Whats Lying on your Workbench MK IV

[Papa Rat]

That sounds very cool. Definitely worth exploring. Thanks

[SteveTheFish]

This week I bought myself a birthday present and pre-ordered the upcoming Hasegawa Glaug kit on Hobby Search. I imagine it'll ship around the 1st of April. 

So does anyone have any recommendations on how to strip decals off a model while leaving the lacquer paint job underneath intact? I had some decals on a Star Trek Enteprise model break apart and I did buy replacements, however I'd already applied the Micro Sol to melt the bad ones onto the pylons. I often use Zippo lighter fluid to remove price tags from cardboard and plastic without ruining the surface. Do you think that would work? It's either that or lightly sanding the decals away with 3000 grit sanding sponges or something. It's been eight years since I gave up on that model, but it would be nice to get back to it. and finally finish it.

[pengbuzz]

6 hours ago, SteveTheFish said:

This week I bought myself a birthday present and pre-ordered the upcoming Hasegawa Glaug kit on Hobby Search. I imagine it'll ship around the 1st of April. 

So does anyone have any recommendations on how to strip decals off a model while leaving the lacquer paint job underneath intact? I had some decals on a Star Trek Enteprise model break apart and I did buy replacements, however I'd already applied the Micro Sol to melt the bad ones onto the pylons. I often use Zippo lighter fluid to remove price tags from cardboard and plastic without ruining the surface. Do you think that would work? It's either that or lightly sanding the decals away with 3000 grit sanding sponges or something. It's been eight years since I gave up on that model, but it would be nice to get back to it. and finally finish it.

I've tried this on mine and it works fairly well (had to do this for my USS Reliant model kit when I replaced the hull registry on the saucer)

1) lightly scuff-sand the surface with #0000 grade steel wool (to remove any clear coat from the decals)

2) get some 3M office masking tape (beige kind, NOT that crappy "blue stuff, look in the stationery dept at Walmart for it), press it down firmly, smooth it out and wait 1 minute. Then, pull it up sharply; this should take at least some of the decal with it without ruining the paint (yes, even that which had Micro-Sol applied). Reapply a fresh piece of tape for each "pull" until you get it all off.

3) If any is stubbornly left on (or 2 isn't working), apply Micro-Sol, wait 3 minutes and then try with fresh tape again. It should break the bond without harming the paint.

Let me know how this works for you; I've had good luck with this process on several models besides the reliant!

-pengbuzz

[SteveTheFish]

1 hour ago, pengbuzz said:

I've tried this on mine and it works fairly well (had to do this for my USS Reliant model kit when I replaced the hull registry on the saucer)

1) lightly scuff-sand the surface with #0000 grade steel wool (to remove any clear coat from the decals)

2) get some 3M office masking tape (beige kind, NOT that crappy "blue stuff, look in the stationery dept at Walmart for it), press it down firmly, smooth it out and wait 1 minute. Then, pull it up sharply; this should take at least some of the decal with it without ruining the paint (yes, even that which had Micro-Sol applied). Reapply a fresh piece of tape for each "pull" until you get it all off.

3) If any is stubbornly left on (or 2 isn't working), apply Micro-Sol, wait 3 minutes and then try with fresh tape again. It should break the bond without harming the paint.

Let me know how this works for you; I've had good luck with this process on several models besides the reliant!

-pengbuzz

Thanks. I knew about the tape trick. I actually tried that first. There is no clear coat, so I can just apply some Micro Sol to it and try from there. I didn't think about doing so, but that makes sense because it re-loosens the decals a bit. Thanks!

[pengbuzz]

4 hours ago, SteveTheFish said:

Thanks. I knew about the tape trick. I actually tried that first. There is no clear coat, so I can just apply some Micro Sol to it and try from there. I didn't think about doing so, but that makes sense because it re-loosens the decals a bit. Thanks!

Yeah, it should loosen them without harming the paint, and you can keep reapplying it until it gives.

[electric indigo]

Current state of affairs.

[Big s]

On 3/7/2025 at 2:04 AM, SteveTheFish said:

Thanks. I knew about the tape trick. I actually tried that first. There is no clear coat, so I can just apply some Micro Sol to it and try from there. I didn't think about doing so, but that makes sense because it re-loosens the decals a bit. Thanks!

If it’s slightly stubborn, you could also try a little warm water with a soaked tissue or cloth. Since it doesn’t have the topcoat, it could help lift it.

[derex3592]

My current state of affairs... 🤣 

However! Wife and I decided that we can replace my good old $150 Walmart PC computer turned model desk (pictured along with my grandmothers collapsable dining room table that's basically now just the kitty feeding station..hahaha,  she would kill me) that has been in service since about 2003! VERY excited for a whole new modeling room setup in about two-three weeks! 😁 

Stay tuned! 

Edited 6 hours ago by derex3592

[Thom]

1 hour ago, derex3592 said:

My current state of affairs... 🤣 

However! Wife and I decided that we can replace my good old $150 Walmart PC computer turned model desk that has been in service since about 2003! VERY excited for a whole new modeling room setup in about two-three weeks! 😁 

Stay tuned! 

I wouldn't mind having those tables to model on! Congrats on the coming improvements.

[Papa Rat]

4 hours ago, derex3592 said:

My current state of affairs... 🤣 

However! Wife and I decided that we can replace my good old $150 Walmart PC computer turned model desk (pictured along with my grandmothers collapsable dining room table that's basically now just the kitty feeding station..hahaha,  she would kill me) that has been in service since about 2003! VERY excited for a whole new modeling room setup in about two-three weeks! 😁 

Stay tuned! 

Exciting! 👍

I’m a month you will be so pumped!

[Urashiman]

It has been a while. I‘ve been fiddling with the VF-9 again and decided I need a test print to check if everything is fitting. I only need to decide what to do with the main landing gear. Anyway… pictures.

And a size comparison.

[Papa Rat]

2 minutes ago, Urashiman said:

It has been a while. I‘ve been fiddling with the VF-9 again and decided I need a test print to check if everything is fitting. I only need to decide what to do with the main landing gear. Anyway… pictures.

And a size comparison.

Wow. That looks great! Are you printing these yourself?

[Urashiman]

8 minutes ago, Papa Rat said:

Wow. That looks great! Are you printing these yourself?

CAD and printing by me, so yes

thanks!

Edited 2 hours ago by Urashiman

[mechaninac]

43 minutes ago, Urashiman said:

It has been a while. I‘ve been fiddling with the VF-9 again and decided I need a test print to check if everything is fitting. I only need to decide what to do with the main landing gear. Anyway… pictures.

And a size comparison.

Fan-frick'n-tastic!

[Papa Rat]

Made a bunch of progress this weekend on the Volks 1:144 V Siren Prominence. 
It’s been a quick and fun one. Only issue I am having is the PC for the head doesn’t hold and I think I’m going to have to glue it. It’s as though the sizing is off. Maybe it’s just me. lol
 

Anyway, I just need to do some detail work, masking/painting and decals and then it’s time for the Plamax VF-1J. I finally got one a few weeks ago for a good price and have been looking forward to it!

I really need to up my photo game. The lighting is garbage.  I swear this isn’t lemon yellow  hahaha  

Edited 41 minutes ago by Papa Rat