I’m attempting to paint an old Tyco Diesel known as “Golden Eagle” (what it really is I haven’t a clue - looks like a GP30, with high, flat nose and 13 stantions on long side, 6 wheel trucks, 1 set powered) in my own RR colors. But I must first remove the Gold paint as supplied. It may even have been cold plated on (Yes, cold plated Gold!). I’ve tried Automotive Brake Fluid but that took the gold sheen off and left a Silver coating.
Any other suggestions that wont effect the plastic and the details there-on?
I heard that 401 cleaner will also work. I would try it on a cheap shell first to kind of get feel for it. Another stripper is brake fluid, I’ve used this with great success. Follow with and alcohol bath then soap and water.
Start with 91% (or higher) isopropyl acohol. Failing that, go to regular Pine-Sol. I think that Pine-Sol worked on my last Tyco shell, but it was a while ago so I’m not certain.
Thanks to each and everyone who responded, and forgive me for not responding sooner as I have been painting, lettering, golfing, travelling, keeping wife happy, etc.
I didn’t get the base, silver coat off as I didn’t wait for all the suggestions, but went ahead and painted the whole engine with 2 coats of water based red primer. With 2 coats of CP Tucson Red and 2 coats of CP Grey she looks just fine (all brushed on & water based). It looks good.
Thanks to “locomotive3” for 91% Isoprop Alchy idea; “emeraldisle” for 401 idea; “emdgp92” for Easy-Off idea; and “BentnoseWillie” for PineSol Idea and again the 91% Alcohol idea ( although I have trouble painting after the latter).
Also thanks to “BentnoseWillie” my diesel now has a name. Funny thing, when I read the footnotes on my CP paint scheme plan, this was the identity I was using for the colors. However it stated That CP’s MLW made units had low noses and even sugested to make a CP unit, replace the cab and nose on the Tyco C630 from a Tyco C430 – Which I also just happen to have as a derelic CN body shell. However, I’m going to leave well enough alone and be satisfied with my High Nose C630 as my unit will have CP colors but raod name YAHOO MODEL RAILWAY (or YMR for short) and astory line that it was a first run ALCO unit given to CP for Demo Trials and sold cheep to the YMR when CP retired their Fleet of C630 as this was an odd one!!!
its so funny you are asking to find what takes paint off…since most of us try and keep the paint on our models and struggle to find things that will clean them without taking off the finish. So use everything, but those things listen on here that wont get paint off…lol
I just tried a product from Home Depot called “OOPS!, Painter’s Wipes”. It is real cheap and all you do is wipe the car and the paint just comes off. Afterwards I washed the car with soap and water and let it dry. I’ve done this to several Con-Cor & Rivarossi passenger cars with no ill effects. All of these cars have been repainted and decaled. It certainly was a heck of a lot cheaper than using the commercially available paint removal chemicals in the local hobby shops.
Occasionally one must remove or destroy to rebuild better or more to liking or wants. I just picked up a nice cupola caboose, the base color is correct but the heralds are not the road name I model so I will remove the herald and replace it with new paint and decals. Just like a prototype does when it acquires equiptment.
I keep a few scrapped kits around on the bench just for purpose of testing to learn what works before applying the method to a hard-to-find-will-never-be-made-again discontinued-and-never-will-be-seen-anywhere-in-my-life-time model that I spend a year or two trying to acquire.
I’m repainting all of the duplicates that I’ve somehow gathered over the years - they are typically found in starter sets across the country. These will now become the roadname stock for my railroad… thanks for all the paint removal tips.
I’m attempting to paint an old Tyco Diesel known as “Golden Eagle” (what it really is I haven’t a clue - looks like a GP30, with high, flat nose and 13 stantions on long side, 6 wheel trucks, 1 set powered) in my own RR colors. But I must first remove the Gold paint as supplied. It may even have been cold plated on (Yes, cold plated Gold!). I’ve tried Automotive Brake Fluid but that took the gold sheen off and left a Silver coating.
Any other suggestions that wont effect the plastic and the details there-on?
I heard that 401 cleaner will also work. I would try it on a cheap shell first to kind of get feel for it. Another stripper is brake fluid, I’ve used this with great success. Follow with and alcohol bath then soap and water.
Start with 91% (or higher) isopropyl acohol. Failing that, go to regular Pine-Sol. I think that Pine-Sol worked on my last Tyco shell, but it was a while ago so I’m not certain.
Thanks to each and everyone who responded, and forgive me for not responding sooner as I have been painting, lettering, golfing, travelling, keeping wife happy, etc.
I didn’t get the base, silver coat off as I didn’t wait for all the suggestions, but went ahead and painted the whole engine with 2 coats of water based red primer. With 2 coats of CP Tucson Red and 2 coats of CP Grey she looks just fine (all brushed on & water based). It looks good.
Thanks to “locomotive3” for 91% Isoprop Alchy idea; “emeraldisle” for 401 idea; “emdgp92” for Easy-Off idea; and “BentnoseWillie” for PineSol Idea and again the 91% Alcohol idea ( although I have trouble painting after the latter).
Also thanks to “BentnoseWillie” my diesel now has a name. Funny thing, when I read the footnotes on my CP paint scheme plan, this was the identity I was using for the colors. However it stated That CP’s MLW made units had low noses and even sugested to make a CP unit, replace the cab and nose on the Tyco C630 from a Tyco C430 – Which I also just happen to have as a derelic CN body shell. However, I’m going to leave well enough alone and be satisfied with my High Nose C630 as my unit will have CP colors but raod name YAHOO MODEL RAILWAY (or YMR for short) and astory line that it was a first run ALCO unit given to CP for Demo Trials and sold cheep to the YMR when CP retired their Fleet of C630 as this was an odd one!!!
its so funny you are asking to find what takes paint off…since most of us try and keep the paint on our models and struggle to find things that will clean them without taking off the finish. So use everything, but those things listen on here that wont get paint off…lol