What is the best way to remove old ratty paint from a tender and not mar the brass finish underneath? open to any suggestions as long as they are correct.thanks — Keith
Depending on what paint was used on the tender, any one of a number of paint strippers should work. Start with 91% isopropyl alcohol, and work your way up to more aggressive stuff only if needed. Use an old tooth bru***o brush off the paint. A model might need a few 1/2 hour or longer soakings in alcohol to completely remove the paint.
One thing to remember: that “brass finish” that most people equate with brass models is really paint. REAL brass comes in all sorts of natural colors, and will discolor further when the assemblers apply heat to the model to solder on parts. If you see solder on a model, it’s naked brass. If you DON’T see solder, it’s been painted.