Removing paint from MTH diesel shell

I've had a hard time getting it off, just sanded the lettering/stripe edges smooth with 1500 grit and primed.

I'll have to try that, if no one else has a good way to remove the paint.

MTH paint is difficult to get off.  I wet sand the lettering, stripes and any lines with 800 grit paper.

EZ Off over cleaner, the original costic formula will remove paint from plastic. Wear rubber gloves and eye protection, it's not safe to use.

Or soak in brake fluid for a few days, much safer.

I've heard brake fluid works on postwar stuff, but I wasn't sure if it was effective on newer paint. At least without damaging the plastic.

Try soaking in generic Lectric Shave, then rubbing with a chunk of Magic Eraser.  While this won't attack the plastic, it will discolor it if not rinsed off completely.    

Mitch 

Lectric Shave? never thought of that. I had though about trying magic eraser to level the paint though. That or 1000-2000 grit auto sand paper.

Brake fluid is risky on plastics. Best bet is to soak for 48 hours in Pine Sol (the real stuff) which will typically remove the secondary "pad printed" paint, then go over it with 1200 grit wet/dry (wet) similar to what BobbyD suggested. It looks like MTH electrostatically applies the paint because it's seriously bonded to the body.

97% isopropyl alcohol also works to strip paint.

"my otherwise all AT&SF fleet."

1 - does your "fleet" have to be all one road?

2 - do a "patch" paint job (mask and paint over the "SOUTHERN PACIFIC", then decal it for a real or freelance industrial/terminal/short line road, for example). Then get some Bragdon's pigment powders weather the heck out of it. It's a lot of fun. At this point you could install an ERR Cruise Commander and RS - so easy in a big-ish plastic-body diesel like this that it ought to be a crime.

3 - just having another ATSF loco seems a bit un-entertaining in this case - especially since the ATSF had none of these, which makes a Santa Fe paint job a long road to nowhere.

D500 posted:

"my otherwise all AT&SF fleet."

1 - does your "fleet" have to be all one road?

2 - do a "patch" paint job (mask and paint over the "SOUTHERN PACIFIC", then decal it for a real or freelance industrial/terminal/short line road, for example). Then get some Bragdon's pigment powders weather the heck out of it. It's a lot of fun. At this point you could install an ERR Cruise Commander and RS - so easy in a big-ish plastic-body diesel like this that it ought to be a crime.

3 - just having another ATSF loco seems a bit un-entertaining in this case - especially since the ATSF had none of these, which makes a Santa Fe paint job a long road to nowhere.

Every other locomotive I own is AT&SF from the late 40's to mid 50's. This engine, being the only SP locomotive, kinda just sticks out. I've been going for an all AT&SF theme. I'm not one to buy a extra locomotives. If it doesn't fit on the layout I try and sell it vs. having it sit in a box. My idea to paint it as an AT&SF locomotive is just to have it blend in with everything else, even though the AT&SF never owned an AS-616. The layout theme is the AT&SF in the mid-west and the SP never went their, at least in the 50's.

It's a good locomotive and I enjoy running it, it's just not AT&SF 

I mixed 2 cups 99% alcohol 1 cup of dot 3 brake fluid and 1/4 cup of Fantastic. Mixed all contents outside in a container. Put shell in for a about 20 min and use a stiff tooth brush and start rubbing off paint. This worked for me. It takes a few times of brushing the shell. When done wash with water and let dry.

Decided to keep it as is and buy another SP engine. I've been repainting some Lionel passenger cars lately and have found that lacquer thinner is great for removing the original lettering and leaving the rest of the paint intact. Added bonus is that there are no sanding marks to cover with primer. 

I like the way it looks as a SP unit.  I like the black widow paint scheme but i also like the zebra striped ones as well.  

Maybe you could put a sign on the layout advising visitors that the SP unit is on lease to Santa Fe?

Lou1985 posted:

I've heard brake fluid works on postwar stuff, but I wasn't sure if it was effective on newer paint. At least without damaging the plastic.

It's not effective on MTH locos because MTH has several clear coats applied on top of the paint.