looking for ideas how to remove decals from a locomotive shell. Its a athearn locomotive
Are you talking factory applied markings or user-added decals?
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Model Railroader had a feature recently about how to remove factory applied insignias and alogos from locomotives as a beginning of a Private Road Name paint scheme.
If you want to remove user-added decals, the best thing I have found is "DACO Strong" decal setting solution. Soak the decal with DACO and wipe it away with an industrial paper towel (paper shop rag). It will usually come right off. I use this method if I goof a decal for the Stratton and Gillette RR.
Usually if you want to remove someone else's decals, you will want to remove the paint also. This requires more work.
I hope some of this helped.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Direct from Athearn. It shows the process Kevin described on Athearn freight cars, but their painting process should be the same across the board:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gf7xqIHGMQ
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.