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removing re-decaling numbers stencils

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  • Member since
    March 2023
  • 43 posts
removing re-decaling numbers stencils
Posted by John Gray on Saturday, November 11, 2023 1:09 PM

I need to re-number some engines, how to get the old ones off without taking off the base paint. My GP9athern engine numbers are wrong and non-existent in real life.

John

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    February 2020
  • 52 posts
Posted by sandjam on Saturday, November 11, 2023 2:44 PM
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    March 2023
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Posted by John Gray on Sunday, November 12, 2023 6:51 PM

thank you 

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    March 2023
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Posted by John Gray on Monday, November 20, 2023 4:40 PM

my old BB athearn locos lettering is painted on, micro-sol has done nothing so far but smear the paint somewhat, kind of making the thing look weathered, old crap paint I suppose.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 12:56 PM

I have a couple of old Athearn Geeps that are no longer functional, but I like to run them as either dummies or sound dummies, so they are just shells with decoders and lights.  They are the black and orange Milwaukee Road colors, so I mask the lower half off, spray the top half with good black model paint and put the decals on there.

That's a good time for weathering the engine and you'd might as well do the trucks, too.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by John Gray on Friday, December 1, 2023 4:47 PM

MisterBeasley; that is what's going to happen GP9 -7 lights only 

still have to renumber them.

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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, December 1, 2023 5:04 PM

I had my Athearn Geeps as a teenager, back in the 50s and 60s.  I couldn't part with them.  They're like old friends.  Even as dummies, they live on and enhance my current layout, even decades after their mechanical demise.

I bought a Walthers GP9M, a rebuild of an old Geep.  Just to be an anti-rivet-counter, I took an old Geep and numbered it the same as the one that became the GP9M.  I smile when I run them in a consist.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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    February 2008
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Posted by kasskaboose on Monday, December 4, 2023 7:29 AM

I re-numbered using rubing alcohol to rub off the old number(s) or the back of a hobby knife.  Some have used pencil erasers.  Not sure if there's a secret formula, but it seems there are options.

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  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
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Posted by dknelson on Monday, December 4, 2023 11:55 AM

There is a crap-shoot element to removing lettering or numbers while trying to preserve the base paint.  I usually use isopropyl alcohol and it can work but there seems to be a "magic moment" where suddenly the base paint gives way.  

My method is to use an artist's implement called a tortillon or tortillion, sometimes also knows as a Conte pencil or blending stump.  Tightly wound shaft or stick of paper shaped like a pencil, with a sharp end.   Paper is actually abrasive which is why paper cuts hurt so much, and which is why people who sew have dedicated sissors which they NEVER use to cut paper.

I get diluted isopropyl alcohol (90% and even 70% seems too strong) -- WalMart sells a 50% isopropyl that works for me -- and the sharp point on the tortillon allows you to focus on the letter(s) or number(s) at hand.  I actually practised this on some junker freight cars, ideally of the same make as what you are working on.  If you decide you need to dilute the WalMart isopropyl alcohol even more, use distilled water not tap water.

The nice thing is that rubbing with the tortillon makes the surface smooth enough that once the letters or numbers are gone, you are ready to decal at that place, no need to spray gloss medium as prep for the decal.

I went into this and other uses for the tortillon in my Frugal Modeler column in the NMRA Midwest Region  Waybill for Summer 2019.  

waybillsum19 (foxvalleydivision.org)

Dave Nelson

 

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    March 2023
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Posted by John Gray on Friday, December 22, 2023 11:35 PM

Dave; I'm going to try your method as nothing else has worked so far.

I am using an old  body shell 

John

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,280 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, December 23, 2023 7:37 AM

Which roadname are you working with? Since the numbers are located on a raised portion of the cab, it may make sense to repaint the area if you can match the color and then apply the new decals. Are you also planning to add new number boards on the front of the loco?

Rich

Alton Junction

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    March 2023
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Posted by John Gray on Saturday, December 23, 2023 12:56 PM

SP Gp9 GP35 Athearn old BB locos to correct the number to the proto ones also to do number boards

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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, December 23, 2023 1:37 PM

John Gray

SP Gp9 GP35 Athearn old BB locos to correct the number to the proto ones also to do number boards

You could easily find the correct SP Gray to repaint the raised portion of the cab on which the numbers sit.
 
Rich

Alton Junction

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