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Need a Solution for Faded Areas After Decal Removal

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 9:12 pm
by Downeast25
I am, what I expected to be half way through replacing the decals on my DA40 XL. I have discovered however that after removing old and very sun faded decals, there is too much of a variation on the paint finish of the areas surrounding where the old decals were. I have tried a rubbing compound to blend the areas but I still think the variation is too great. Does anyone have experience with this that can offer a suggestion? I can only think of two possibilities:
1. Replace, the the same decal pattern as before and try to overlay as best as possible. I think this will be next to impossible to accomplish in practice. I also want to change the N#.
2. Figure out how to paint the areas where the fading occurred and blend it in with the rest of the airplane.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Re: Need a Solution for Faded Areas After Decal Removal

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 4:51 am
by theRDWRER
I had this issue when removing the decals on my wing tips. It sucks, but I would advise against doing anything rash and wait a few months since the contrast in the colors subsides quickly. I ultimately had one wingtip painted (there was some hangar rash on it) and the other left alone and now, 6 months later, I can barely see the lines from the old decal on the wingtip that wasn't painted. This is despite my plane being hangared.

Re: Need a Solution for Faded Areas After Decal Removal

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 1:00 pm
by N503TS
3M Perfect-it compound through finishing glaze will restore the gloss to everything but the dullest aircraft but the process is very labor intensive in 3 steps. Depending on how faded the aircraft is you need to keep working the paint finish with a machine and different pad grades using the liquid. Worked a charm when I removed and changed my numbers.
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/e ... mpounding/

Re: Need a Solution for Faded Areas After Decal Removal

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 5:51 pm
by Colin
Of the two offered solutions, the engineer would approve the least-effort method of waiting.

I admit that I am of the "instant gratification is a little slow for my taste" set, so I would borrow one of the electric buffers.

Re: Need a Solution for Faded Areas After Decal Removal

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 8:17 pm
by Lance Murray
You can polish the exterior with compound and it will take the majority of it down but it won't completely go away. That being said it also isn't very noticeable. I flew my Diamond for a few months as a white tail and I am considering going back to it. It actually looks pretty nice in plain white.