Hi Bud... Your note reminded me that is exactly what I did - a very long time ago!? I ground the truck attachment bosses off the hirail version and used ACE bolsters with PRS trucks.? It was an early model and I've thought about selling it more than a few times but the gondola tub was damaged, like the lower sill was bent in a vise.? The damage makes the car look like it was "sideswiped" - more prototypical to me, so I've kept it.? I've attached photos of the side damage and also the truck mount, both
hard to capture in a photo.? I think I had to vacuum the workbench six times to clean up all the pot metal dust I ground off!
I do like the fact you can ding, dent and scratch metal and brass objects to make them look more prototypical - that doesn't work too well for plastic.? Although I understand now there are 3D CAD files that will mimic some of those effects during printing.? The programs can even add the oil canning effect quite well.? Pretty cool... Jim Kindraka Grand Rapids, MI
On Fri, May 23, 2025 at 11:22?AM Bud Rindfleisch via <BlackDiamondRR= [email protected]> wrote: I once had two scale Rex gons, in my infinite wisdom I sold them! I still have one hi rail version that with some milling work could be made “scale” with a pair of Ace conversion boosters, the ones made with the shallower flat bottom. I have to weigh if I can find my gumption in the toolbox to tackle this!? ? ?Bud Rindfleisch
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Re: Plastic paint striping
I always put MARS with the color black. I think i had to do with the pigment that the paint is made up from. So if that’s the case it mainly depends on what binders the paint uses.?
I’m not familiar with the AM Amtrak paint scheme. Looking at the picture on AM’s web site I would think the black was shot first then the silver and finally the colored stripes and logo. Surly Testors, AK or 91-99 isopropyl alcohol. Would get that part off the model.?
I would just concentrate on removing the stripes and logos. If the black doesn’t come off and isn’t marred beyond minor sanding, I’d leave it.?
Depending on what final color the model is to be will determine what color it needs to be primed since you may be leaving the black and possibly the silver.?
I will also mention that the S12 I just finish was painted black by AM so I could decal and detail it for the MP. That black is tight with a semi gloss finish that seamed bullet prof. It also excepted decals better than most other factory paint work. Darn glad I didn’t have to strip it.?
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On May 23, 2025, at 12:57?PM, SDL39FAN via groups.io <sdl39fan@...> wrote:
? I was thinking is it oil based paint?
Michael Osweiler? Waseca On May 23, 2025, at 12:47?PM, Chris Fauxturkey via groups.io <skogkatt007@...> wrote:
? Could it be that type of paint (Duplicote?) that when sprayed on first etches the plastic?
On Friday, May 23, 2025 at 01:35:59 PM EDT, Edward Sauers via groups.io <edsauers@...> wrote:
Bill,
I don't really know,,,I had a conversation with the guys at American Models about stripping the paint off of their EMD FP40s and the gentleman I spoke to said "you can't strip the paint off the FP40 because they?are painted with "MARS" paint. !!!!
I have tried the normal methods of stripping the factor paint and so I have not found anything that has removed the paint!!!!
I have not tried any of the new family of paint strippers though!!!
Hope this helps Ed Sauers As a relative noob, what does that “MARS” mean, exactly?
> On May 22, 2025, at 9:41?PM, Edward Sauers via <edsauers=[email protected]> wrote:
>
> ?Mike,
>
> Just a reminder...when I asked the guys at AM they told me that the FP40 paint was "MARS" paint and it could not be stripped !!
>
> Ed
>
>> On 5/21/2025 2:48 PM, Mike Swederska via wrote:
>> Ed,
>> Haven’t tried yet on a locomotive. But plan to soon on one of their box cars.
>> These are a pair of the Baldwin Centipede locos by Broadway Limited.
>>
>> Mike Swederska
>>
>
>
>
>
>
-- Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
https://www.youtube.com/@mikesscale3149
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
Re: Plastic paint striping
I was thinking is it oil based paint?
Michael Osweiler? Waseca
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Show quoted text
On May 23, 2025, at 12:47?PM, Chris Fauxturkey via groups.io <skogkatt007@...> wrote:
? Could it be that type of paint (Duplicote?) that when sprayed on first etches the plastic?
