Removing BLI Lettering?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’ve been nominated to reletter one of our club’s Broadway Limited light mikados. While I’ve seen lots of products suggested for removing lettering on other brands of models, I’ve not seen anything specific about BLI locomotives. If anyone has relettered a BLI loco, I’d appreciate knowing what you used to remove the factory lettering and how well it worked for you.

Thanks,
Tom Watkins

2

Can’t help you because they came already lettered N&W (I got an undec Mikado too). But, I will bet money PineSol will take that paint off. It’s the ONLY thing I have found that will strip 25 years old Rivarossi tenders, including brake fluid (new and old types), several airbrush solvents, auto wheel cleaner, Simple Green, Super Orange or whatever it’s called, that Scalecoat stripper stuff, and Microsol. I may have tried something else too, I don’t remember.

3

Microscale MicroSol works as it dissolves and breaks down the pad printed letters on some factory painted models. It’s not so strong as to eat through everything on contact. It kinda makes the paint krinkle up like a decal as it penetrates.

4

Love it, Virginian (or can we call you VGN?)! [^] [bow]

I’m sure PineSol is a bit cheaper than any of the others, too. I trust it doesn’t destroy styrene.

Care to expand a bit on your technique?

5

I used a product called “Goo Gone” and a facial tissue to remove all the lettering from two of the BLI On30 2-8-0 Christmas locomotives. It only took a very slight rubbing and all the lettering was removed without bothering any ofthe paint on the locomotives.

6

Excellent! Thank you all for the information. I really appreciate it. On this one, I’d rather not completely strip the paint, just reletter and then weather, so your suggestions really will help.

Thanks Again,
Tom Watkins

7

Excellent information. I have tried the Athearn trick and it didn’t work after many minutes even on their own product, a Genesis CRR SD-45-2.