Remove 'scudding' from red brick?

[AC92]

Hi All,
Cross posted from plastering - I hope that's OK....

I'm currently opening up a fire place in my house: http://imgur.com/a/oYh7W

You'll see the red bricks are covered in what I believe is called scudding, which for some reason was applied before stubbing the wall off with plasterboard?!

I'd like to remove that material to expose the genuine red brick below, the whole chimney breast floor to ceiling - make it into a feature.

Do you know if/how its possible to remove the scudding without damaging the bricks/mortar? I tried a little with a wall scraper and a hammer but I doubt neither my arms nor the bricks will survive the ordeal...

Thanks.

 

[chappers]

Highly unlikely removing anything from bricks will rarely leave them as original. Maybe brick acid and some serious scrubbing.
There are some brick restoration companies out there that may be able to do something.