Model Railroading > Paint removal on a Bachman shell

planning on repainting a older Bachman cattle car into a different paint scheme. In research various ways to remove the paint on older threads from this forum, 91 percent alcohol seems to be the way to go. Since this is my first attempt at doing this would I brush on the alcohol and let it stand overnight or put some in a container and let the shell soak for how long? Thanks for any information provided to a novice in doing this.

Let it soak as long as needed. It might only take over night. Then use a tooth brush to remove the remainder in the tight spots. Once you do one, you'll be a pro.

Regards, Bobby

The disposable aluminium foil baking pans that you can get at the market are perfect for this.

I stripped an older Bachmann NSC 4650 hopper last year. I used 91% or 99% alcohol in a plastic shoe box sized container. The alcohol took the paint off in about five seconds. I used a tooth brush to finish up in the nooks and crannies.

Posted from Android

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The disposable aluminium foil baking pans that you
> can get at the market are perfect for this.

I use a clean milk jug or gallon water jug cut with a cutcase knife. Cheap and environmentally friendly (reuse).

This is a link to an earlier thread showing my cheap, I mean awesome soaking container.
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,3456911,3456911#msg-3456911

Jim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/15 21:08 by tq-07fan.

neilgross Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I stripped an older Bachmann NSC 4650 hopper last
> year. I used 91% or 99% alcohol in a plastic shoe
> box sized container. The alcohol took the paint
> off in about five seconds. I used a tooth brush to
> finish up in the nooks and crannies.
>
> Posted from Android

To the OP, check to see if you used 70% Iso Alcohol, as it typically won't touch model paints, no matter how long you let it soak. Always use 91% Iso Alcohol (or stronger). I get my 91% IA from my local CVS. Bottle has a red label as opposed to a blue label for 70%.

Russ

Thanks one and all for your responses on how I should handle this, much appreciated.

Perfect timing for this thread, I was just going to begin the same on a set of gons. Thanks for all the input!!
Matt
Chattanooga, Tn.

I can't quite make out how you cut the milk jug; vertically from top to bottom?

tq-07fan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The disposable aluminium foil baking pans that
> you
> > can get at the market are perfect for this.
>
> I use a clean milk jug or gallon water jug cut
> with a cutcase knife. Cheap and environmentally
> friendly (reuse).
>
> This is a link to an earlier thread showing my
> cheap, I mean awesome soaking container.
> http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,3
> 456911,3456911#msg-3456911
>
> Jim

Aluminium foil pans are very recyclable.

CPR_4000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can't quite make out how you cut the milk jug;
> vertically from top to bottom?

Yes, I cut them kind of down the center from top to bottom so they make a pan of sorts.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> tq-07fan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > PHall Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
> 
> > -----
> > > The disposable aluminium foil baking pans
> that
> > you
> > > can get at the market are perfect for this.
> > 
> > I use a clean milk jug or gallon water jug cut
> > with a cutcase knife. Cheap and environmentally
> > friendly (reuse).
> > 
> > This is a link to an earlier thread showing my
> > cheap, I mean awesome soaking container.
> >
> http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,3
> 
> > 456911,3456911#msg-3456911
> > 
> > Jim
> 
> Aluminium foil pans are very recyclable.

Of course they are! I just didn't want to sound too cheap, which is the main reason for me using milk jugs. :-)

Jim

> Let it soak as long as needed. It might only take
> over night.


I use a plastic freezer baggie just large enough for the stripee.  Dump in the 91% and squeeze out the air before zipping up.  Baggie goes into a "just in case" container even though I've yet to have a problem.  Every model is different in terms of time.  Some almost instant.  Most over night.  Some a week.  The Iso doesn't seem to affect any plastic I've used - so far - so no reason you can't give it a month or so.  (Not needed, but, sometimes, forgotten!)