Stripping factory paint

[Track1]

Hi Folks,

I have acquired a USA GP7 Locomotive.  I would like to strip off the factory paint, Silver and Purple Atlantic Coast Line, add CNJ appropriate details and repaint it in CNJ Livery.  Having been away from model trains for a few years and doing this more times than I can remember with HO Locomotives many years ago I'm sure the plastics used today are much different that those used years ago.  Soaking the plastic locomotive shell in PineSol or Break Fluid was the preferred method to remove paint.  Are these methods still good on today's models or is there a better {safer for the plastic} way to go.

Thank you in advance and ain't this a great hobby!

Bill in Northern NJ

 

[cacole]

In order to be UV and weather proofed, I'm sure the plastic used in our G-scale shells is radically different than for an HO scale model, and the paint is probably also quite different and applied in a much thicker coating.  

Have you tried contacting USA trains to see what they may recommend?  These models are made in the USA so they should know what will work and what won't.

https://www.charlesro.com/g_scale.htm

[Track1]

Thank you I will try  that

Bill

[kstrong]

Brake fluid is still a favorite for removing paint, though some have turned to bead-blasting to remove the paint. Basically, you use an airbrush to sandblast the model with very fine powder (some folks use baking powder or baking soda, I forget which).

Personally, unless you're particularly insistent on having a clean surface, I'd just paint over what's there. Through a coat of primer on it, and if there are any noticeable lines, have at them with some steel wool. Then re-prime and you should be good to go. That, and if you look closely at re-painted prototypes, you can clearly see the old paint under the new.

Later,

K

[kstrong]

I stumbled across another product - Scalecoat "Rinseaway" - while reading another forum:

http://www.gscaletrainforum.com/index.php?/topic/185-paint-removal/

Looks promising.

Later,

K

[Track1]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply

Happy RRing!

Bill

[smcgill]

Try the Purple degreaser  found in Walmart.