Decals yellowing with age

interstellarmodeler · Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:31 pm

What's the best way to keep decals from yellowing as they age?

Also, I'm thinking of removing all the yellowed decals off my old Voyager model and replacing them. What's the easiest way to remove old decals without damaging the painted surface?

Appreciate any advice here. Thanks.

Glorfindel · Post by **Glorfindel** » Thu Apr 11, 2013 9:44 pm

I've never tried this before but I think your answer lays with the final clear coat you put over them. I'm thinking you'll need to remove the top clear coat layer first then try gently pulling the decals up with a low tack tape so as to not lift up and damage the paint job on the base coat.

interstellarmodeler · Post by **interstellarmodeler** » Sat Apr 13, 2013 8:46 pm

Glorfindel wrote:I've never tried this before but I think your answer lays with the final clear coat you put over them. I'm thinking you'll need to remove the top clear coat layer first then try gently pulling the decals up with a low tack tape so as to not lift up and damage the paint job on the base coat.

Thanks, appreciate the feedbk

dizzyfugu · Post by **dizzyfugu** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:47 am

If there's any top coat, that has to go first - either carefull using a solvent or even (wet) sand paper.

Once the decal is free, you might - instead of the tape trick with its hazards to underlying paint (esp. w/o primer) - try to soak the decal wet, e .g. with a piece of wet paper tissue or cotton placed on top of it for a coup,e of minutes. This works pretty good, esp. on old/brittle decals.