Long time forum reader 1st post in awhile I need to know what type of paint remover I should use to remove the paint off of a cpl. of p2k locmotives I thought about ELO but I heard that you can use brake fluid, whats the real deal ?[
I’ve used Easy Lift Off (ELO) before with success. However, I’ve also had success simply removing the factory painted letters/logos/etc. with Pine Sol and then painting over the factory paint job. I use a Q-Tip to apply Pine Sol to the letters, let it soak for a while, and then gently rub the area with a dry Q-Tip. It usually takes a few applications, but it usually works. Once they’re gone, be sure to rinse the shell with water prior to painting.
Naturally, whether you remove all the paint or just the letters depends on the existing paint scheme and the new paint scheme to come. If you’re at all cocerned that the old paint might have an effect on the new color (let’s say the original was red and the new color is white), strip it. Unless, of coase you don’t mind painting a few coats of paint (or primer following by a couple of coats). You just need to be careful not to get too many coats of paint on the shell, thus negatively effecting the shell’s details.
Good luck!
Erik
Try Scalecoat Wash-Away paint remover. It works much faster than brake fluid and, unlike brake fluid, it doesn’t react with the styrene in a way that leaves the styrene brittle. I have yet to encounter a paint that the Scalecoat product won’t remove cleanly.
Thanks for the tip.I think I’ll be stripping them down since they will painted another color.
I’ve heard, though, that brake fluid doesn’t work on KATO locomotives. I’ve had succes, however, with CHAMELEON paint remover.
I have heard some real horror stories involving paint removers and some of today’s plastics.
One idea following up on Erik B’s Pine Sol (the “Sol” stands for “solvent” – very mild solvent) idea. Instead of Q Tips try the very small tips sold by, among others, Testors. Q Tips are large and rather gross compared to these Testors, which can be used for paints, for glues, for lubrication (which you do NOT want to use a Q Tip for as the fibers come loose) and I use them for weathering. You will find them in craft stores or in the paint/art section of a hobby shop. You can also bend the stick part for those hard to reach places.
Dave Nelson
Long time forum reader 1st post in awhile I need to know what type of paint remover I should use to remove the paint off of a cpl. of p2k locmotives I thought about ELO but I heard that you can use brake fluid, whats the real deal ?[
I’ve used Easy Lift Off (ELO) before with success. However, I’ve also had success simply removing the factory painted letters/logos/etc. with Pine Sol and then painting over the factory paint job. I use a Q-Tip to apply Pine Sol to the letters, let it soak for a while, and then gently rub the area with a dry Q-Tip. It usually takes a few applications, but it usually works. Once they’re gone, be sure to rinse the shell with water prior to painting.
Naturally, whether you remove all the paint or just the letters depends on the existing paint scheme and the new paint scheme to come. If you’re at all cocerned that the old paint might have an effect on the new color (let’s say the original was red and the new color is white), strip it. Unless, of coase you don’t mind painting a few coats of paint (or primer following by a couple of coats). You just need to be careful not to get too many coats of paint on the shell, thus negatively effecting the shell’s details.
Good luck!
Erik
Try Scalecoat Wash-Away paint remover. It works much faster than brake fluid and, unlike brake fluid, it doesn’t react with the styrene in a way that leaves the styrene brittle. I have yet to encounter a paint that the Scalecoat product won’t remove cleanly.
Thanks for the tip.I think I’ll be stripping them down since they will painted another color.
I’ve heard, though, that brake fluid doesn’t work on KATO locomotives. I’ve had succes, however, with CHAMELEON paint remover.
I have heard some real horror stories involving paint removers and some of today’s plastics.
One idea following up on Erik B’s Pine Sol (the “Sol” stands for “solvent” – very mild solvent) idea. Instead of Q Tips try the very small tips sold by, among others, Testors. Q Tips are large and rather gross compared to these Testors, which can be used for paints, for glues, for lubrication (which you do NOT want to use a Q Tip for as the fibers come loose) and I use them for weathering. You will find them in craft stores or in the paint/art section of a hobby shop. You can also bend the stick part for those hard to reach places.
Dave Nelson