Removal Of Factory Printing On Big Thunder Mountain Locomotive/Train Project (LGB Casey)

[Imagination Station Kids]

Came out real nice. I'll have to get one of those fiberglass pens.
Side Note;
Finally got the wheels on those cars but they barely scrape the body of the ride car underneath. So gotta figure that out.
I also think that coupling the cars together will be an issue as well because these are 3D printed and have odd coupler brackets that don't seem to fit any brand of couplers.

 

[pugwash]

Came out real nice. I'll have to get one of those fiberglass pens.

Can you tell us what mehod(s) you used in the end?

 

[Imagination Station Kids]

I'll have to get one of those pens and try the vinyl idea as well.
Because I've never done it, I'm a little scared of chemical removal right now, so I'll start with this for now and use that idea last.
First I am dealing with the front of the boiler. I checked with Train Li yesterday and they are checking to see if they have a different replacement front boiler/smokebox cover (that is removable) that's flat black without lettering. They think they might have one hidden in the back and will call over the next couple days to let me know. If so, that will solve 1 issue. The others I'll have to try a couple ideas and see what works best on the cab.
I'll sure let you all know how it goes with photos if I can and thanks for all the help and interest.
Ken

 

[Imagination Station Kids]

We decided to just overlay the cab with vinyl. It's not perfect but ok for what we're doing. I still don't have a solution for the front of the boiler or smokebox area as Lake George and Boulder still has to be removed.
I've been given several options on this post as well as to simply paint over it but I'm afraid to mess that up since a lot of time and funds went into this project.
Here's current photos.
Colors aren't perfect either but please keep in mind that we're not professionals, so perfection isn't exactly in the cards for us but I guess it's acceptable, if we can get the lettering on the front removed without disassembly, hopefully?

 

[Paul M]

That looks great!

 

[Imagination Station Kids]

Appreciate it! Almost there.

 

[Imagination Station Kids]

We finished this project and although it's not completely and prototypically correct, the locomotive came our a little more acceptable than we originally thought it would.
We used sanding needles from Hobby Lobby as in the photos. They still removed a small amount of the base coat but it was relatively easy to smooth out and repaint, although we ended up with a gloss coat.
Even with that, you can see in the photos that they worked ok.
We aren't exactly professionals at this but the engine is ok for the public to run at our events.
Smokebox door area is a bit too glossy but we can modify that later. At least the lettering is gone and with some excessively light wet sanding, it is close to correct.
The photos show in the light very small, fine scratches but they are only surface and came out as smooth as it was originally with 30 seconds per side of light sanding.
The train still needs numbers and couplers which are on order but other than that, it's mostly completed.

 

[Paul M]

We finished this project and although it's not completely and prototypically correct

There's a protocol everything, and besides, most people enjoy the show, as it were, prototypical or not!

 

[dunnyrail]

We finished this project and although it's not completely and prototypically correct, the locomotive came our a little more acceptable than we originally thought it would.
We used sanding needles from Hobby Lobby as in the photos. They still removed a small amount of the base coat but it was relatively easy to smooth out and repaint, although we ended up with a gloss coat.
Even with that, you can see in the photos that they worked ok.
We aren't exactly professionals at this but the engine is ok for the public to run at our events.
Smokebox door area is a bit too glossy but we can modify that later. At least the lettering is gone and with some excessively light wet sanding, it is close to correct.
The photos show in the light very small, fine scratches but they are only surface and came out as smooth as it was originally with 30 seconds per side of light sanding.
The train still needs numbers and couplers which are on order but other than that, it's mostly completed.

Perseverance has seen you through, interesting that even what may have appeared to be a project that initially appeared to be in the realms of a LGB unknown how to do it issue, there is a lot for us to all learn here. For my part the revelation here (I have over the years removed a lot of LGB and Playmobil lettering) was sanding needles, a product I was unaware of and have put some in my ‘buy later’ in Amazon slot. Great interesting job.

 

[Imagination Station Kids]

How true Paul.
As far as sanding needles, I was told about them while looking for a fiberglass pen by a young lady who worked in the art department at Hobby Lobby, so we both learned a little something new.
They worked great, were really durable all the way to the tip and did the job quickly.
Nice product!

 

[JimmyB]

Having never come across the term "sanding needles" and thinking of needle (or warding) files I googles it. It seems there are two (at least) very different tools using the same title, one for a rotary device and one a manual item.

 

[tac foley]

Came out real nice. I'll have to get one of those fiberglass pens.
Side Note;
Finally got the wheels on those cars but they barely scrape the body of the ride car underneath. So gotta figure that out.
I also think that coupling the cars together will be an issue as well because these are 3D printed and have odd coupler brackets that don't seem to fit any brand of couplers.

A word or three of advice - those glass-fibre pens are actually VERY dangerous in use. They shed minute strands of glass fibre which can, and does, enter skin without you knowing - also, drift up into eyeballs. They are about as difficult to detect as you can imagine, averaging less than 1/10000th of an inch in thickness. Take care when using one - face mask that covers the eyeballs and lower face, please..

 

[JimmyB]

A word or three of advice - those glass-fibre pens are actually VERY dangerous in use. They shed minute strands of glass fibre which can, and does, enter skin without you knowing - also, drift up into eyeballs. They are about as difficult to detect as you can imagine, averaging less than 1/10000th of an inch in thickness. Take care when using one - face mask that covers the eyeballs and lower face, please..

Very sound advice, gloves would help, but heavy enough to protect your hands, and a loss of dexterity, light enough to be able to use your hands and insufficient protection. Once a piece is in your hands fingers etc, it is annoying for days, and difficult to remove.

 

[Imagination Station Kids]

How true Paul.
As far as sanding needles, I was told about them by a young lady who worked in the art department at Hobby Lobby, so we both learned a little something new.
They worked great and quickly
Nice product!
Jimmy,
Did not know that about fiberglass pens. Yea, I don't think I'll be using those. The sanding needles worked really well anyway.
Good advice though.

 

[tac foley]

'Sanding needle' pictures please.

 

[PhilP]

Here you go tac:

PhilP.

 

[palmerston]

You can remove printing with "tampondruckentferner", the same stuff that is used in the factory to remove a failed print.

Tampondruckentferner

Used it to remove printing from a LGB circus range wagon before spray painting it. If you dont remove the printing, it will show up!

 

[PhilP]

I doubt it can be sent to International destinations, though?

PhilP.

 

[palmerston]

just ask them

 

[Imagination Station Kids]

I wish I knew about this stuff prior to my project. I did check and it can be sent via DHL to the United States. There is a USA listing on the country list. The price is expensive though for the shipping, plus I think there is a large minimum 100 something order cost? (Euros maybe?)
The last screenshot is shipping to the United States and other countries.
Just info.