Does Bachman have any plans to produce an unlettered version of its 2-6-0 with dcc/sound?
Not at this time.
It is fairly simple to remove the preexisting lettering and add your own anyways.
What's the best way to do that?
Sand it off! (No, just kidding!!).
I have had success with alcohol, and a mild soap wash with a soft toothbrush when done. I would contact Bachmann to finds out what might work, or maybe Jonathan or another of the "experts" on here has a solution that works. Good luck.
RIch C.
Thanks whiz kid. I will experiment with this. Anyone else have any success removing factory lettering?
i haven't tried this with bachmann items, but it worked well with other brands. get some denatured alcohol, dip a q tip in it and rub the lettering until it breaks up. most model trains are pad printed with ink rather than decalled, the alcohol dissolves the ink.
As I freelance and have my own colour scheme, I have had to strip the lettering from dozens of steam locos and the paint from literally dozens of diesels models. More so these days since few manufactures, including sadly, Bachmann, no longer provided undec models.
The very best stripper for both lettering and paint on plastic models is 99% Isopropanol.
It is safe on all plastics, contains no oils and will strip the paint from a fully immersed body shell overnight.
It will also strip any lettering from painted bodies if applied with a cotton swab, as described by jward below. If you are careful, you can do this without damage to the underlying paint.
99% ISP is, in my opinion, far superior to denatured alcohol and way, way better than rubbing alcohol as rubbing alcohol contains oils, which is what makes it rubbing alcohol and oil is the very last thing you want to get onto the body of anything you are going to repaint of redecal.
Cheers
Roger T.
I can attest to how well 91% works as I am currently stripping an Athearn Blue Box F7 shell. Tried spray on oven cleaner at first and it did next to nothing. Put a little 91% in a zip lock bag with the shell and it was just minutes before the paint started coming off. It did not take a whole tubful of 91% like you see people do online, just enough to "swish" around the shell.
Quote from: jbrock27 on December 02, 2014, 07:29:09 AM
I can attest to how well 91% works as I am currently stripping an Athearn Blue Box F7 shell. Tried spray on oven cleaner at first and it did next to nothing. Put a little 91% in a zip lock bag with the shell and it was just minutes before the paint started coming off. It did not take a whole tubful of 91% like you see people do online, just enough to "swish" around the shell.
Excellent suggestion, I'll try that next time I have to strip a body. :)
You're welcome Rog. The best parts were, it was easy to find the 91% in a discount store (Walfart), it was inexpensive and not a lot was needed. Picture putting the item in the bottom of the bag in the upright position with the top open, pour in just enough to cover the item, scrunch the bag to get the air out and then zip it up. Once ziped up you can move the alcohol around the shell or shake it (gently) to get it all around.
I do the same thing to marinade meats, sans the isopropyl :D
For removing just lettering or numbers, I have seen on YouTube, someone using an exacto knife blade, the kind that looks like a battle axe, not the # 11 blade. They gently scrapped the decal off. Takes patience.
See the following discussion:
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,27957.0.html
I have used Super Clean with great success.
Tom
Roger;
Hi; where are you getting the 99% denatured alcohol? I can and have on hand, denatured from Home Depot. Is that the same thing you are using? I have been doing this when needed for the past thirty-odd years using iso alcohol and it is tough going sometimes.
RIch C.
I do not use "Denatured Alcohol", I use 99% Isopropanol, it's not the same thing.
I get mine from a pharmacy, it comes in 500ml plastic containers.
Mine is "Life" brand but that may be a Canadian brand.
Denatured alcohol, also called methylated spirits is used as a solvent and as fuel for alcohol burners and camping stoves, hence it is NOT good for stripping paint from plastic models because of the solvents added that could melt the plastic.
Isopropyl alcohol is a chemical compound and this is what denatured alcohol is made from but with other ingredients added. It does not have solvents nor any other ingredients added.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Roger T.
