Hi, just wondering if any body relettered and numbered a BLI locomotive? I am modeling the Escanaba & Lake Superior railroad and jsut about all of their locomotives are relettered or leased power. I am contemplating buying a SD40-2 Conrail from BLI and trying to remove the logos numbers. Is this possible or would I have to do a complete repaint?
Thanks in advance
I have done this several times with different loco's. I have done it twice with BLI steamers. The key is to go slowly. The safest most effective way I found is to use the white block erasures you can get in any school supply section of your local store, a fresh bottle of Microsol and some good masking tape like Tamiya's. The key is to rub off the lettering you want without taking off what you don't including the underlying paint. Mask off the area you do want to take off, put down some Microsol and start rubbing with the erasure. The reason I use the bigger block type is that pencil erasures metal enclosure can leave scratches. The beauty of this method is that eventually the lettering will come off leaving a polished area perfect for the decal lettering that you want.
SB
blabrideThe safest most effective way I found is to use the white block erasures you can get in any school supply section of your local store, a fresh bottle of Microsol and some good masking tape like Tamiya's. The key is to rub off the lettering you want without taking off what you don't including the underlying paint.
A question. Is this method for removing painted on lettering or decals. Obviously, I don't know if the original lettering typically is decal or paint.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Sorry, I should have clarified that. Yes, I am talking about factory paint jobs. I am not sure what to do if they are painted on instead of decals.
BLI does not use decals (except they provide them for certain brass hybrids when they provide a few un-road-numbered models). The lettering is otherwise painted on.
Most manufacturers do not use decals on rtr locomotives; it is only the (relatively few) un-numbered locomotives that come with decals. Most HO engines are sold with painted on lettering.
The method described above, with the Microsol, will work to remove painted on lettering. It just takes some work and patience, and will leave a shiny spot where the lettering was, suitable for decaling...I have done it, too.
You are using the same solvent normally used to make decals become a part of the surface to slowly "dissolve" the painted on lettering.
The C&NW bought some E8s from Kansas City Southern.If you got close enough to them, you could see the ghostly outline of the KCS lettering and striping. The C&NW did NOT!!! strip the engines before painting them.My recommendation is that you don't worry about it either. The E&LS is a road with not much money, it would not surprise me if they adopted the same tactic as the "Cheap & Nothing Wasted."
Also, I've seen the E&LS SD-9s in person, and the panels where they painted over the "Reserve Mining" name on the sides and logos on the ends are not the same color as the main colors, and photos of SD40-2 501 show that the under the window panel does not quite match the rest of the engine.Honestly, don't worry about it. The real railroads don't.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Bayfield Transfer Railway The C&NW bought some E8s from Kansas City Southern.If you got close enough to them, you could see the ghostly outline of the KCS lettering and striping. The C&NW did NOT!!! strip the engines before painting them.My recommendation is that you don't worry about it either. The E&LS is a road with not much money, it would not surprise me if they adopted the same tactic as the "Cheap & Nothing Wasted." Also, I've seen the E&LS SD-9s in person, and the panels where they painted over the "Reserve Mining" name on the sides and logos on the ends are not the same color as the main colors, and photos of SD40-2 501 show that the under the window panel does not quite match the rest of the engine.Honestly, don't worry about it. The real railroads don't.
Yea, just about all of there power has obvious signs of the former road they bought them from. I agree, I am not concerned with the old paint being completely removed, it will give it a more authentic look.