Painting AZL / MTL Locomotive shells

Dave Hertz Apr 27, 2020

  1. Dave Hertz

    Dave Hertz TrainBoard Member

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    Hello Group,

    I'm getting back into airbrushing and decaling models.


    What paint stripper is best (the least harmful) for AZL or MTL locomotive shells?

    Rubbing alcohol ?

    Scalecoat stripper ?


    Regarding paint, what sticks best for Z shells ? Model Flex, True Color, Tamiya, Vallejo ?



    Thank You,

    Dave Hertz
     
  2. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I used alcohol to strip the shell, and used Floquil to paint it. It’s no longer available. It shows that I haven’t painted anything in a while.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    It's been a long time since I repainted an AZL loco, but I used ELO stripper, and both Floquil and Tamiya paints with good results. That said, I have just started using Tru-Color paint, buy have not stripped anything in many years.

    As always, test your stripper by putting a drop of it INSIDE the long shell and let it sit a while first, then poke it with a needle or something, to be sure the stripper is not attacking the shell plastic. If it softens or melts the shell, just let it dry a day before trying any other stripper, and you won't damage the shell.
     
  4. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    That’s a good suggestion Robert.

    I remember you used to all kinds of reprints, and made your own decals. That’s where most of my reprints came from.
     
  5. marmot

    marmot TrainBoard Supporter

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    Beginner question here. Why is it necessary to strip the paint first instead of just painting over it?
     
  6. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    If you look at the loco, the more colors it has, the more layers it has. It will show even if you paint it. Unless you paint it really thick, and hide all the details.
     
  7. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    John, certainly with an air brushes thinner layers. Rattle-cans can most times bury any disaster.

    isopropyl alcohol as worked for many, but it also depends on the manufacturer (e.g. AZL has had 3 manufacturing sources) so it may dissolve some and may not even to begin touch other runs.
     
  8. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Jeff, it also cover any details like grills and such.
     
  9. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    To strip a AZL brass, you need a sand blaster.
     
  10. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    Interresting topic indeed. My only experience of striping and repainting a loco was with a MTL GP35, some 15 years ago. I had then been told AZL locos' paint was harder to stripe... And I'll have to jump into the water, as I have an UP SD70M that I want to repaint into TFM paintscheme (Mexico).

    Dom
     

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