KingTiger Zimmerit under sideskirts..?

[Jnewboy]

So as many of you know I am doing a build right now on the Anneliese 314 Kingtiger. I want it muddy and worn. The only pictures I can find of it is in heavy snow, with no side skirts at least on the visible left side. So logically doing a model of it that spring in mud would be the same with no side skirts.

It was my understanding that this was never done and that the skirts were attached/replaced then it was sent to another facility for the Zimmerit coating.

But here is a pic of it and it is clear that it is all the way down....? Any thoughts?

[General Jumbo01]

So far as I can see from my extensive 'research' (scanning endless Google search results when l applied zimmerit sheet to my KT!) the zimmerit was usually applied to the hull sides but not to the skirt extensions. I'm not sure why as l assume magnetic mines could be slapped on the skirts but maybe they flexed too much for the coating to stay in place. I also noticed that there was some prototypical variations.

[Jnewboy]

So far as I can see from my extensive 'research' (scanning endless Google search results when l applied zimmerit sheet to my KT!) the zimmerit was usually applied to the hull sides but not to the skirt extensions. I'm not sure why as l assume magnetic mines could be slapped on the skirts but maybe they flexed too much for the coating to stay in place. I also noticed that there was some prototypical variations.

They didnt coat the sideskirts as a magnetic mine would not do much damage to the tank if it stuck to the sideskirt (except destroying the sideskirt) however there is a famous Jagdtiger, I believe it is a Porsche suspension one that has it on the sideskirts...

[HERMAN BIX]

Remember that the early process for factory application of Zim involved curing it with gas burners.
I assume that as these Porsche versions were in such small numbers that the paste would have be applied, troweled, and cured with gas, them base coated.
Then once the zim was set and base coat applied, the guards were fitted and already base coated.
For rail transport the guards were removed, along with the wide tracks a la Tiger 1 .
Should the guards suffer damage, or not be refitted after rail transport for some reason, the hull was still protected by the zim coating.

Later versions I assume may have been coated with zim in a more forward area, after rail transport, so may not have had the guards removed to spread the stuff right down.

That’s my reasoning but history may be otherwise.

I would go with the picture as evidence, no mistaking it’s on there!

[Jnewboy]

Remember that the early process for factory application of Zim involved curing it with gas burners.
I assume that as these Porsche versions were in such small numbers that the paste would have be applied, troweled, and cured with gas, them base coated.
Then once the zim was set and base coat applied, the guards were fitted and already base coated.
For rail transport the guards were removed, along with the wide tracks a la Tiger 1 .
Should the guards suffer damage, or not be refitted after rail transport for some reason, the hull was still protected by the zim coating.

Later versions I assume may have been coated with zim in a more forward area, after rail transport, so may not have had the guards removed to spread the stuff right down.

That’s my reasoning but history may be otherwise.

I would go with the picture as evidence, no mistaking it’s on there!

Seems logical, thanks for your input, Zimmerit is one of those subjects that gets rough!

Just the fact that there were so many patterns and ways it was applied makes for a research nightmare.

[Jofaur86]

Hello
When you consider that there were only the Germans who possessed magnetic mines ? In the movie «  Private Ryan «  used explosives in grease-coated socks

[tankme]

"Load each sock with as much comp B as it can hold and coat it in axle grease." "It's a bomb that sticks...so it's a sticky bomb."

[General Jumbo01]

They should have used No More Nails ',cos that sticks anything to anything and goes off fast. Or ShooGoo

I'll get my coat......

Sorry......