Hello All! I am new to the Model Railroading community and I am very excited to be a part of this fun and creative group of model rail roaders. I have a G Scale steam loco with a damaged and worn plastic engineer glued into the cab. I would like to remove it. (He is connected and glued at the seat. Also have a fireman that I want to remove from the tender) I've read a lot about various glues for 'temporary' adhering them into trains and sets, but could not find anything about removal. I was thinking of simply breaking them off at the base or contact point. - Is there a safer way of removing these plastic figures that have been pre-glued into the trains? Thank you all in advance!
Try using acetone (fingernail polish remover). Use a toothpick to apply small single drops at a time. Not only will it attack the glue, it will also attack the plastic. Take care while doing this and no real noticible damage will be done. Allow to dry and harden back up before attaching new figures.
Tom Trigg
I use "Mueseum Glue" to attach my figures. It stays plyable and easy removable for years at a time. I get mine at Michael's craft shop.
I might suggest trying to determine what glue was used. If it was "hot glue" you can normally just pull on it to release, or if it is really blobbed on, I have used needle nose pliers to grab a chunk and pull it off.
Also, test the acetone on a hidden piece of plastic in the cab to be sure it does not attack the plastic. G scale manufacturers are well known for using several different types of plastic in the same loco at the same time.
Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
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