Stripping the Kato SD45

[Wlal13again]

OK, I spoke to Ed, Lee, Tom Mann, Dave Vollmer and a few others about this at the CRHS RBQ. What should I use to strip a Kato SD45? I melted one using Scalecoat Stripper and I`m a bit gunshy about this one...

[Hyperion]

90% Isopropyl Alcohol seems to work the best.  Any 'proof' less than that will do absolutely nothing no matter how long it soaks.

But I haven't found anything that works all that great; not like every other manufacturer where at least something will make it almost literally peel right off.  Kato's "paint" is more like dye almost.  It's just a matter of soaking for a while, scrubbing with a toothbrush, soaking for a while, scrubbing some more, and keep repeating until it's all gone.

[TiVoPrince]

Personally
I preferred 91% alcohol.  Have a spinning head toothbrush handy to get into deeper crevices like fans, hood door seams and exhaust stack.  Stubborn spots got Chameleon treatment but I did not linger, scrubbing alost immediately.  The ink/paint Kato used was very tenacious, especially darks like SP gray, SantaFe blue, D&H Blue, and BN green/black are a matter of get off what you can without rounding off details or turning the shell to mush...

[tom mann]

Yes, I've only used 91%.  I've stripped 3 Kato SD45s in this manner.  Takes a few hours and then an old toothbrush does the rest.

[Dave V]

This is what I use:

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'd suggest stuffing some dollar bills in its walkway... failing that, mine was stripped using Polyscale ELO.

[bbussey]

If this is in reference to repainting one of the newly-announced units when they arrive, why not just pick up an undecorated shell?  More often than not, Kato makes the bodyshell available shortly after the engine is released.  I believe to date only the GS4 never has had the bodyshell available as a separate part.  The SD45 part number was 921300 the first time around.

[Mark5]

Just another $25 a pop (plus shipping) for the shell (for those with deep pockets!)

[Wlal13again]

If this is in reference to repainting one of the newly-announced units when they arrive, why not just pick up an undecorated shell?  More often than not, Kato makes the bodyshell available shortly after the engine is released.  I believe to date only the GS4 never has had the bodyshell available as a separate part.  The SD45 part number was 921300 the first time around.

nope, this is one that Lock gave me after the EL one that I bought years ago did it`s Humpty Dumpty imitation on me, and I think I contacted Kato and there where no SD 45 shells available.

[wm3798]

You know, the damn Bachmann shell isn't horrible.  At least not the second run ones that have the blower duct.  The question is whether the shell will fit over the Pontiac drive (wide track)...  If I ever take a stab at doing a proper Reading extended cab, I'll probably start with a Bachmann. (More readily available to the Frankenstein Labs)...  And for $25, you get a drive too!

Lee

[Wlal13again]

I'd suggest stuffing some dollar bills in its walkway... failing that, mine was stripped using Polyscale ELO.

nice...

[Wlal13again]

And where do I purchase 91% at?

[Hyperion]

And where do I purchase 91% at?

It's not always the easiest, and if you're unlucky enough to be outside of the US (or perhaps Canada) it can be somewhat difficult and expensive from what I understand.

Sometimes the first place you check has it, sometimes you gotta look around.  Just gotta keep looking and hopefully you'll find some.  Most of what you'll find is 70% stuff which won't do anything.  Occasionally you'll find that place that's got it, and it's a good idea to buy a few bottles of it (it's like $1/bottle).  Around here, in Lincoln, I've yet to find a place that has some but most every where else I've lived I've always been able to find it somewhere.  I imagine though, if I asked, the pharmacies here would be happy to get me some.

[Ian MacMillan]

And where do I purchase 91% at?

I get it at the drug store. 99% is what I have to generally search around for.

[SkipGear]

Head to Wallyworld and look for camp stove fuel.

Or in the health and beauty section -

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-First-Aid-Antiseptic-91-Isopropyl-Alcohol-32-fl-oz/10533997