versions found on the new Early Production K&C WS 311 and the 2008 TCS Mid Production Tiger I. One nice thing about the thicker version is that if you decide to do a repaint you have less concern about filling in the grooves! I am considering repainting my TCS Arnhem Tiger I. The Dunkelgleb is not quite right; more gold than yellow! I like it for many reasons; the turret roof slope is correct and the scale is a true 1/30. The three figures are excellent and scaled to the Panzer. The best Tiger I TCS has done IMHO ! Regards
Hunter Rose
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The figures were excellent on the first TCS Tiger I. They are some of my favorite Panzer crew. The "head" figures that were meant to go in the driver's hatch work great for putting in turrets to depict a commander peaking out during a battle.
The three figures actually looked like they could fit into the tank. Today with some manufacturers you get none or at best one figure. Things have really changed since 2008. The original TCS Tiger I
with the three figures can still be found on Ebay for $189.00! Heck of a deal!
with the three figures can still be found on Ebay for $189.00! Heck of a deal!
Chemiebay; you take excellent photos. May I suggest that in your photo comparison you include the superb Honor Bound Gold Tiger I and the 2008 TCS Tiger I; both set new standards for accuracy and quality in polystone Tiger's. High qualty photos of both are available on the respective threads on this site, if you do not posses examples. A photo comparison of all of these excellent examples of the modelers art would be invaluable to collectors.
desk11desk12
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Apologies for not taking the time to show Figarti - Honour Bound Tigers Comparison (don't owned TCS Tigers). However, I do have some old pictures of 1 my 3 Gold Tigers.
They are truly some of the gems of my collection. Here they are.
Carlos
They are truly some of the gems of my collection. Here they are.
Carlos
desk11desk12
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As you can see, I've mixed and matched various tou soldier manufactured toy soldiers on my tabletop diorama
Great photos Carlos! The TCS Panzer Kommander in the cupola looks very realistic. The Honor Bound Tigers are superb and the Zimmerit is exceptionaly well done. Honor Bound and TCS both got the turret roof slope just right. The Honor Bound colors are also excellent! Figarti does an excellent job with colors too.
chemiebay
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Simply amazing! Love this monster tank.
Phantom Warrior
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K&C did 22 versions of an early Tiger. WS216 is grey with turret # 213. I thought it was such a good model of an early Tiger that I bought one. It's very accurate. WS309 must be the winter version (turret #311) of the same model. I agree that it is one of the best Tigers available.
Terry
Terry; K&C WS 311 is referred to as the Karl Otto Tiger from the film Kelly's Heros. the turret number is 115. The color is dark green with thick Zimmerit. I believe this is the first early Tiger I K&C has done with Zimmerit. The Kursk and Winter Tiger I's did not have Zimmerit. You usually see Zimmerit on Mid Production Tiger I's with the revised turret and cupola.
Phantom Warrior
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Now I'm confused. I was agreeing with you that the 2 versions of the early production Tigers were very well done - I wasn't talking about zimmerit. I think the Karl Otto Tiger is mid-production.
Terry
Terry; we are in agreement as to the quality of the K&C early production Tiger I's commencing with the Tunesian Tiger; which was the first true 1/30 scale K&C Tiger I. The WS 311 is the latest K&C early production Tiger I, as typified by the old style turret with the high cupola and the viewing slits, rather than periscopes. I do not believe K&C has yet produced a mid production or late production Tiger I in 1/30 scale. Only TCS and Figarti have produced all three versions to date to my knowledge.