Changing markings on Ares models

**Dowters** · 10-11-2014 06:11

Hi all, ive now picked up several Gladiators (all in Mr Pattles markings) and I wondered if anyone had successfully changed the letter codes without ruining the whole thing or a total repaint. Luckily the letter I want to change seems to sit in a band of green camouflage on both sides but getting a matching green is looking tough. Thanks

**Dan-Sam** · 10-11-2014 07:00

What about scraping it off by a sharp knife? I removed a white stripe from my He.111 in this way. But you must be very patient...

**Dowters** · 10-11-2014 07:04

I think that may be the way I suppose I was wondering if anyone had used some sort of solvent?

**Pseudotheist** · 10-11-2014 07:11

Originally Posted by Dowters

I think that may be the way I suppose I was wondering if anyone had used some sort of solvent?

We were discussing in another thread that acetone seems to work pretty well on some fuselages for the WWI aircraft. I suspect it will come down to wether it's a solid color fuselage as opposed to painted camoflage or large decal. I suspect in your case there's one large decal applied to the side of the plane, so removing just one letter may be impractical.

**Dowters** · 10-11-2014 08:19

Thanks for that. I'll go for the paint over then.

**Thunderbolt** · 10-11-2014 08:44

As far as I know Pattle Gladiator has decal camouflage, not painted one. I'm not sure, but all markings (nationality markings, letter codes etc.) are one one decal. I'm afraid that means you have to remove the whole decal and repaint the plane from the scratch.

**Dowters** · 10-12-2014 12:10

I'm going to have to pluck up courage for that then....

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 10-13-2014 01:35

Rafal is correct, Pattle has overall decals. It is worth experimenting to get a paint match for the sides, rather than strip the whole plane.
Rob.

**Nightbomber** · 10-13-2014 03:28

Originally Posted by Dan-Sam

What about scraping it off by a sharp knife? I removed a white stripe from my He.111 in this way. But you must be very patient...

I would add a little remark to that simple, yet effective soultion, Daniel: The knive should not be too sharp, for one could easily scrap the paint as well

(my own experience!) I use rather blunt ones...

**FarEast** · 10-13-2014 03:37

Ok I have found the following helps;

With a brand new blade in your craft knife lightly go around the decal you wish to remove..... you don't want to leave a visible line just enough to detach the decal from others or it's decal fixing agent.

Then using Vajelo thinner or airbrush cleaner (DO NOT USE TAMIYA OR OTHER PRODUCTS AS THEY WILL REMOVE THE PAINT UNDERNEATH!) soak a cotton bud and slowly rub the decal off you may need to add more thinner/cleaner.

I have done this numerous times..... .do not use Tamiya products as the Airbrush cleaner will strip the paint off down to the metal and also eat away the plastic parts.

**Dowters** · 10-13-2014 08:08

Lots of food for experiments here.

**Thunderbolt** · 10-13-2014 08:36

Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte

It is worth experimenting to get a paint match for the sides, rather than strip the whole plane.
Rob.

It's other way to go, indeed. But even with good paint match, I do not know how the paint will look like on the decal. First, if it sticks to the surface, secondly it can have different shine. I just don't know, haven't tried that before. Anyway it's worth experimenting,. If it will not give satisfactory result, you can always strip the plane, after all.

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 10-13-2014 08:49

I had no trouble painting over one to turn it into a Sea Gladiator.
Rob.

**OldGuy59** · 10-13-2014 09:34

I have experience with only two efforts in regards to this, both reasonably successful.

The dead easy one was my Galland and Molders Bf-109 wingmen: Link

Making the decals was a challenge, but prepping the models took seconds and a sharp knife (a bit too sharp, actually, as I removed a bit of paint)

The Sopwith Triplanes were tougher, as I attempted to match the Ares color with a paint mix. The decal color matching was a nightmare, probably due to the age of the decal material. The overall paint job was fine, but a very, very light buff of sand paper may have helped with the coverage, as I did three or four coats to cover the big red cross on the fuselage (WGF111C). On these planes, I painted the entire fuselage and tail (trying to retain the roundels). It may have been better to disassemble, strip and repaint, but I didn't want to bust up the models.

Ares plane: Link

My Black Flight: Link

**Thunderbolt** · 10-13-2014 09:57

They look cool, Mike

**hawkhurst** · 10-13-2014 10:45

have found some label remover at work it is not suppose to touch the paint but just free up any glue will try in the near future when I come to change my markings.