Stripping paint from Atlas O models?

I have not done used Super Clean specifically on Atlas O cars; however, I have used Super Clean as a paint stripper on various sorts of plastic and metal models, including an old K-Line caboose. The easiest way is to put the item into the Super Clean overnight. I use it full strength for model paint stripping (enamel or acrylic and whatever is used by Chinese manufacturing contractors). Let's see if others have the same good experience.

Super Clean should do the job.  Atlas paint isnt super strong. If you get alcohol on it it will get gummy, but it takes a long time to get it all out of the cracks and crevices.  Ive dunked atlas parts in Scalecoat Washaway, which is, by my understanding, the same thing as Superclean. Give SC a try, it should work.

What about the lettering white paint on an Atlas O USRA 0-6-0 steam locomotive? I would like to change the road name and number. What is best to use?

MELGAR

  Ben, do you have a project in mind. It may take some searching. But you can find undecorated models. I’ve reworked some Atlas cars but starting out with a painted one in close to the color I want. Preferably one with very little graphics. I then use an air eraser to remove the lettering. A bit tedious. But all the factory paint remains in all the hard to get to areas.  Re painting just requires a bath and one coat of paint.

Mel, I re lettered an 0-6-0 but it’s been a while. I either used nail polish remover or Laquer thinner on the lettering and pretty much gave it a quick couple of  swipes. I let these projects sit for a day and then evaluate the paint finish after the lettering is removed. Sometimes your good to go and a simple gloss coat and apply your decals. If the paint looks a little hazy I’ll just use an engine black. Once you apply your final clear coat it will all blend in.

I would go for something like the number on the rear of the tender and see if you like the result. Before taking on the sides of the tender and the engine cab..

Mel, I've used the eraser tip of a pencil or a cotton swab with light pressure, dipped in either lacquer thinner or Testor's Easy Lift-Off to remove lettering. They give a little finer control for me to try and remove only the lettering and as little of the background paint as possible. It can take some time, but eventually the lettering should come off.

But, as Dave C. points out, you may have to do a little restorative work on the background black before applying the new lettering.

Thanks all. I have a jug of Super Clean so I will try that. And I do have a project in mind and acquired the car, so I am working with what I have. Undecorated would have been easier though.

Report back to how it works for you and show the finished version. I have an Atlas car to strip. A botched paint job over some of the factory paint.
I have a project I’m doing now. Took me months to find an undecorated car. The main reason was the base of the car I’m doing is gray and didn’t want to get into stripping a car. So it was worth the search. Got it at a good price. But a lot of ones I see the asking price is more than a painted up fancy one. Go figure.