I just finished doing an N scale F3A in my Wisconsin & Iowa scheme (turned-out great). I ordered a replacement shell from Kato because I was a bonehead and broke the pilot on the original.
Anyway - the shell I ordered was decorated for GN but was listed as “imperfect paint”, which it was since it looked like they did only one coat of the orange on the sides (whereas the nose had, it appeared, two coats). Since it was $10 cheaper and I’d have stripped the paint on the original anyway, I went ahead and bought it for $15.
I used my Chameleon paint stripper and it easily removed the lettering and the orange from the sides. The Brunswick Green came off a bit more stubbornly. But, the orange on the nose was completely resistent to Chameleon. I couldn’t even get a smear let alone get to the bare plastic. The repainting went perfectly and I had no trouble with the undercoat of orange.
Have any of you ever had trouble stripping the Kato-delivered paint work? This is the first time I’ve had this type of issue.
I was about to post a similar question. I have a set of Kato F-units that I wanted to paint for my free-lance railroad. I had heard that Kato did not recommend repainting their models or trying to remove the original paint. The two F7A units are in the Soo scheme (white w/ red lettering). The two B units are B&O and Lackawanna. Does anyone have any suggestions for removing this paint or for repainting?
Kato can say whatever they want but I’m not puttin’ the old paint back on. [:P]
I have stripped several Kato locomotives for repainting (though not in N-scale). I have had 100% success using 91% isopropyl alcohol. This does an excellent job lifting the paint off-all of it. I have never had a problem with the shells afterward either. That’s my recommendation. Hope this helps.
They say that because whatever will remove the paint will cause the plastic to go brittle…
David B
Thanks. I’ll give it a try. It’s worked with other models I’ve repainted.
[8)] Just a gentle word of caution.
I think it was during 2004-05, but more than one modeler posted on this forum they attempted to strip Kato locomotive shells with the 91% alcohol and winded up with ruined shells. The shells were HO.
If you’re going to proceed with the alcohol, go about is safely and consider soaking one small section first. It can be as simple as pouring a small amount into a glass and placing one shell vertically into it whereas only the loco shell’s porch or hood end is soaking. Remove after 10 minutes, scrub immedietly with a toothbrush and check your results.
If that section feels sticky or you see signs of softening or warpage, don’t risk soaking the rest of the body. [;)]
I have used Polly S “Easy Lift Off” paint stripper to remove paint from Kato HOj carriage bodies without any ill effect. I repainted the cars about three years ago,and there is no sign of the plastic deteriorating.
Mark.
I soaked an HO Kato SD38-2 in 91% isopropyl for several hours, no problems whatsoever.