I was wondering what the best way to remove factory applied pain from a plastic shell. Thanks. Andrew
There are many ways to remove factory paint but most methods won’t work for all paints. Brake fluid will remove many manufacturer’s paints but can damage some plastics, as I discovered on an Atlas S2 switcher. One of my preferred methods is methyl hydrate, availaible in hardware stores. This stuff works well on Athearn, Roundhouse and some others. With care, you can use a little on a rag to remove just the lettering if you wish. Polly Scale makes a product called EASY-LIFT-OFF, which is useful for removing lettering and will also remove almost all types of paint. It is, however, fairly expensive: I have a small (8 ounce) can that I bought several years ago for about $11.00.
It is extremely important to use all of these products with adequate ventilation and preferably while wearing the proper respirator. The latter two products are flammable and it is also adviseable to wear rubber gloves and safety glasses when handling any chemicals. In particular, methyl hydrate is readily absorbed through the skin and harmful vapours from any chemical are easily absorbed through the eyes. Model railroading may be fun but it can also be dangerous.
Whatever product you use, you’ll probably need to scrub the shell to remove stubborn areas of paint. An old toothbrush works well for this. After all of the paint has been removed, be sure to wash the shell in warm water and dish detergent to remove all residual chemicals that could affect the new paint job.
I hope this is of some assistance.
I have removed paint from Proto 2000 units by using the alcohol that is not the rubbing kind. I found it in Walmart. I get 2-3 bottles and some aluminum baking pans. I then place the shell in the pan and pour enough in to cover at least half of the shell while it is laying on its side. Let it soak for a few hours and then gently scrub the shell if you need to with a tooth brush. Worked for me on one that was even repainted with a light coat of Floquill paint. Just my two cents worth.
Thanks for all the help i just have one question about how much will the methyl hydrate cost me? Thanks. Andrew
Haven’t bought any recently but I’m pretty sure that it was under $10.00 per gallon. Don’t leave the container open any longer than necessary, 'cause this stuff evaporates quite readily.
Okay, stupid question. Why is it necessary to remove the factory applied paint? Couldn’t you just paint over it?
Or is it a concern about paint buildup hiding detail? Or factory applied lettering showing through (raised areas under the new paint)?
Thanks
Ed (who hasn’t yet started to do much repainting… obviously)