Actually this 'conversion' was ridiculously simple, but quite effective.


There are many great cars that are very hard to find as street versions, but plentiful in various forms of race gear, this Alfa being one of them.


Recently I purchased a small bottle of "miracle liquid" (yep, sounds silly), intended for removing overpaint on plastic Wiking models. Elsewhere I came across this classic Alfa for next to nothing, so I decided to get it and see what would happen.


The original car features numbers on both doors as well as the rear window, and there's also an inscription on the base, naming the drivers and the race.





My first attempt simply involved water on cotton, placed on the decals for 5 minutes, this had absolutely no effect! Time to try the new stuff: I applied some of the 'miracle liquid' on a cotton swab and started rubbed the decals. For a few seconds nothing happened, but then... they dissolved! Before too long all three decals were gone without damaging the paint or the rear window!


This series includes several highly interesting old Alfas. Some have roof-lights and other things making them less suitable for conversion, but many, like this one, are plain street cars with decals (standard interior as well) and I've seen them sold for as little as €2-3!!!


I've got one more (a 1900 SS Zagato), and more will surely follow!

good one Teebodk, some times the decals spoil the overall look of a model.

Tee, do you have a link to the site you bought this stuff from??? I would like to try it out. From time to time I have decals to remove and replace for customers or for myself. This sounds like a lot faster than hot water. Besides, your impatient. It takes about half an hour or longer to soak old decals off of a paint job and then I have to use a wooden stick or my finger nail to remove it. 5 minutes does nothing to any decals, even new ones once they are set. Even Decal Sol does not work that fast.

Looks like you took the writing off the plinth too.

 


 


Sure, I got it here www.ebay.co.uk/itm/X1-Zaubermittel-zur-R...;hash=item3f0e90c75f - good seller, by the way, very fair prices on (combined) shipping: I paid €16 for shipping of this bottle + 21 1/43 scale models, including several minivans and small trucks (Ford Transit). Not many 1/43 models offered, but what's there is cheaper than anywhere else I've seen.


I thought 5 minutes of water soaking would be enough with the decals? Hmm, guess you're right about me being impatient


Yes, I removed the writing from the plinth as well.

Teebodk, Very nice. dinkyboy

Very good Tee, I am going to order a bottle too