Need a Solution for Faded Areas After Decal Removal

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Downeast25
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Need a Solution for Faded Areas After Decal Removal

Post 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.
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theRDWRER
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Re: Need a Solution for Faded Areas After Decal Removal

Post 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.
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N503TS
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Re: Need a Solution for Faded Areas After Decal Removal

Post 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/
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Colin
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Re: Need a Solution for Faded Areas After Decal Removal

Post 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.
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Lance Murray
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Re: Need a Solution for Faded Areas After Decal Removal

Post 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.
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