Author Topic: removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Microtrains tank car  (Read 1707 times)

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mark dance

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removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Microtrains tank car
« on: January 24, 2020, 12:42:36 PM »
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Hi all...I have a black microtrains tank car [image (c) Trovestar]...



that I wish to turn into this...



Ideally I would selectively remove road name and road number.  What method(s) will work?  So far 99% alcohol and a microbrush aren't cutting it...

many thx

md
« Last Edit: January 26, 2020, 12:39:23 PM by mark dance »
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Bill H

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Re: removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Mmicrotrains tank car
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2020, 02:06:14 PM »
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Hi Mark:
I have read on RW that MT uses Coleman liquid camping fuel internally to remove printing. I think it was an MT employee who stated that one. Hope it helps.

Here is the link, the info was from Joe at MT.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=29743.msg321853#msg321853

Kind regards,
Bill
« Last Edit: January 24, 2020, 02:35:32 PM by Bill H »

nkalanaga

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Re: removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Mmicrotrains tank car
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2020, 01:48:30 AM »
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And, Coleman fuel is Naphtha, so if you have any of that around, it should work just as well.
N Kalanaga
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Angus Shops

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Re: removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Mmicrotrains tank car
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2020, 02:08:13 AM »
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Hi Mark,

If the amount of ‘erasing’ isn’t too much , and if there might be a little weathering to hide any excess, I use a sharp No. 11 blade to scratch of the unwanted lettering. I can usually scrape the lettering off carefully and leave the underlying base car colour more or less intact. Go carefully and slowly; should be no problem.
Geoff

Santa Fe Guy

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Re: removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Mmicrotrains tank car
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2020, 05:39:47 AM »
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Try applying Walthers Solvaset with a cotton bud and rub until the print goes.
I have used this on Locos to remove road numbers numbers and it worked.
Rod.
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Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Mmicrotrains tank car
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2020, 09:41:23 AM »
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Do you have an air eraser? @Lemosteam swears by them for FUD cleanup, but this might be a good job for one too. They're relatively cheap too.

EmdFan

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Re: removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Mmicrotrains tank car
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2020, 11:38:08 AM »
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I've had good luck using Solvaset, keep applying it with a brush in a stippling manner, after about 5 minutes it should start to loosen up. Any remaining bits can be scraped off or you can use tape to try to get them off.

That's interesting about the Coleman/Naptha fluid, may have to give that a try.

mark dance

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Re: removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Mmicrotrains tank car
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2020, 06:48:28 PM »
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Thank you gentlemen. I'll let you know how it goes!

Md
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nkalanaga

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Re: removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Mmicrotrains tank car
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2020, 12:41:59 AM »
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Geoff:  Especially on a black car, that will probably be heavily weathered, that would be my solution as well.  Any flaws can be covered with a dab of black paint, and the weathering will cover that.

For that matter, with the prototype's dirt, one could just paint over the lettering.
N Kalanaga
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peteski

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Re: removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Microtrains tank car
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2020, 10:37:42 PM »
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Since the tank is being re-purposed as a stationary tank, why just not give a quick airbrushing with black paint. If some lettering is to remain, mask those areas before spraying.  Or do the opposite: mask around the lettering to be removed, then spray black paint to patch them out. I suspect the 1:1 car might have been painted that way too.
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nkalanaga

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Re: removing (pad printed?) lettering from a Microtrains tank car
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2020, 12:27:04 AM »
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For painting out the unwanted lettering, which is what I'd do, I'd use a brush, even if I had an airbrush.  Why get the airbrush dirty for such a small job?
N Kalanaga
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