Have a few pickup trucks from MM but they have various decals or stickers for oil companies on them which I’d like to remove. Tried Micro Set’s decal remover but it didn’t do anything. Anyone had success in removing their decals and if so, what process did you use?
Thanks,
Dan
So apparently nobody has had any experience removing the logos on the Mini-Metals vehicles eh?
Although MM may need to rename their company since all of the vehicles I’ve been asked to remove the decals from are plastic, not metal.
Regardless, they are still nice models, but we’d just like some that are not related to specific companies.
You asked for direct experience, of which I have none with Mini-Metals.
Stickers (including those on clear plastic or film) would probably come off with Goo Gone (or similar product) or Kurd Kutter. At one time you could buy a ‘kit’ with small bottles of various specialized remover potions – every hobbyist would probably benefit from having the ‘range’ on hand.
I’m not sure what the best general solvent for actual cheap decal film would be – as I recall, it wouldn’t be 91% alcohol, but it would be comparatively cheap to try that. Apply it to soften the film, not fully dissolve it, and use multiple applications quickly wiped off each time until you see the effect on paint and plastic.
I know that a quick wipe with paint remover followed by a quick rinse would get rid of any decal film, no matter how stubborn. But when I say ‘quick rinse’ I mean QUICK.
Thanks WG. Tried 91% alcohol with no results. Have not tried paint remover yet but paint thinner did nothing.
Goo-Gone and brake fluid have been suggested by AI but have not tried either - yet. Will do so and report back.
I haven’t tried Goo Gone to remove stickers from vehicles but I have used it in other applications not related to model railroading and it works quite well.
You could try gently warming the sticker with a hair dryer to soften the adhesive, then slowly peeling it off. If there’s any residue left, a small amount of isopropyl alcohol or Goo Gone on a cloth usually works well without damaging the finish. Just test in a small area first to be safe.
The Mini-Metals use printed lettering (tampos), not decals. One could use an electric or battery operated eraser to remove the lettering. Or Micro Sol or Solvaset- and a Q-Tip
I tried all of the above, nothing worked. Fortunately my truck is white, a common color, so I’ll sand it off, mask to the panel and airbrush it. Given the relative priority of projects, this will probably happen in about two years.
Acetone worked to remove lettering on the earlier cast metal models with enamel paint. I wouldn’t risk damaging the newer plastic ones that way.
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