A question on diecast decals...

[motormania]

I hope someone can help.

I've built kits in the fast and know how to handle decals when applying them, but I've recently been buying up some 1:18 scale Senna Lotus' and McLaren's and want to add my own tobacco livery as I'm not stupid enough to pay the silly prices people are asking for fully liveried version on eBay - you'd be nuts to pay those prices - I've seen some starting at £150!!! when I can get the model for £40 and decals for under £10

So I have the 1:18 scale decals, but what's the best way I can remove the decals on the models which need to be replaced with my own?

Any help appreciated.

[Red Firecracker]

Depends on the 'decal'. A lot of the larger stuff is, I believe, tampo printed so isn't in fact a decal at all. Smaller scales can be done with the MK1 thumbnail.

I have had some success with t-cut to take tampo printed details off, but obviously you need to be really careful and gentle not to blow straight through the main paint. The other option is a cocktail stick or q-tip dipped in thinners. Again, utmost care needed.

A technique that railway modellers use when they renumber locomotives is to remove the tampo numbers with a fibreglass pencil. They also use turps or surgical spirit with some success but this depends on the manufacturer of the model.

[Evangelion]

Nail varnish remover will remove some tampo printing. I've had good results cleaning off Corgi aircraft with this method.

[motormania]

Thanks for the feedback, I need to find a model I can try it one first. Does anyone know if Minichamps have always used decals or tampo printing on their 1:18 F1 cars?

[Red Firecracker]

Evangelion said:

Nail varnish remover will remove some tampo printing. I've had good results cleaning off Corgi aircraft with this method.

Remember to use acetone free though, otherwise you risk taking everything off.

motormania said:

Thanks for the feedback, I need to find a model I can try it one first. Does anyone know if Minichamps have always used decals or tampo printing on their 1:18 F1 cars?

They varied, I believe. If you have one that is a 'proper' decal then soaking it in Micro-Set should have it floating off. Tampo printed and you'll be back to a box of q-tips and the suggestions above.

It'll be obvious if it's tampo or decal as well as there isn't a line around the edge of tampo.

[Evangelion]

The last Corgi aircraft I stripped was a LAker Airways Britannia, the nail varnish remover took the printing off nicely but also started working on the white paint on the tail, just in one place where I'd had to rub a little harder. This was easily touched in, unfortunately it removed the silver paint on the fuselage completely (obviously a different type of paint), so I had to mask that off and respray it. I used Halfords Aluminium with a coat of clear to follow; after leaving it to dry for a few days then giving it a polish, it matched the wings nicely.

Come to think of it I've yet to apply the replacement decals - BOAC white tail. In the meantime Corgi have of course brought out a BOAC white tail version. D'OH!