I recently bought three Model Power ML-8 switchers from Hobbylink (I would have bought the Walthers version, but they’re sold out everywhere I looked). They are all number 77 (Conrail). I’m vairly new to the hobby and am in the process of building my layout, starting with the yard.
Does anyone have any experience changing the numbers on a locomotive?
yes i have 30 big boys & as you can figure i had to change a bunch of duplicates
i use microscale union pacific #s for steam
micro set
micro sol
since my locos are black i just sharpy out the white numbers & put micro sol
on the area & where you want it to put the new numbers & after water softening them
slide them off & move them into postion & put microset the decal
let dry.
I spray flat clear over it to blend it into the loco .
other guys will chime in with a better method but thats what i do
Well, there are several options:
Paint over the existing number with Conrail Blue paint. However, it’s very hard to match the existing paint exactly. There are several available CR blues from various companies.
Remove the existing number with paint remover like ScaleCoat Wash Away, 90% alcohol, Testers ELO (Easy Lift Off), etc. None or all may work. Apply with a Q-tip and rub until something happens (it may not). Neutralize with water as soon as the numbers are removed.
Cover over the existing number with Conrail Blue Trim Film TF-23 from Microscale (if the paint matches the film). www.microscale.com Then just decal new numbers over the Trim Film.
Carefully, and with a brand new X-Acto blade, pick away at the existing numbers without damaging the paint or plastic underneath. For those with steady hands only!
Paint over the entire shell, or strip the whole model (in something like Pinesol or alcohol), then paint & decal it. With Conrail, that’s pretty easy since it’s a “dip job” paint scheme.
Be advise that not all paint strippers are good for all plastics. You may want to use a test area first (like inside the shell) to avoid possibly crazing the exterior plastic.
Are you using DCC?
I did something like that some years ago. I had three Athearn “blue box” GP38s in Boston and Maine “bluebird” paint. I found Floquil B&M blue matched the Athearn factory paint just perfectly. (I still have a stash of Floquil) All I had to do was brush paint over the old number and re decal with some numbers from a Microscale GP-38 decal set that matched the Athearn factory lettering in size, color and style.
If you can find a paint that matches the factory Con-rail blue you are in business. Otherwise you can try to get the existing numbers off with out damaging the paint job. Moisten the numbers with Solvaset decal setting compound and then try a pencil eraser. If a Pink Pearl won’t get it, try one of the erasers with some grit in it. You can get them at drafting supply places, or even just a good office supply place.
Here is what they look like.
In my current fleet, there is only one renumbered boxcar. The number was damaged when I bought it from the previous owner who did a terrible job renumbering it.
I took the easy way out and just added a green background decal behind the number to cover the old mistake.
-Kevin
Easiest way to remove factory-applied pad printed lettering is to apply something like Walthers Solvaset, then rub the letters or numbers lightly with a pencil eraser. Work slowly and don’t push too hard. Eventually the lettering will start to dissolve and can be erased off. If you rub too hard or use too much Solvaset, it can affect the paint under the lettering.
Remember, there’s a prototype for everything, so any way to renumber a piece of equipment is good. Patchouts are my favorite way, at least for anything post-1970s.
Sure… but it depends on which prototype you’re trying to represent.
Patchwork doesn’t work really well if you’re trying to represent a series of acquired-new equipment in fairly good shape.
What’s that got to do with painting and lettering?
New DCC users would need to know how to change the locomotive address if they’re following the usual convention of using the engine’s road number as the address.
I would look up the Conrail engine roster for those years and those engines, and pick numbers that actually existed.