Using brake fluid to remove paint?

[nachoman]

don't forget to post pictures of your project!

[RobertInOntario]

don't forget to post pictures of your project!

Sure, I could do this. Although my project is actually a "before-after-and-before" sort of project.

Originally, the loco was in British Railways black, with BR logos, etc. I tried to back-date it to the 1930s by painting it in apple green and I don't think I took any pictures of it then. As mentioned, I didn't like the brush strokes in my green paint job.

However, I could take some pics of how the project currently looks -- mostly black now with a few blobs of green still remaining. Then take some pics as I repaint it and re-add the BR decals.

Rob

[RobertInOntario]

Here are a couple pics of the loco's plastic body. It's showing its original black but there are still a few bits of apple green remaining. I'm using an old tooth brush and a wooden stir stick to scrape away this green but these last sections are getting difficult to remove.

Also, the rubbing alcohol has left a grey/white after-effect in a couple places, along the front of the boiler and a little on the cab roof. This should be no problem since I'm planning to spray paint the body again.

(Please excuse the few water droplets left on the loco body -- I was just allowing it to air dry on a paper towel.)

Question: Should I meticulously scrape away these final bits of green or should I simply spray paint the new black over them?

Rob


   
   

[nachoman]

What a great looking locomotive. I am surprised the factory black paint did not want to come off! I would try and get as much of the green bits off as possible as they will show texture under the new paint. You may want to wash it good, then put back in with fresh alcohol. You can pick at the remaining green paint with a wooden skewer to try and loosen them. when you get as much paint removed as possible, scrub the loco with the old toothbrush and soapy water (dishwashing liquid). I know it is tedious, but believe me you are doing a great job so far.

[RobertInOntario]

What a great looking locomotive. I am surprised the factory black paint did not want to come off! I would try and get as much of the green bits off as possible as they will show texture under the new paint. You may want to wash it good, then put back in with fresh alcohol. You can pick at the remaining green paint with a wooden skewer to try and loosen them. when you get as much paint removed as possible, scrub the loco with the old toothbrush and soapy water (dishwashing liquid). I know it is tedious, but believe me you are doing a great job so far.

Thanks! While I am pleased with this loco, it's a fairly basic, mid-60s model with far less detail than a recently-made model would have. Still, I'm nostalgic for these older locos and like their charm. I think it's simply black plastic as opposed to black paint! The light grey/white around the boiler area, caused by the rubbing alcohol, actually looks quite cool -- almost like a neat weathering effect!

Thanks for your feedback re removing the green paint. I'll have another go at it with a wooden skewer then, and soak it once more, etc. Good point that the remaining areas of green paint could create extra texture, and so should be removed.

Cheers,

Rob

[RobertInOntario]

Here are a couple photos of the almost-finished project.

I've now cleaned up, spray-painted the loco black, added a clear gloss coat, etc. Now, the only remaining things to do are to add the loco's number and the British Railways emblem.

I'll try to post some more pics later -- once I've added the BR emblem & details -- but I might not get to this for a few days.

Cheers,
Rob

   

   

[Russ Bellinis]

Robert, one of the guys in the modular club takes old plastic steam engines and details them out. He sands off all of the cast on piping and then adds new piping made of heavy brass stock or even stripped copper electrical wire. He then adds the hand rails made of the correct thickness of brass wire with brass cast stanchions, and details like whistles and bells from brass castings. When he gets done those old Mantua, Lifelike, Model Power, Tyco, or Bachmann locomotives look as good as anything you could buy for hundreds of dollars today, and I doubt if he has more than $25.00-$50.00 invested in any of those old locomotives! He adds can motors to them to make them run better and tunes up the drive and has some awesome locomotives!

[RobertInOntario]

Robert, one of the guys in the modular club takes old plastic steam engines and details them out. He sands off all of the cast on piping and then adds new piping made of heavy brass stock or even stripped copper electrical wire. He then adds the hand rails made of the correct thickness of brass wire with brass cast stanchions, and details like whistles and bells from brass castings. When he gets done those old Mantua, Lifelike, Model Power, Tyco, or Bachmann locomotives look as good as anything you could buy for hundreds of dollars today, and I doubt if he has more than $25.00-$50.00 invested in any of those old locomotives! He adds can motors to them to make them run better and tunes up the drive and has some awesome locomotives!

Thanks, Russ. I've heard of people doing that as well. I have a metal detailing kit for another (similar) loco. I bought this kit a good 2 years ago but haven't got around to detailing the loco that it's for! Maybe this could be another project, possibly for the winter. Rob

[Kanawha]

That's not a bad idea. It would help with some of the lack of good steam models for some prototypes as well.