I have a few Proto 2000 Lehigh Valley GP38-2’s that I would like to renumber.
What would be the best choice for decals that would would match the current numbers on the side of the cab?
I will be doing renumbering on eight locomotives, but before I start, I have a couple other questions:
The Picture:
You will prbably have to experiment to find which solvent removes the numbers without the body paint. Usually manufacturers silk screen the lettering and numbers and they can be a pain to get off. Every time I have stripped a RIvarossi car the last to go was the lettering so you have to be prepared that you might have to repaint the area around the numbers. I have somewhat successfully removed lettering with Solvaset, Microscale decal setting solution and softscrub with a soft brush. Others have tried other materials. as to color match unless somebody knows check the model against the color samples at a hobby shop. Don’t use the bottles as color dries differently. Use the little sample.
deharmon
ive used 91% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) full strength with a q tip. also check the microscal website as they make decals for every known railroad, i also believe that they have Lehigh Valley decals as well, heres the web site www.microscale.com
hope this helps
If the number is a light color (as in the sample shown), I’ll just paint over the number with a close match to the dark color. I then use decals for the new numbers, put a couple of coats of Dullcoat on for sealing, and use weathering to take care of any paint mismatches.
Solvaset and gentle rubbing is usually the best, but always check first. You can also try Pinesol, which works well on Kato models. Be careful with rubbing alcohol, it can strip the paint off P2K models.
But no matter how careful you are, odds are the paint will need touched up slightly. As Threadslayer said, some weathering and Dullcoat will blend everything together.
Nick Brodar
Lettering on modern models is not silk-screened, but pad printed. The ink (which is really a type of paint) is transferred from an engraved plate to the model by a silicone rubber pad of the appropriate size and shape.
After reading all the messages, and doing some careful thinking, I have come up with success!!!
Thank you all.
What I chose to use was Microsol and the q-tip method. Using a q-tip dipped in Microsol, and a 10x magnifying glass I was able to remove most of the old numbers. The remainder I used a small piece of strip wood sharpened like a chisel and scraped away what was left.
There is a little color difference, but that can be covered up when I weather her.