Hi Roger;
I have been using denatured alcohol for a long time in my shop; usually for cutting shellac, and other like applications. I had always been somewhat gun-shy about using this for the models, probably just as well. Thank you for the heads up here.
Rich C.
This has been discussed several times before.
See the following discussion:
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,27957.0.html
I have used Super Clean with great success.
Tom
BTW Tom, you are repeating yourself.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,30522.0.html
Curious, since 99% isopropyl is a great paint stripper, isn't there a high risk of also removing the paint around the decal you are trying to remove, when using it?
Quote from: jbrock27 on July 21, 2015, 07:04:55 AM
BTW Tom, you are repeating yourself.
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,30522.0.html
Curious, since 99% isopropyl is a great paint stripper, isn't there a high risk of also removing the paint around the decal you are trying to remove, when using it?
Not if you are careful and do not soak overnight. :)
Cheers
Roger T.
Yep, never came across 99% either.
How about 91% isopropyl Dr. Wayne? Have you ever used that to remove a decal or pad printed number or letter?
Thank you for getting back to me. Did not know you that's where you live and did not know 91% was not available up there (not sure why then Rogertra said he would keep 91% in in mind when I mentioned it as a good paint stripper some time ago)?
91% can be found in places down here like Wal-Fart, Target and drug stores. I have said here previously, when I run out of the 91% I have, I will try the Super Clean.
Quote from: jbrock27 on July 22, 2015, 08:06:31 PM
Thank you for getting back to me. Did not know you that's where you live and did not know 91% was not available up there (not sure why then Rogertra said he would keep 91% in in mind when I mentioned it as a good paint stripper some time ago)?
91% can be found in places down here like Wal-Fart, Target and drug stores. I have said here previously, when I run out of the 91% I have, I will try the Super Clean.
I used 99%, which seems like it's only available in Canada. I've used 99% for years. I prefer it over brake fluid, my old standby, as I sadly found out, brake fluid can warp plastic, especially smaller parts.
No idea why I would have said 91% was not available. Brain fart I guess.
Cheers
Roger T.
Quote from: rogertra on July 22, 2015, 08:42:50 PM
No idea why I would have said 91% was not available. Brain fart I guess.
Cheers
Roger T.
But that is not what you said and I am not saying that is what you said. ??? Had you said that, it would have made more sense, since 91% is not available to you in Canada.
Instead, this is what you had said:
Quote from: rogertra on December 02, 2014, 11:51:45 AM
Quote from: jbrock27 on December 02, 2014, 07:29:09 AM
I can attest to how well 91% works...
Excellent suggestion, I'll try that next time I have to strip a body. :)
(It's on Page 1 of this topic on 12/2/14@12:51:45 PM)
Which makes little sense bc if you can't get 91% where you are, how would you be able to try it?
Jim; there are a lot of things one can get on line; perhaps this is one of them. All he said was that it is "unavailable in Canada." He didn't say it was illegal.
Rich C.
Quote from: jbrock27 on July 23, 2015, 06:42:59 AM
Quote from: rogertra on July 22, 2015, 08:42:50 PM
No idea why I would have said 91% was not available. Brain fart I guess.
Cheers
Roger T.
But that is not what you said and I am not saying that is what you said. ??? Had you said that, it would have made more sense, since 91% is not available to you in Canada.
Instead, this is what you had said:
Quote from: rogertra on December 02, 2014, 11:51:45 AM
Quote from: jbrock27 on December 02, 2014, 07:29:09 AM
I can attest to how well 91% works...
Excellent suggestion, I'll try that next time I have to strip a body. :)
(It's on Page 1 of this topic on 12/2/14@12:51:45 PM)
Which makes little sense bc if you can't get 91% where you are, how would you be able to try it?
I'm thoroughly confused. :)
I can get 91% and I can get 99%, I have a bottle of 99% in front of me now.
Anyway, it's not important. Use what you can get. I'm sure 91% will work but not as quickly as 99%.
Cheers
Roger T.