The other night I was decaling some N Scale Alco FA-1s into Penny’s single-stripe paint scheme using Microscale decals. I’m not entirely happy with the way the long stripe decals came out. The came out all wavy and the locomotive looks like it was painted by a bunch of drunks. How can I remove the decal without damaging the paint? Also, how can I get them to go on straight next time?
GP-9 Man,
To remove the decal use, in this order, Micro-Set, Micro-Sol (both by Micro-Scale) and Solvaset (by Hobsco). These are increasingly aggressive decal solvents. Note, however, that using Solva-Sol and especially Solvaset, the decals may not be salvagable. With luck, Micro-Set will loosen them up enough to then, VERY gently with a small wet paintbrush, nudge them into straight lines. Keep a source of distilled water close by to dilute things if needed.
If you have to start over, wet the surface ahead of time with Micro-Set and then slide the decal into place, adding a srop of Micro-Set as you nudge it into place if things start to dry to quickly. Keep that small paint brush in hand as the decal begins to settle, nudging it back into place if it starts to wander. It can be a ticklish and tedious process but you should be able to eventuall get it to lie straight. I you need it to “snuggle” down into crevices or bumps in the model surface, add a drop of Solva-Sol. If you need more snuggling, try Solvaset.
Try to brush out obvious bubbles but don’t worry unduly at this point about small bubbles. Once the decal has dried, if there are small bubbles or silvering, poke the bubbles/silvering with a very sharp needle and give it a drop of Micro-Sol or Solvaset. You may need to repeat this several times to get them all out. I have been known to take a few minutes a day for up to a week or more to get everyting just right.
Good luck!
IF you sprayed the model with gloss finish before applying the decals, you should be able to remove them with Solvaset or something similar without damaging the paint.