A question on FVM lettering removal ?

mtntrainman Dec 20, 2012

  1. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I bought a FVM ES44AC in BNSF.

    At some point in the near future I am going to want to reletter it in our home road ( T.H.E.R.R. ). My question is: How hard is it to remove all the BNSF lettering and the #'s on the cab without screwing up the paint or whatever underneath ? I dont even know if these are decals or painted on...I havent looked that close yet !! I plan on leaving the upper and lower stripping and the line under the BNSF lettering on the sides. Just removing the letters and #'s.

    I may just remove the BNSF stuff fo now and let it run 'naked' untill I can find some decent sized and shaped lettering to use for T.H.E.R.R. !

    TIA guys :)
     
  2. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sooner or later I hope it will look something like this... :)

    [​IMG]
     
  3. mcjaco

    mcjaco TrainBoard Member

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    I'd try some Pine Sol. If it's like Atlas and Kato models, it should come off with out much to any damage to the underlying paint.

    It make take some elbow grease.

    Here's my results on a couple of HO Atlas units, a few years back.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  4. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thnxs Matt. I'll put Pinesol on the list of possibilties. THE Wife is allergic to it so I'ld have to do it outside away from her. But its 20 degree outside...may have to wait if thats the best alternative...hmmmm
     
  5. mcjaco

    mcjaco TrainBoard Member

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    90% Isopropyl Alcohol would probably work too. Just do lots of light attempts.

    You could start with 70% Iso to try.

    Good luck!
     
  6. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Pine Sol or the alcohol on a Q-Tip or such I presume ? And do you know if its all painted on or a decal ? TIA
     
  7. ram53

    ram53 TrainBoard Member

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    I have found that 99% isopropyl alcohol will remove FVM lettering EXTREMELY easily, you have to be very careful or the underlying paint will also be affected.
     
  8. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    Though I have not tried it on any FVM items, I find Polly Scale's "Easy Lift Off" to be pretty effective.

    However, iso alcohol is a LOT cheaper...
     
  9. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Another thing you might try if all the other options fail, Solva-Set and standard pencil eraser. Micro-Set or Micro-Sol might work as well.

    Which ever you use, do not put a lot of elbow grease into it, just scrub it lightly and repeatedly until you see the letting start fading, but keep the area wet, do not scrub with a dry eraser.

    ram53 could be right, [no offense ram53] but I would hesitate using 90% IPA or higher to start with or before testing it first, as I have heard that will strip paint on some models. However I do not own but one FVM.
     
  10. mcjaco

    mcjaco TrainBoard Member

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    Yes. A Q-Tip and lots of rubbing. Its a bit of work, but you can get it all off, or as the pics of my units show, you can get some cool underlying lettering to show through as well. Kind of a neat weathering technique.
     

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