The "decorations" on factory equipment is either decals (labor intensive), pad painted (like a stamp pad but done with paint), heat stamped (technique were the decorations are "branded" onto the object using a metal stamp and a paint foil), and finally photo etched paint masks. You can detect heat stamping by feeling decoration for a slightly raised edge where the stamp made contact with the shell. Water slide decals usually have a slight clear edge that you can see if you look at the decal with a magnifying glass. These can be removed by using decal solutions like Solvaset to soften and remove them. Photo etched and pad painted material can be removed using a product like PolyScale EZ lift off. Please be careful with this stuff. It may remove paint you didn't intend to. Q Tips and cotton balls and a well ventilated place to work are also required.
Can be extremely hard to tell at times, and I know nothing about Lionel and how
they're painted and lettered.
Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!
locomutt wrote: Are they actual decals, or "Stamped Lettering"?
Are they actual decals, or "Stamped Lettering"?
How can you tell the difference? I applied the a test letter from the dry rub decals that I bought to a VHS tape and held it up next to the tender in the photo and they sure looked the same to me.
If they're decals, you might try putting a "Decal Setting Solution" such as
Walthers "Solvaset" on them and waiting a couple of minutes, and and and wiping off with a rag.
I've removed "Decals" this way for years and never had a problem.
Ok, I got my Polar Express tender and my Woodland Scenics dry rub decals, and I'm ready to begin transfering the lease from the Polar Express to the Pere Marquette. But, I want to remove the original decals in a "safe" way. I tried a sample spot on the "tm" (trademark) with an eraser and I think it just managed to polish the tender, I can't tell if I've removed anything or not with it.
So what I'm needing are some techniques for removing these decals that will not harm the tender. I don't mind applying sealant and dull coat but I don't want to repaint. Any suggestions out there?
Thanks again Scott, I know I said that the next time you saw this it would be different, but I just had to show it.
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