RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Bill, production turret (Henchel) yes all day. Porsche turret I've only seen a couple photos with zimmeret. Even the videos of King Tigers that show the Porsche turret versions I haven't seen zimmeret on them either.

As the OP asked for he just wanted at least 1 example of the Porsche turret that didn't have zimmeret and even as you said yourself the prototypes didn't have it, so there ya go!

Besides nothings more of a bummer then doing something to your tank that you really didn't want to do all for listening to someone else only to find out you didn't have to and would still be rivit counter correct.

Several sources state that all production versions of that turret had zimmerit. It's been discussed several other times on other forums like network54. But as I said, it's his tank, it's his creation to do what he wishes. No one will hold it against him for doing it without zimmerit!

Do any factory build sheets (car speak not sure what it would be in the tank world) still exist stating that every King Tiger that rolled off the assembly line has zimmeret applied?

Also beyond that, and please correct me if I'm wrong, didn't zimmeret where off and need to be re-applied? From what I've read it wouldnt last that long in the field if this was the case the tank would need a re-paint or be red oxide. Being Porsche turret KT's were the first 55 (if I remember correctly) and seeing how several examples still survive today would it be too much a stretch that it wore off and the tank re-painted without it?

I know no one will hold it against him I'm just curious at this point being I've rarely seen a Porsche version with zimmeret in photo's. Could this be that the Henchel turret was just photographed more?

Upon doing just a little research it appears 3 Porsche turreted KT's were built without zimmeret. There are even battlefield pictures of these tanks without zimmeret supposedly however I was unable to access the links given as I'm on my phone in the hospital with my wife waiting for the baby to pop out so I can't see them or post the links yet, I will when I get home.

However Google search King Tiger Porsche turret no zimmeret and you'll find it.

So 3 out of 50 Porsche turrets didn't have it applied, I hope that's enough for you to build yours without it.

Then after 9/9/45 (may have been 44 I'm tired, sorry) no zimmeret was applied to any tanks due to rumors it was flammable and could lead to a tank being destroyed. I would wonder if any tank commanders would have taken the time to chip it off after this rumor surfaced?

jackalope wrote:Do any factory build sheets (car speak not sure what it would be in the tank world) still exist stating that every King Tiger that rolled off the assembly line has zimmeret applied?

Also beyond that, and please correct me if I'm wrong, didn't zimmeret where off and need to be re-applied? From what I've read it wouldnt last that long in the field if this was the case the tank would need a re-paint or be red oxide. Being Porsche turret KT's were the first 55 (if I remember correctly) and seeing how several examples still survive today would it be too much a stretch that it wore off and the tank re-painted without it?

I know no one will hold it against him I'm just curious at this point being I've rarely seen a Porsche version with zimmeret in photo's. Could this be that the Henchel turret was just photographed more?

Couple of things:
No, but there are cataloged build and delivery dates available in various books as well as unit diaries. Much of this information is included in those. For instance 503 actually use Porsche and Henschel Tiger IIs as well as the Tiger 1 all at the same time for a short period. All the photos have zimmerit on all tanks.
As far as I know the only Porsche turret King Tiger left is the V2 prototype at Bovington.
Those first 50 tanks didn't last long. Several were prototypes and not combat worthy (3). Only two production tanks made it into 1945. Most of them were lost quite soon after deployment and combat not long after D-Day.
Yes, I guess it can be chipped off with some effort. Not sure if anyone would do that though. There's dated images of King Tigers built before September 1944 being used in very early 1945 with perfectly intact zimmerit. Again, looking at 503 which was the main unit to use them, they all had zimmerit and photos show that all their tanks during that era had it.
I guess if a tank was factory reconditioned, which did happen, they would want to repaint parts of it where they had to weld. Not sure any tanks lasted long enough or could get transported back. There's a photo of a 503 KT on its side after being blown off a rail carriage. At that time roughly 1500 2nd TAF aircraft were targeting railways!

Thank you gentlemen for your input on this subject, most enlightening, I like this forum . I've spent hours trawling the Internet for a Porsche tiger with no zimmerit and snow but as stated its my tank and I'm not a rivet counter .just trying to keep historically accurate. But if you want to get a panther tank and paint it pink then so be it ... Once again thank you for all this input

Came home for a break heres some detailed info and excerpts and links for you to check out.

The first Porsche King Tigers were produced from January to September 1944 and were coated with Zimmerit anti-magnetic mine paste, EXCEPT for three prototypes, per.... http://www.achtungpanzer.com/panzerkamp ... fz-182.htm

Even the 1/16 scale Tamiya Porsche turret King Tiger finish instructions state at least 2 Porsche King Tigers fought without Zimmerit coating and Tamiya is pretty good at documenting their finish guide instruction.

At least one of the no zim KT panzers was at the Ohrdruf training area and that is also the area where the majority of the Schwere Panzer Abteilung503 KT crews applied camo to their newly issued Porsche turret King Tigers, per page 170, "Tigers In Combat I", before fighting in France. Not all King Tigers in France wore camo before heading off to the fight and many had camo applied roadside under trees.

Several KT's were in fact shipped back for re-fits after the zim cut off date however I could not find any info stating weather these were Porsche or Henschel turret versions.

Bluelion wrote:Thank you gentlemen for your input on this subject, most enlightening, I like this forum . I've spent hours trawling the Internet for a Porsche tiger with no zimmerit and snow but as stated its my tank and I'm not a rivet counter .just trying to keep historically accurate. But if you want to get a panther tank and paint it pink then so be it ... Once again thank you for all this input

Very good then sir, glad to offer what help I could on the subject. I look forward to seeing pics of your tank!

By the way, check your PM box Mr.Lion.

jackalope wrote:I'm on my phone in the hospital with my wife waiting for the baby to pop out so I can't see them or post the links yet, I will when I get home.

More importantly, good luck with the new baby and congratulations.

Thank you. It's an odd long story but she's not ours, my wife's best friend of 35 years could not have kids so my wife was a sureget mom for her.

Baby was born at 6:25pm and is 6lbs, 12ozs. My wife is exhausted and the new mom and dad are thrilled.