Poorly applied decals -- any hope?

[dknelson]

I purchased a very nicely assembled and painted Ambroid kit of a Great Northern caboose (the plywood sheathed kind). For those of you who do not remember Ambroid made very high quality, and rather challenging, craftsman kits mostly of wood with some metal detail parts.
The problem is that the fellow who built the kit, after doing beautiful work on assembly and very careful painting, rather botched the decals. You can see the film very plainly, Decals on wood are by the way very tricky things especially if you do not apply a high gloss finish first -- that is where this guy went wrong I guess.
Obviously most methods of removing decals are not advisable when dealing with a rather delicate wooden model. Nor do I want to do damage to the real nice painting and weathering job the guy did.
So tell me -- anyone have any luck with LONG after the fact methods of getting a decal to "snuggle" even closer to the surface? What ever method I use had better work on the first try! Either that or I may have to weather this car to look like it is on its last legs.
All suggestions and advice -- as always -- are much appreciated.
Dave Nelson

[nfmisso]

Dave;

Depending on the paint used, you maybe able to get the decals off with Q-tips and 91% isopropyl alcohol.

Nigel

[Anonymous]

Hi Dave, here is one idea. How about taking a very sharp X-acto knife and making VERY small pricks in the decal. Then apply some Solvaset and let it settle the decal. If this model has already been "dull-coated" then I'm not sure if that would work. The way I see it though, you have nothing to loose. You said that this was a wooden model, so excessive moisture could damage the structure of it, but "Solvaset" is alcohol based, and should evaporate quickly enough to prevent any warping of the wood. Let me stress again, I have not tried this myself, but "it looks good on paper"... If all else fails, strip it, and get some dry transfers.
Todd C.

[dknelson]

thanks fellows -- the common theme here is alcohol rather than water or solvent. I took another look at the model last night and while I hate to take a chance, as it is now it just looks unsightly.
Dave Nelson