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Decal Dilemma

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  • Member since
    July 2023
Decal Dilemma
Posted by JPCARE on Sunday, June 30, 2024 10:44 PM

I bought a  1994 Monogram 1:48 scale Heinkel 111 this afternoon & noticed the previous builder had painted the fuselage & wings. They were using the box as a painting surface, but they didn't let the paint dry & I noticed the decals are stuck to the inside of the box lid because of the paint drying. Is there a way I can remove the decals without ruining them? I have rubbing alcohol & thinner at my disposal. The decals are not completely stuck to the lid as its like a flap of skin, & its really not time to pull of the bandaid. A few pieces of the fuselage & wings have bits of paper on them from the instructions but I thought soap & water would clean it up. I think I can use Vallejo acrylic colors to finish this model. I took photos of everything but I can't seem to get my phone working with the site, as I know pictures are helpful to everyone.

Thanks

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Monday, July 1, 2024 10:08 AM

Hello!

Sorry to say that, but your description sounds like some serious mess... I would recomment putting everything in a new box (a nice shoebox might be good for that). As for the decals - luckily He-111 is a popular aircraft, I'd recommend buying some aftermarket decals here, because chances of saving the kit decals are not very good IMO. Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    July 2023
Posted by JPCARE on Monday, July 1, 2024 10:45 AM

Hello Pawel. I did go online & found decals to go with the aircraft as I know there is decal transfer paper. I do have a shoebox to put the model into as the original box is rough around the edges.

Thanks

GAF
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • From: Anniston, AL
Posted by GAF on Monday, July 1, 2024 12:31 PM

If the paint has not covered the decals and ruined them, could you not just cut the box up and then soak them in water to loosen them?  Sorry if I misunderstood.

Gary

  • Member since
    July 2023
Posted by JPCARE on Monday, July 1, 2024 1:59 PM

Hello Gary. Thanks for the tip. I'll see if I can free the decals from inside the lid. I did save a picture of the decals when I was browsing online, as I know transfer sheets are available these days. 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Monday, July 1, 2024 4:56 PM

GAF

If the paint has not covered the decals and ruined them, could you not just cut the box up and then soak them in water to loosen them?

Along the lines of Gary's suggestion -- you might try saturating the box lid's cardboard at the location where the decals are stuck. Unless there's paint adhering as well (I couldn't quite tell from your description) soaking the cardboard itself might do the trick. Yes

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    July 2023
Posted by JPCARE on Monday, July 1, 2024 9:25 PM

Hello Greg. I managed to separate the decals from the box lid using water & saved about half of the decals that are still attached to the decal sheet, when the other half of the decals are attached to the box lid upside down.rm_5509_decals

I didn't bother to dab the excess water off the decals as I didn't want to ruin anymore. I also noticed I can finish this model with one set of markings as described in the instructions.

Thanks

  • Member since
    July 2023
Posted by JPCARE on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 10:22 AM

Hello Greg. I managed to separate the decals from the box lid. I forgot that it doesn't take much time for decals to come off the decal paper. I now have a set of decals that I can use & decals still attached to the box lid, but I can complete the model which is the main thing & go through my paints in case I haven't got the right colors etc.

  • Member since
    July 2023
Posted by JPCARE on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 10:29 AM

Hello Greg. I managed to separate the decals albeit half of them are on the decal sheet while the others are on the box lid, but I can still complete the model. I'll just need to go through the paint I have & buy more if I need to.

GAF
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • From: Anniston, AL
Posted by GAF on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 12:54 PM

That's good to hear.  If you need replacements, I happen to have a sheet of decals from Super Scale International for 7./KG 51 and 3./LG 1 that might serve (that's for the BOB 1940 and North Africa 1943).  No instruments or placards though.  Let me know and I'll send them along.

Gary

  • Member since
    March 2022
  • From: Twin cities, MN
Posted by missileman2000 on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 7:27 AM

if you have an inkjet printer, it is possible to print out the decals you found online.  You will probably have to resize the image to make dpi approprete for the dcal size.

 

BTW, there is a decals forum below in the TOOLS, TECHNIQUES AND REFERENCES SECION of the foums.

  • Member since
    February 2021
Posted by MJY65 on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 12:48 PM

I'd say your chances of using 30 year old decals succesfully weren't great even if they were intact.   Buy some aftermarket and move on.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Thursday, July 4, 2024 4:16 PM

You can try to request a new decal sheet from Revell, although, since they are now a German company, the decals won't include the tail fin markings that denote a particular WW2 party. 

https://carrera-revell-toys.com/revell/replacement-parts-request

  • Member since
    July 2023
Posted by JPCARE on Thursday, July 4, 2024 10:46 PM

Hello Rob. I went online & found pictures of the decals for this model in case the decals were bad. I went to my local hobby shop this afternoon & they're out of decal transfer sheets when I was buying more paint for this model.

Thanks

  • Member since
    July 2023
Posted by JPCARE on Friday, July 5, 2024 10:18 AM

Hi Rob. I saved a couple pictures online of the decals for this model if the original decals are bad. I couldn't find any laser printer decal paper at the hobby shop yesterday when I was shopping for paint, so I'll have to buy some through amazon.

  • Member since
    March 2022
  • From: Twin cities, MN
Posted by missileman2000 on Saturday, July 6, 2024 8:01 AM

JPCARE

Hi Rob. I saved a couple pictures online of the decals for this model if the original decals are bad. I couldn't find any laser printer decal paper at the hobby shop yesterday when I was shopping for paint, so I'll have to buy some through amazon.

 

Yes, amazon does carry several brands.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Saturday, July 6, 2024 1:13 PM

JPCARE

Hi Rob. I saved a couple pictures online of the decals for this model if the original decals are bad. I couldn't find any laser printer decal paper at the hobby shop yesterday when I was shopping for paint, so I'll have to buy some through amazon.

 

The problem with laser printers is that they do not print white. Except for the now hard to find and expensive Alps printers.

So, if your decals are all black, red, blue etc. then there ian't a problem, but if there is white, you either need to start with a white decal sheet (the transfer is actually white) or you're out of luck with that decal makring.

Then there is the trimming if you use white decal sheet because if you don't trim it closely, all the edges will be white.

  • Member since
    April 2020
Posted by Eaglecash867 on Saturday, July 6, 2024 4:22 PM

MJY65

I'd say your chances of using 30 year old decals succesfully weren't great even if they were intact.   Buy some aftermarket and move on.

 
Definitely concur with that.  Sprue Brothers has an Eagle Cals set for this aircraft for 14 bucks, and they won't be 30 years old.  Can't even get a decent pack of decal paper for that cheap.

"You can have my illegal fireworks when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers...which are...over there somewhere."

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