How to remove decals

[Blackadder123]

Ive heard some people using micro set decal remover? Is this the right application for the solution? Scraping this off with a modelling knife is driving me mad and also leaves tiny scratches...

Then there's the problem of removing the glue residue. Would alcohol do the trick without damaging the paint?

[Rad_Schuhart]

What I do is I take a glass of water and put into the microwave like one minute or so. Then I dive a small paint brush into that water and put drops over the sticker.

If you want to remove tamiya stickers, if you place the glass of water next to the tank, the water vapour will remove them. As sad as it sounds, lol.

[jarndice]

Hi, The first thing to establish is the type of Decal you are removing, Is it a Water Slide,
A vinyl or the Heng Long type,?
If it is a Water Slide then "Microset" is the better way forward and getting it off means soaking the decal in the fluid and when it has softened using warm water and a soft paint brush lift or wipe it away,
The mention of Glue residue suggests it is a Heng Long Decal, If it is then I would suggest you use a sharp craft knife blade to lift a corner and gently start peeling it off,
It appears that you have got past that stage,
STOP Scraping the Decal with any sharp instrument,
Use a combination of Acrylic Thinners on a cotton bud or cotton wool wrapped around a cocktail stick which you wipe over the decal and abrade the decal with a knuckle, To get the last pieces off lay a length of Masking tape over the area press it firmly in place and then carefully peel the Masking tape off.
Do be aware that the Acrylic thinners will soften the paint so try to avoid getting it on the surrounding Paint,
Vinyl Decals usually can be peeled off and the glue residue removed with Acrylic thinners.
In all these methods Patience is the secret.
I hope that helps.
Shaun.

[Blackadder123]

The decals at hand are indeed Heng long ones..... Damn stickers from hell. I did try to peel off by lifting corners, its just the corner lifting that is super hard and to peel them off in a large piece without fragmentation is even harder. Is masking tape really that sticky? I've tried it with electrical tape without much success.

[jarndice]

By the way if you have damaged the area with your use of a scraper when you have washed off the Thinners with water dab it dry and paint the area with "Mr Primer Surfacer 1,000".
Shaun.

[jarndice]

The Acrylic Thinners will have released the decal from its glue so the Masking Tape as long as you press it firmly in place will lift off the residue,
There is nothing stopping you from doing it as many times as it takes to get the remains of the decal off.
Shaun.