Removing painted logo from MTH caboose

I've had reasonable success with ELO.  Most recently on a Lionel refrigerator car...change the car number by one digit.  I try to use a very fine-tipped detail brush to put the ELO just on the digit...or logo.  Trying to minimize disturbing the underlying color of the car.  I use a Q-tip to wipe the ELO off, and a water soaked Q-tip to further clean and stop the lifting action.  Depending how 'tough' the letter/digit/logo is, this might consume a bunch of Q-tips...but they're available cheap in quantity.

On this Lionel refrigerator car, I wasn't able to avoid the underlying paint completely.  So, after the final remnants of the digit were removed, the basic paint was somewhat lighter.  I went ahead and applied the new digit (water slide...matched style and size quite closely).  After all was dry, I over-sprayed with Tamiya clear satin.  And the lighter tone of the basic paint beneath the new digit seemed to disappear!...became quite consistent in color tone with the rest of the car!   (At least to this late septuagenarian's aging eyes!)

I know some forumites have used the Magic Eraser with success.  Use the forum search option.  This topic has been run several times.

FWIW...

KD

You can try ELO but if the car is recent it may not touch it. Nothing to loose though. Anything stronger will likely attack the base paint. Best bet might be the abrasive.

Pete

If you have access to an air compressor. I’ve been using a Passche Air Eraser. It comes with a mild abrasive. It will remove lettering and if your careful enough it won’t damage the underlying paint. It will dull it a bit. But often times a coat of gloss will bring it back.

You will need to disassemble the car somewhat. The airborne particles go everywhere. I usually do this outside in a clear bag. Put the tip as close as you can to what your trying to remove. Then just follow along the lettering till it’s all gone. Blow it off with some air and give it a good wash in Dawn. You may get away with just adding a clear coat which you do anyways before adding decals.

A few disclaimers. I have done complete cars. It takes some time if it’s a complicated paint scheme. The abrasive is not that harsh. The idea behind it is to not damage the underlying paint. I run a fleet. Most of what I do is just renumbering. Masking off everything except what you want to remove. Also the majority of my cars aren’t colorful. Mostly woodsided browns and black. So anything can be easily touched up. In the end everything is weathered so I’m not looking for a fresh out of the box look.