Removing lettering from tinplate cars

I also would like to remove the LONG ISLAND lettering and logos from the recent Standard Gauge MTH/Lionel bay window caboose in order to change it into a Milwaukee Road caboose like the one below.  Therefore, any suggestions on how to gently remove lettering, and only the lettering from tinplate cars, would be most appreciated.

Bob Nelson

There must be someone on this Forum who has removed lettering and other graphics from MTH tinplate without damaging the paint!  With MTH suspending production, at least in the short term, this may be the only option for offering another SGMA club car.  The Long Island RR bay window cabooses would make a really neat Milwaukee Road SGMA car if we could change the graphics.

Kirk

USA Track LLC

SGMA1 posted:

There must be someone on this Forum who has removed lettering and other graphics from MTH tinplate without damaging the paint!  With MTH suspending production, at least in the short term, this may be the only option for offering another SGMA club car.  The Long Island RR bay window cabooses would make a really neat Milwaukee Road SGMA car if we could change the graphics.

Kirk

USA Track LLC

 

 

I do a lot of repaints, and believe me, I’ve been pondering y’alls dilemma.....problem is, would the finish be harmed on the yellow boxcar for example, trying to get the graphics off.....I’m not sure if those tinplates are enamel or urethane finishes....my guess is the tampo pad printing graphics are some sort of acrylic, that like the pad printing done on the scale stuff I work with where as I simply wipe away railroad heralds with lacquer thinner, never harming the base color...HOWEVER, the equipment y’all working  has a gloss finish...that promotes a possible problem....and could quickly become a hot mess......but, if someone wants to give up a sacrificial lamb, you could try wiping certain chemicals perhaps on the inside of the car and see how they react where no one would see it.....I run an automotive body shop, so worse case scenario, we could strip the car bodies and repaint them correctly using durable automotive paints, but you’d need to have a quantity of them to do to make it a feasible project, in other words, the more you do, the cheaper it’s going to get....I wish I could have more info for you, but stripping those graphics off the gloss finish and not harming the gloss and color might be a challenge for y’all...............Pat

I've stripped MTH 2814R cars before. The lettering must be screen printing with a top coat. I don't think it is possible to strip it without harming the paint underneath it. I would plan on a complete repaint. The other issue with MTH, not sure about McCoy, is that the paint is very hard. I have been stripping with multiple applications of Goof Off Stripper and then finishing with oven\grill cleaner before washing the parts with water and dish soap.

George

Thanks to everyone for their comments. 

Kirk says we now have around 20 Long Island cabooses that we can convert into an official SGMA Milwaukee Road caboose.  So it would appear that we should be able to experiment a little to see if we can strip off the Long Island graphics and replace them with Milwaukee Road graphics.  We will just have to see what works best.  

Stay tuned for the results.

Bob Nelson

PS.  If you are a SGMA member and/or are interested in a Standard Gauge Milwaukee Road bay window caboose, contact Kirk.

navy.seal posted:

Thanks to everyone for their comments. 

Kirk says we now have around 20 Long Island cabooses that we can convert into an official SGMA Milwaukee Road caboose.  So it would appear that we should be able to experiment a little to see if we can strip off the Long Island graphics and replace them with Milwaukee Road graphics.  We will just have to see what works best.  

Stay tuned for the results.

Bob Nelson

 

PS.  If you are a SGMA member and/or are interested in a Standard Gauge Milwaukee Road bay window caboose, contact Kirk.

 

If you need them repainted, look me up....I can certainly repaint them for you guys, I’m sure we could work it out........Pat