Tamiya 35187 - 1:35 Narzędzie do wykonywania Zimmeritu

Tamiya zimmerit coating tool for armoured vehicle models

Tamiya 35187 is a tool, not a ready-made zimmerit sheet to be applied to the model — worth stating plainly right away. The set contains photo-etched comb-shaped blades in four sizes, used to form the zimmerit texture yourself on the armour: wider ones for large flat surfaces, narrower ones for tight strips and hard-to-reach areas.

The method is simple: apply Tamiya polyester putty to the armour surface and, before it sets, draw the comb across it to press in the characteristic regular pattern. The tool is universal and not tied to a single kit — it suits any German armoured vehicle coated with zimmerit, in any scale, because the density of the texture is chosen by picking the size of the comb. The base kit and the polyester putty are not included and are purchased separately.

What is in the box:

• Photo-etched comb-shaped blades in four sizes
• Illustrated instructions

Specifications:

• Catalogue number: 35187
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Product type: tool for forming zimmerit texture
• Material: photo-etched parts
• Contents: four blade sizes (for broad and narrow surfaces)
• Use: universal — German armoured vehicles, any scale
• Released: 2012
• Base kit and polyester putty sold separately, not included

Forming zimmerit with a comb – texture made by hand instead of a ready-made sheet

Zimmerit can be reproduced in several ways: with ready-made sheets, with 3D printed parts, or with texture formed by hand in putty. The last method gives the most freedom — the modeller decides the density and direction of the pattern, can vary it from plate to plate and can also reproduce the chips and missing patches typical of vehicles in front-line service.

A suggested working order: apply a thin layer of polyester putty to one armour plate, wait a moment until it stiffens slightly, then draw the comb across it to form the pattern. It pays to start with small areas, work plate by plate and practise on a scrap of plastic first, as polyester putty sets fairly quickly. The blade can be drawn vertically, horizontally or in square fields, depending on the vehicle and the factory being represented. Being metal, the tool is easy to clean and can be used again and again.

About zimmerit – a non-magnetic protective paste:

Zimmerit was a non-magnetic paste applied to the armour of German fighting vehicles from the autumn of 1943. Its purpose was protection against magnetic anti-tank mines: with a thick layer of paste on the armour, a mine could not adhere directly to the steel and lost its effectiveness.

The paste was applied in factories and field workshops and then shaped with tools into a characteristic texture — most often horizontal grooves, square fields or irregular ridges. The pattern varied between manufacturers and vehicle types, so zimmerit on a Panther, a Tiger, a StuG III or a Panzer IV looked different.

Its use was discontinued by an order of 9 September 1944. Today it remains one of the most characteristic and most frequently modelled features of German armoured vehicles of 1943–1944.

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya is a Japanese manufacturer of models and modelling accessories based in Shizuoka, active since 1946 and producing plastic kits since the early 1960s. The 1:35 Military Miniature Series is one of the pillars of its catalogue. Alongside the kits themselves, Tamiya offers a wide range of supporting products: paints, cements, putties, modelling tools and upgrade accessories. Its tools are simple to use and well explained in the instructions, which helps less experienced modellers as well. Careful manufacture and well-prepared documentation remain the hallmarks of the brand.