Run EightMDC Roundhouse in final year or so of production (Carson City, Nevada), switch plastics for it's kits, from the black to gray for undecorated/decorated and in some cases, using plastics, which match the color of the road for which kits were lettered for...
I think that the latter was the case for the car shown below. I used methyl hydrate to remove the lettering - it pretty-well just wiped off, although, as you can see in the photo, it left a ghost image...
...which didn't show on the finished car...
A couple of other options would be Easy Lift-Off (formerly from Pollyscale) and Superclean. I've generally had good success with Superclean, but stripping the factory paint from a Bachmann tender seemed to soften the plastic somewhat - this effect disappeared once washed with dish detergent and warm water, and there seem to be no lasting ill effects.
Wayne
Pine sol works, but everything I've ever done lives with a vaguely piney smell afterwards. I recently stripped a few MDCs and good old 91% isopropyl combined with aggressive toothbrushing did the trick. The lettering on the youngest of the set was very stubborn. I resorted to sanding it off with a sanding stick, but even after that, you can see ghostly lettering under the right light and angle.
I haven't tried any of the last MDC cars but I've had a lot of success using Pine-Sol as a stripper. Use gloves as it removes the oil in your skin and can become a real issue.
oldline1
MDC Roundhouse in final year or so of production (Carson City, Nevada), switch plastics for it's kits, from the black to gray for undecorated/decorated and in some cases, using plastics, which match the color of the road for which kits were lettered for.
I have a last production decorated boxcar, which I would like to strip lettering from, as the road paint scheme is matched colored plastic.
The project, will be for the primary prototype carrier, which I model, paint scheme, using dry transfer letter to decorate.
Have tried the old stand by, using automotive hydraulic brake fluid in attempts to remove the stamped lettering. Using fresh, clean brake fluid and soaking for a 12 plus hour period.
Not successful.
Has any reader had the same problem?
Have not purchased a commercial paint remover from Wm K. Walthers and currently do not know if this would be effective for the job.