Anyone who has a set of Lionel Amtrak 16" aluminum passenger cars with silhouettes (from the late 80's to early 90's) can you check and see if the red/white/blue stripe is painted on or a sticker/decal? I have the chance to pick up a couple cheap but I'd need to back date them to the 50's. If the stripe is a decal or sticker I can do this easily. If it's painted on not so much. Thanks.
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You're speaking of this set, correct?
I'm pretty sure the white stripe is painted and the other stripes painted atop it (perhaps with the lettering in the red stripe tampo printed). I'll see if I can dig out mine later this evening. Williams versions of these cars were done with decals (but the trucks aren't so hot in the rolling department, even compared to postwar ones)
---PCJ
RailRide posted:You're speaking of this set, correct?
I'm pretty sure the white stripe is painted and the other stripes painted atop it (perhaps with the lettering in the red stripe tampo printed). I'll see if I can dig out mine later this evening.
---PCJ
Yes the cars from that set. If it's painted on I'm guessing it won't be easy to remove without damaging the finish below. I was hoping it was either tape/decal like the "Congressional" car stripes.
Mr. Railride is mostly correct.
The white stripe is painted, whereas the the accent stripes (red and blue), logos and lettering are pad-printed (tampo).
That’s a brite-dip anodized finish to the aluminum body, and the chances of you removing the white paint (which has an etchant in it) without damaging the brite-dip are slim to none.
TRW
TRW, thank you for your authoratativee and comprehensive reply; for me it is very timely.
I had been considering this Amtralk set as a donor for a personalized version of The Texas Special because of its glossy finish (which I now know because of you is a "brite-dip."
Another possible donor set is the Burlington.
PaperTRW posted:Mr. Railride is mostly correct.
The white stripe is painted, whereas the the accent stripes (red and blue), logos and lettering are pad-printed (tampo).
That’s a brite-dip anodized finish to the aluminum body, and the chances of you removing the white paint (which has an etchant in it) without damaging the brite-dip are slim to none.
TRW
That's what I figured. I was going to reletter them for Santa Fe, but I'd need the stripe to come off clean and leave behind the bright finish. That's not going to happen so I'll pass on the cars.
I bought the Amtrak full vista dome some years back and stripped the paint off with ordinary cheap paint stripper and the chrome finish was unmarred. The only caution I took was to wash it off with water as soon as the paint bubbled (very fast). I've read here on the forum that others have used everything from an alcohol soak to liquid detergents left overnight to get paints off of engines and cars of all types. Check past entries.
For myself, I've put Lionel Lines and home-lettered Silver Sky plates on this car and done the same for a PRR Dining car (Silver Plate) and a Combo car (AMT's Mail car plates), and a Santa Fe Duplex (Silver Dream) to match my postwar Silver Speedliners. Good luck with your Santa Fe search.
Hmm. I wonder if the paint stripe could be removed with lacquer thinner without harming the finish below?
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