To Strip, Or not to Strip....Paint

[delamaize]

I ended up getting my hands on a late run AB Erie-Built Set from Life-like, the ones with the nice split from Mech. The issue is they are painted in KCS, and I need them to be Milwaukee.

Given these are a hard locomotive to find, and parts are Unobtanium. (I'm still looking for Glass for my Life-Like Undec C-liners) Would you try to strip these, and risk ruining the shell, or would you guys prime over the Life-like Paint, and send it?

I think these are going to get painted in the "Grayback" Scheme. I wanted to go with the "Cigar Band," because it's easier, but from what I have read, they didn't pull the Olympian Hiawatha after they got the "Cigar band" Repaint.

So what's the Consensus? Send it, or strip it.

[robert3985]

I ended up getting my hands on a late run AB Erie-Built Set from Life-like, the ones with the nice split from Mech. The issue is they are painted in KCS, and I need them to be Milwaukee.

Given these are a hard locomotive to find, and parts are Unobtanium. (I'm still looking for Glass for my Life-Like Undec C-liners) Would you try to strip these, and risk ruining the shell, or would you guys prime over the Life-like Paint, and send it?

I think these are going to get painted in the "Grayback" Scheme. I wanted to go with the "Cigar Band," because it's easier, but from what I have read, they didn't pull the Olympian Hiawatha after they got the "Cigar band" Repaint.

So what's the Consensus? Send it, or strip it.

Painting over the existing paint (unless you're painting the same color and the same paint scheme and there isn't any lettering) is not a good idea for a good paint job.

So, strip it.  I know it's a hassle, but I'd ask for a consensus here at TRW on what to use to strip it...and I think you'll be pretty safe.

For me, I've used 90+% IPA without any problems on various brands of plastic models, and on really difficult paint, brake fluid...the active ingredient being IPA...or full strength Pine-Sol.  For any of these, don't let them sit in the bath forever...although I've done that without any problems in the past also with IPA. 

STRIP

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[nickelplate759]

Strip it.  Strip it good.

If there is any lettering or stripes or color separations left from the original paint job, even with a good primer you'll be able to tell.

Every time I've tried NOT stripping I've been sorry.

[Lackawannae8]

i got a whiff that Atlas may be ReRunning these...

[jpwisc]

When in doubt… strip it. While you have it stripped, add some details. You’ll be glad you did

[Maletrain]

i got a whiff that Atlas may be ReRunning these...

But not until he strips the paint, first.   

[jwaldo]

Always strip. The factory paint is thick and belligerent, and it WILL bleed through your custom paint if you don't take it off first. I can say from extensive experience that a soak in 91%+ isopropyl alcohol and a soft toothbrush scrub will safely strip Life-Like paint without harming the plastic.

[Olivani]

Strip it. From experience, Life-Like are the easiest shells to strip, you can literally just put them beside a bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol and the paint will just fall off   

[thomasjmdavis]

i got a whiff that Atlas may be ReRunning these...

That might be a while.  I still haven't found a JnJ B unit shell to go with the pair of JnJ As that are in my "to be decaled" box.