If you're one of those manufacturers that puts conspic stripes on cars...

[Denver Road Doug]

STOP! 

Unless the car came from the factory like that, just don't.

There are a couple of other scenarios, like a car that was repainted after that fateful cutoff date...so if offered in that scheme then yes knock yourself out if you want.  (Or not...see next paragraph)

That HAS to be the easiest decal job in the world, and doesn't even necessitate that they are put on exactly straight....or even that the edges are hidden.   You are losing sales by putting conspicuity striping on a car that otherwise COULD have existed in a time period where they were not present.   Which is most cars currently on the market.

Just.  Don't.

[Denver Road Doug]

And yes, I'm talking to YOU Micro-Trains.   I see your awesome tank car runner pack, completely era-appropriate for me, except you added what I like to refer to as "the stripes of death."

[Ed Kapuscinski]

YES!!!!

[basementcalling]

Support two model RR manufacturers. Buy the cars from MT (Keep on striping them) and get a Badger air eraser. 

[Scottl]

Better yet, stop making old paint schemes without the stripes. 

[Denver Road Doug]

Support two model RR manufacturers. Buy the cars from MT (Keep on striping them) and get a Badger air eraser. 

I would accept that as an option, except that you are also erasing underlying decoration.  So then you have a decal job too.  So a third manufacturer gets in on the game...before long you've got an $80 car. 

[Denver Road Doug]

Better yet, stop making old paint schemes without the stripes. 

Actually, I'm fine with that too.   I certainly could stand to slow down my MRR spending.  Problem is, with about 70-80% of the market now not buying anything, your striped cars are gonna cost about $50-60.   If you're ok with that, then so am I.   

[Scottl]

I don't know, people buy all sorts of crazy stuff.  I suspect most buyers are not even aware of the stripes.  Honestly, they buy all kinds of foobs, why would those stand out?

[Philip H]

Well if MTL would go back to selling blister packed kits of all their cars in UNDEC . . . guys like you and me (who wants plenty of stuff WITH conspic strips but can't find them on appropriate cars) would be all set.

[soo]

Stripes are the mark of death for me also. I have even gone so far to make sure that cars I buy now are era appropriate. Even if the car was repainted in the 90's no good for me. Buh Bye.

One good thing about the stripes,,, I can just over look those cars,,,, not my era. Makes window shopping/surfin the web easier.

I say warm up the molten lead and sharpen the pitchforks,,,, let's go get em'.......CHARGE!!!

Adios,, Wyatt

[chessie system fan]

Hasn't Joe said there's some sort of solvent that can remove printing like that and leave the underlying paint untouched?

[eja]

Curious minds want to know ..... when did they start to appear in the real world ????

[Philip H]

Curious minds want to know ..... when did they start to appear in the real world ????

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21894.0

Everything you need to know really is on TRW!

[nscaler711]

Or you could use a fiberglass pen to remove the stripes or other info you don't need on the cars, locomotives, what have you. They are used for polishing metal contacts on circuit boards and work very well. They are great at polishing brass contact strips as they tarnish and cause conductivity issues down the road.

Here is what I did to an Atlas UP GP15 to bring it "current" (still need UPY decals)


This is the Pen I used, you can get it at Radio Shack, notice how the #1 is gone?




As long as you are gentle and pay close attention you shouldn't rub too much paint if any off.

Hope this helps!

[Denver Road Doug]

That's a great tutorial.  Great to have many alternatives to removing lettering.  Thanks for sharing.

I guess my point is....I could do a tutorial on adding conspicuity stripes to a freight car that would take about 1/10th the time.   No concern about adjacent decoration.  No worries about ruining the paint job on a $20 freight car or $90 locomotive.