relettering/renumbering

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I read somewhere about removing numbers and letters from prepainted cars. A chemical was rubbed onto the unwanted numbers that were then removed, leaving the paint relatively intact. I have in mind to remove the letters from an Atlas S-4 which is painted the color I want. Can anyone help on identifying a chemical that will remove the factory lettering without damaging the factory paint?

Thanks,

CB

2

try a number of things:

  1. Use a common pink pencil eraser on the numbers first. Do not use an ink eraser as it is too abrasive.
  2. Try putting Walthers Solvaset on the numbers and rubbing with a paper towel. On IHC and Rivarossi the number soemtimes don’t come off until the base paint does.
  3. Try somethng like toothpaste or barkeepers friend which doesn’t scratch.

Worst case scenario is repaint the area. Usually when a coat of gloss is put on the egine it disappears fairly well and looks often like someone wiped the numbers clean which happens more than you think.

3

CB;

Solvaset will probably not work, as Atlas (and many others) the lettering is screen or pad printed with the same kind of paint as the rest of the locomotive…

If your S4 was made in Austria, use a Q-tip with one of the chemical paint strippers found at your LHS.

If it was made in China, use a Q-tip with 91% Isopropyl alcohol.

4

CWBurkett, read my thread on an “Excellent Paint Stripper Tip”. Castrol Super Clean on a cotton swab will take those numbers off quick and easy and should not touch the paint under it. -Jack Bullard.

5

A little rubbing alchohol on a q-tip, i hear, works good.

Jay