May not be a 'factory job', but I thought this discussion from a brass forum might be added here.
QUESTION:
I recently aquired a couple of brass passenger cars that had been neatly painted and decals applied. I am not entirely sure if a sealing coat had been applied over the decals or not.
However, the decals are silvering in places, and I want to remove them and apply a different roadname.
Any tips on how to do this without marring the paint? The paint job itself is in quite good shape and I want to preserve it, if possible.
Thanks
ANSWER:
If they have silvered, that means air is underneath them, and the aberrancy is less than optimal.
Get a razor blade or scalpel, and very gently cut through the film. VERY gently - it is almost no pressure at all. Then, first, try water. Put it on a paint brush and brush water on liberally. Let it sit for a while, and with a q-tip rub gently. Keep it damp, repeat. If that doesn't work in 10-15 minutes, try microsol (or other decal setting solution) and repeat the steps before, substituting solution for water. The solution will soften the film and should allow you to rub it off. This really doesn't matter if the car has been sealed or not, the scratches in the film in the first step is to allow the liquid to get under the decal.
Buff the spot(s) out, and you *might* have to gloss over it for the new decal. Brass is sometimes easier for this operation, as the paint is usually harder (due to baking) and the decal didn't have a chance to snuggle into it. (Use a microfiber "rag" for buffing - also great for glass, especially, filmed glass).