I need some advice! What would be the best way to remove factory decals from and Atlas shell? I am trying to achieve this result:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=79413&nseq=1
from this:
As you can see the big ‘FRV’ on the long hood needs to go. Would it be best to get some kind of decal remover, or can I take it off with Solvaset? If some paint would happen to fade/dull in the process, it would just add to the realism [:-^]
No one knows how! [sigh]
Factory applied lettering, stripes and such are not decals, they are painted on. Do you want to just remove the lettering or all of the paint? Some methods work on some models, other methods can make a mess. You will need to specify exactly what you want to to.
If what I think you are trying to remove the FRV from the long hood without affecting the underlying paint too much I used a little Solvaset to “loosen” up the paint and an eraser to remove the BNSF on a ATHEARN warbonnet dash 9 and decalled it for ATSF. It didn’t affect the underlying paint too much but I did touch it up a bit afterwards. I presume it’ll work for an Atlas loco but don’t know that.
I wouldn’t try and remove the FRV, I would paint a patch over it as per the photo you provided. Looks like some weathering is in order as well.
I think I might try that. When I put the last patch on this morning I put some solvaset on a small part of the F. I picked at it a bit with a dental pic, I started to get some black to lift off but not a noticeable amount. I think the eraser might help.
The letters look too thick to just paint over. I think you would still be able to see them raised thru the paint. But if all else fails that might be what I’ll have to do.
[
] I think I’ll have to wait on that until I have the courage to try weathering.