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AFV Painting & Weathering
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Matthew Toms
Removing decals
T-55A5
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Texas, United States
Joined: August 25, 2007
KitMaker: 493 posts
Armorama: 68 posts
Posted: Monday, April 27, 2020 - 03:25 PM UTC
I'm redoing a old T-55 and a aircraft and I need to remove the decals from them

I have tried tape, but it takes the paint off which I want to save

Is there a way to remove the decals without taking the paint with it

Billy


Matty-man
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United States
Joined: April 25, 2020
KitMaker: 5 posts
Armorama: 1 posts
Posted: Monday, April 27, 2020 - 11:54 PM UTC
I have never tried it, but my bottle of Microscale Micro Sol says it can be used to soften old decals that have not been overcoated so that they can be peeled or brushed off.
Jedite
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 24, 2007
KitMaker: 44 posts
Armorama: 21 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 - 01:15 AM UTC
I recently done decal removal.
I used decal fix and water to soften the decals up. After that with a cotton bud started gently rubbing the edge inwards then gently peel it off after the edge started to come up.
Grauwolf
#084
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: September 14, 2005
KitMaker: 2,485 posts
Armorama: 743 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 - 06:23 AM UTC
If there is no raised detail under the decals and it has been overcoated,
you can try wet sanding with extreme fine grit sandpaper, be gentle, not
too much pressure as you sand.

I have done this many times without issues.

Cheers,
barnslayer
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New York, United States
Joined: July 29, 2002
KitMaker: 102 posts
Armorama: 102 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 - 06:38 AM UTC
Did you coat the decals with clear flat?
T-55A5
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Texas, United States
Joined: August 25, 2007
KitMaker: 493 posts
Armorama: 68 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 - 10:09 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I recently done decal removal.
I used decal fix and water to soften the decals up. After that with a cotton bud started gently rubbing the edge inwards then gently peel it off after the edge started to come up.


decal fix??

Billy
T-55A5
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Texas, United States
Joined: August 25, 2007
KitMaker: 493 posts
Armorama: 68 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 - 10:09 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Did you coat the decals with clear flat?


No

Billy
barnslayer
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New York, United States
Joined: July 29, 2002
KitMaker: 102 posts
Armorama: 102 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 - 10:58 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Did you coat the decals with clear flat?


No

Billy


Good. Go with decal softener or try very warm water on a cotton swab or large paintbrush.
Jedite
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 24, 2007
KitMaker: 44 posts
Armorama: 21 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 - 08:25 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I recently done decal removal.
I used decal fix and water to soften the decals up. After that with a cotton bud started gently rubbing the edge inwards then gently peel it off after the edge started to come up.


decal fix??

Billy

I use Ammo's decal set and fix and what I found is that the fix solution softens them up and gets them wrinkly.
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