GE 70 ton remove handrails for paintjob

[faraway]

I plan to repaint some of my Bachmann GE 70 tons switchers (Modesto & Empire Traction Comp paint scheme).

I need to remove the handrails to do the required masking tape job. On all of my engines are the handrails perfect glued to the shell. None of the stanchions can be removed without destruction.

The web has some photos of wonderful repainted GE 70 ton switchers. There must be a way to do it I did not think about. How did you do it?

[mlehman]

Reinhard,

Presume we're talking HO here? I painted my locos in the mostly black Rio Grande switcher scheme and just left the handrails black. I do need to go back and paint the handrails by the steps for visibility and will just use a Microbrush to do that.I don't really recall how I broke them down to paint, but probably just shot them with black with minimal masking.

However, this may not work if you have contrasting handrails the whole length and you'd prefer a nice spray-painted finish on them. You may be stuck with masking everything but the handrails and spraying them last? But I'm no paint expert.

[faraway]

Unfortunately  can only the lower part stay black but the center is white and the top is read. I need to work with masking tape. The handrails can be hand painted later but they are in the way to put the masking tape in place.

[green_elite_cab]

Bachmann is notorious for gluing everything.  I think they do it because they're trying to reduce the sound of the engine components shaking, (or perhaps damage in the box?).

On my Acela locomotives, they actually glued the shell to the frame, preventing me from accessing the locomotive's 8-pin plugs for DCC.   It took a few hours of careful prying to break the glue, and it would have been very easy to put digs and scrapes into it.  

In the case of hand rails though, I don't know how you'd get them out.  I've heard of people using acetone to break super glue bonds,  but I'm not sure thats a good idea in this case.  

 

Fortuneately in your case, the 70-tonner is a small engine,  so even though its going to be a pain to mask, it shouldn't be to much trouble in the long run.