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Changing Car Numbers

Alan HummelAlan HummelOGR Forum Member

I found some Woodland Scenics number sets that are a close match to the numbering on Atlas 4750 cu ft cvd grain hoppers. These are dry transfers. What is the best way to remove existing car numbers without smudging or removing paint? Many years ago,I used Badger Airbrush cleaner,which removed the car number,but I don't remember what it did the paint. I only plan on removing a few digits. The car numbers on Atlas cars at present are:250778 &250812. These are correct & by replacing the "50" with "60" it represents cars in the 259000-260999 car block,made for CSX in 1988-'89. I can also take out 1 digit,the"0" & substitute a "9" to represent a car in the 259000 block of cars just mentioned.

Once removed,do I put a bit of gloss covering over the transfer as I've heard tell about when using HO decals,to make the number look like it "belongs" there?

 

Thanks to all in advance for your help.

Al hummel

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N NortonOGR Forum Member

The right answer really depends the base coat. Poly Scale ELO is pretty safe on most most base coats but not all. Weaver paint will come off with ELO almost as readily as the lettering. I have had better luck with lacquer thinner on a Q tip that is barely damp. I only did one Atlas car made in the '90s and Lacquer thinner worked. You have to keep and eye on the Q tip for evidence the base coat is coming off. Stop for a few minutes then start working again on the lettering.

Not many replacement fonts match the originals. You may be lucky but when I have renumbered cars I replace the whole number.

 

Pete

Last edited by Norton
Alan HummelAlan HummelOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Norton:

The right answer really depends the base coat. Poly Scale ELO is pretty safe on most most base coats but not all. Weaver paint will come off with ELO almost as readily as the lettering. I have had better luck with lacquer thinner on a Q tip that is barely damp. I only did one Atlas car made in the '90s and Lacquer thinner worked. You have to keep and eye on the Q tip for evidence the base coat is coming off. Stop for a few minutes then start working again on the lettering.

Not many replacement fonts match the originals. You may be lucky but when I have renumbered cars I replace the whole number.

 

Pete

Pete,I considered not replacing numbers at all but using instead colored tacks or something with different colors. Before multiple cars were available in HO,there were many ideas employed.

You're right,my numbers aren't exact Atlas matches,but very tolerable. Since these cars will mostly be in unit grain trains,it's not overly important,it's when you get down to spotting 1 car coupled to others with the same number that it gets a little confusing as well as aggravating.

Thanks again,

Al Hummel

Alan HummelAlan HummelOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by AGHRMatt:

I've removed numbers from MTH ATSF cabs using 1000-grit wet/dry sandpaper (wet). Got that tip from Jeff Sohn. Took off the number without damaging the paint. Used Microscale decals. Not sure how Atlas applies their paint, but solvent may attack it along with the number. MTH seems to be using some electro-static application.

AGHR Matt,

Thank you for the advice,never heard that 1 used before. I got some CSX decals the other day for grain hoppers & boxcars from Microscale I believe, & they weren't close to Atlas print,of course I imagine Microscale was right on,whereas the problem probably is with the Atlas numbers as I've noticed looking at Prototype photos,the Atlas numbering design seems a bit "off",compared to the Prototype.

Thank you,again.

Al Hummel

Alan HummelAlan HummelOGR Forum Member

FALCONSERVICE,

Oddly enough,I started using fine sand paper,all the hobbyshop had was #600. This caused a black smudge,so I got some very old #2 pencils with their erasers to clean the smudge up & that took the lettering off!! I been doing this but am running out of old erasers. New ones won't budge the lettering & that I don't quite understand except to say I think it's the stiffness of the old erasers that has more to do with the removal of the lettering than the material itself.

I also tried wet sand paper as fine as I could find & this has about a 60% rate of success as it takes off some of the paint,also.

I remember from many moons back,using Badger airbrush cleaner on HO decals. That worked but dulled the paint too.

Next up,I was going to try, rubbing alcohol,then possibly the airbrush cleaner,but will try the Microscale solvent too. Is that decal remover?

I'm no pro by any means but am fairly pleased with my results so far. I have 2 extra numbers of one of the LN Family Lines 4750's made in the 70s or 80s by Atlas & finally got up the nerve to try removing the LN reporting letters & the last 3 digits of the car number & after MUCH hard work & frustrating reworking,I now have an SCL Family Lines hopper in the 70s scheme. Car 241753. Am thinking of tackling a 2nd car.

Thanks to all for your advise & will keep updated on my progress.

Al Hummel

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