loco renumbering

cbg Sep 15, 2019

  1. cbg

    cbg TrainBoard Member

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    I am considering my first renumber of a locomotive, the Bachmann S4 tigerstripe. I saw one method using microsol decal softener and scotch tape which looked to me to be an okay method. Is this the way to go? will it remove only the numbers or will it take striping as well?

    Thanks is advance for your replies.

    CBG
     
  2. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    Don't bet against it! The tape doesn't discriminate; one decal looks the same as another to it.

    If you trim the tape to the height of the numbers, and press it only onto the numbers, you minimize the risk.
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  3. cbg

    cbg TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you for the response. I can trim close enough to catch only the numbers. The tigerstripe I believe is painted...
     
  4. Run8Racing

    Run8Racing TrainBoard Member

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    I was excited to learn of that method, but it didn't work on my Katos. Gotta' find something else !!!
    VERY open to other ways to just remove numbers.
     
  5. bill pearce

    bill pearce TrainBoard Member

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    As I read this, I only become more confused. Are you saying you want to changed the numbers on a factory decorated locomotive and that you believe those numbers to be decals? I don't think I've ever seen a factory decorated anything that used decals. The process of decaling is the enemy of profitable mass production.
     
  6. Maletrain

    Maletrain TrainBoard Member

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    The methods for removing decals usually work for pad-printed numbers done by manufacturers.
     
  7. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

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    +1. I have seen this method, I believe, on You Tube and even tried it myself. The method works but requires some patience, especially if you do not want to disturb any of the surrounding paint. In my case I had to re-apply the solution three times to get all of the number off.
     
  8. wvgca

    wvgca TrainBoard Member

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    microsol and scotch tape do work, but it usually takes several applications to get adequate results ... use a brush or something small to limit the area of application ..
    factory numbers [and striping] are usually pad printed, not decals ..
    you -may- have to retouch the paint depending on how it was applied ..
     
  9. SP-Wolf

    SP-Wolf TrainBoard Supporter

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    I used an eraser. The one I have is a bit on the stiff/hard side. Go easy. I did mask the stripes -- in case I slipped.

    The results:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    The numbers are a bit more orange then the "stock" lettering - but, after a little weathering, they are fine.

    Thanks,
    Wolf
     
    BNSF FAN likes this.
  10. bill pearce

    bill pearce TrainBoard Member

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    Renumbering has a number of pitfalls. I've tried the eraser trick several times, and it can often partially remove the base color. It almost always polishes the surface to an undesirable degree.

    I've found that, presuming careful masking of stripes and such, alcohol works, one kind for the removal oan one kind for me. I mask off everything but the number and apply denatured alcohol from the hardware store with a q tip. Don't waste you time with drug store "rubbing alcohol." It often contains additional additives for the rubbing of skin. And in any event, every time I try to get some from a store for things like ballasting, I notice that the bottles commonly sold have less alcohol every time I look. Originally, rubbing alcohol was 70 or 90 percent alcohol. Now you're lucky to get 50% alcohol and I've seen shelves full of bottles of 30% alcohol! So like a lot of things, you're just paying extra for water. Sometimes the pad printing ink uses an alcohol solvent, but there's no law that says it has to.

    Sometimes it works like a harm, other items, it hardly works at all, are you feeling lucky?
     
  11. bill pearce

    bill pearce TrainBoard Member

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    works like a charm,,,stupid autocorrect.
     
  12. cbg

    cbg TrainBoard Member

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    Wolf, I haven't seen the eraser method, it sounds like it is more precise(depending on my eyesight and hand control of course:)) That loco is exactly what I will be working on.
    Thank you all for the suggestions and input.
    CBG
     

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