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I just got an Energon Galvatron figure in the mail today,m only to realize that whoever had previously owned it decided to add accents to the figure in either a fine-tipped black marker or a ball-point pen. Sadly he did a bad job of it too or I wouldn't be as PO'd as I am.

How can I remove the ink without damaging the figure?

I've never ever tried it myself but I know acetone or rubbing alcahol would probably remove it. Only trouble is if there is paint underneath any of these pen accents it might take that off to..

Only other option I can think of may sound completely foolish, but depending on the type of pen/ink this person used in the first place, warm water and a soft scouring pad might do the trick. Some of the markers I use can be removed using that, though the longer its been on there the harder it may be to remove.

Hope this helps Mkall.. let us know how you get on!!

Well, at the suggestion of someone who I took as an expert on the subject, I tried fingernail polish, and boy did it work! The pen marks were just wiping away with minimal effort with no visible affect on the base paint scheme, I was excited until I started to use it on the purple wings. That's when I noticed the purple fading along the lines that I was using the remover on. Now that the figure is, in my eyes, worth next to nothing, and that he wasn't complete to begin with (missing energon star and his sword), I'm keeping him as a shelf warmer until I find another complete one, and then will be giving him to a buddy of mine for kitbash fodder.

Oh well, I've learned my lesson.

Nail varnish remover/acetone?

Shame you've already done it Mkall.. I was just about to come back to this thread and suggest acetone free nail varnish remover.. as it's less abrasive on the exsisting paint.

Ah well.. as you said.. lesson learned!! Hope you manage to find a complete Galvatron.

I would never suggest nail polish remover as it damages the plastic very easily. I do however suggest that you use Isopropyl Alcohol 99% if that is unavailable to you get the 70% stuff. With Isopropyl Alcohol you can put a piece of a TF in a bath of it overnight. Then in the morning pull it out and with a slight wipe with a cloth, Kleenex or even a toothbrush (make sure it's not yours) the paint basically falls right off. I have left a piece of a TF in a bath for over a week with no ill effect on it. I hope that helps you out for next time that you need to remove paint/ink, etc...