Yes Alan you need to find some way to save the decals.Either by masking up or removing.The easiest way I have found to remove them is by electrolysis as that destroys the paint underneath and the decal just falls off all in tacked and one piece and by using electrolysis you remove all the rust and have clean metal to start your work.Then after painting you could glue them back on.You won't find any new decals as yours seem to be a lot different to any auto drives I've found out here.Also (Don't know how fussy you are,I know I am)but these decals were originally done with a foil backing,and nobody does decals with foil backing.As the cost alone is just far to expensive.As for painting you cowl it shouldn't be that hard as they are made of some kind of fiber not plastic,(the later model auto drives were plastic but not this model)you should be able to (after removing the black paint) just rub it back with about 400 grit wet and dry sandpaper (with some soapy water) then just blow you colour over that.
What a great job you have done there, They look superb..!!
It did cross my mind to repaint mine, I hoped it had just been painted black but unfortunately the cowl I have is a plastic replacement. At some stage someone has also drilled a hole in the top of it (that has cracks around it) to fit a stop switch. I suppose there may be a way to repair it (I may have to) but getting that lime green colour right would be a challenge especially in a plastic paint formula.
The easiest way I have found to remove them is by electrolysis as that destroys the paint underneath and the decal just falls off
Wow, sounds interesting.. I've got some learning to do.!! What equipment would I need to do this?
