Decal Removal

[USS Jack Riley]

I don't know if anyone has seen this product:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/350-100

This particular product is for model trains.

Has anyone used this to removal decals on their models without removing paint? If so, does it work as advertised or is the preferred method still to dip the model in Pine-Sol?

 

[CaptainHawk1]

Re: Decel Removal

I don't know if anyone has seen this product:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/350-100

This particular product is for model trains.

Has anyone used this to removal decals on their models without removing paint? If so, does it work as advertised or is the preferred method still to dip the model in Pine-Sol?

Pine Sol will take off the paint, in fact it's a preferred method to remove paint (it also eats styrene). I don't know why you think it won't.

The best and only safe way to remove decals without removing paint is hot water on a washcloth or paper towel and direct pressure (if they're sealed well). You have to be careful not to make it so hot that you warp your styrene or resin though. Also if you didn't seal your decals (or didn't seal them well) they will react very well to simply a damp cloth sitting on them to soften them up for a while. Sometimes I carefully help the situation with a hobby knife (razor blade) and a pair of decal tweezers.

You can use tape too but that can be tricky depending on how well cured the paint id to the model and how well cured the decal is to the paint.

-Shawn

 

[USS Jack Riley]

Re: Decel Removal

^^Many thanks for the correction Captain Hawk1. Yes, Pine-Sol will take the paint off. Bad comparison. I had never seen this product before and didn't know if it was applicable to basic model kits (as with Pine-Sol) or if it was a model trains specific product.

Thanks again for the correction.

 

[Forbin]

Re: Decel Removal

This is another time Future Floor Polish comes in handy, but only if you coat your model with Future as a glosscoat on which to place the decals. Windex will remove the coat of Future, taking the decals with it.

 

[Turbo]

Re: Decel Removal

For taking paint off, I like using Simple Clean - it's available at auto parts stores. It'll take the paint off of any styrene kit I've thrown at it, and it doesn't damage the styrene like Pine-Sol.

As for taking decals off without damaging the paint...if you didn't seal the model before applying decals, then it's going to be very hard to do. I second CaptainHawk's method.

 

[CaptainHawk1]

Re: Decel Removal

This is another time Future Floor Polish comes in handy, but only if you coat your model with Future as a glosscoat on which to place the decals. Windex will remove the coat of Future, taking the decals with it.

John, as usual, is absolutely correct.

Jack, we could probably help you more if we knew the details and you showed us some pictures.

As far as that product you showed us, I've never seen it before.

-Shawn