On Friday, May 23, 2025 at 01:35:59 PM EDT, Edward Sauers via groups.io <edsauers@...> wrote:
Bill,
I don't really know,,,I had a conversation with the guys at American Models about stripping the paint off of their EMD FP40s and the gentleman I spoke to said "you can't strip the paint off the FP40 because they?are painted with "MARS" paint. !!!!
I have tried the normal methods of stripping the factor paint and so I have not found anything that has removed the paint!!!!
I have not tried any of the new family of paint strippers though!!!
Hope this helps Ed Sauers As a relative noob, what does that “MARS” mean, exactly?
> On May 22, 2025, at 9:41?PM, Edward Sauers via <edsauers=[email protected]> wrote:
>
> ?Mike,
>
> Just a reminder...when I asked the guys at AM they told me that the FP40 paint was "MARS" paint and it could not be stripped !!
>
> Ed
>
>> On 5/21/2025 2:48 PM, Mike Swederska via wrote:
>> Ed,
>> Haven’t tried yet on a locomotive. But plan to soon on one of their box cars.
>> These are a pair of the Baldwin Centipede locos by Broadway Limited.
>>
>> Mike Swederska
>>
>
>
>
>
>
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Re: Plastic paint striping
Could it be that type of paint (Duplicote?) that when sprayed on first etches the plastic?
On Friday, May 23, 2025 at 01:35:59 PM EDT, Edward Sauers via groups.io <edsauers@...> wrote:
Bill,
I don't really know,,,I had a conversation with the guys at American Models about stripping the paint off of their EMD FP40s and the gentleman I spoke to said "you can't strip the paint off the FP40 because they?are painted with "MARS" paint. !!!!
I have tried the normal methods of stripping the factor paint and so I have not found anything that has removed the paint!!!!
I have not tried any of the new family of paint strippers though!!!
Hope this helps Ed Sauers
As a relative noob, what does that “MARS” mean, exactly?
> On May 22, 2025, at 9:41?PM, Edward Sauers via <edsauers=[email protected]> wrote:
>
> ?Mike,
>
> Just a reminder...when I asked the guys at AM they told me that the FP40 paint was "MARS" paint and it could not be stripped !!
>
> Ed
>
>> On 5/21/2025 2:48 PM, Mike Swederska via wrote:
>> Ed,
>> Haven’t tried yet on a locomotive. But plan to soon on one of their box cars.
>> These are a pair of the Baldwin Centipede locos by Broadway Limited.
>>
>> Mike Swederska
>>
>
>
>
>
>
|
Re: Plastic paint striping
Bill,
I don't really know,,,I had a conversation with the guys at American Models about stripping the paint off of their EMD FP40s and the gentleman I spoke to said "you can't strip the paint off the FP40 because they?are painted with "MARS" paint. !!!!
I have tried the normal methods of stripping the factor paint and so I have not found anything that has removed the paint!!!!
I have not tried any of the new family of paint strippers though!!!
Hope this helps Ed Sauers
As a relative noob, what does that “MARS” mean, exactly?
> On May 22, 2025, at 9:41?PM, Edward Sauers via <edsauers=[email protected]> wrote:
>
> ?Mike,
>
> Just a reminder...when I asked the guys at AM they told me that the FP40 paint was "MARS" paint and it could not be stripped !!
>
> Ed
>
>> On 5/21/2025 2:48 PM, Mike Swederska via wrote:
>> Ed,
>> Haven’t tried yet on a locomotive. But plan to soon on one of their box cars.
>> These are a pair of the Baldwin Centipede locos by Broadway Limited.
>>
>> Mike Swederska
>>
>
>
>
>
>
|
Re: Plastic paint striping
As a relative noob, what does that “MARS” mean, exactly?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 22, 2025, at 9:41?PM, Edward Sauers via groups.io <edsauers@...> wrote:
?Mike,
Just a reminder...when I asked the guys at AM they told me that the FP40 paint was "MARS" paint and it could not be stripped !!
Ed
On 5/21/2025 2:48 PM, Mike Swederska via groups.io wrote:
Ed,
Haven’t tried yet on a locomotive. But plan to soon on one of their box cars.
These are a pair of the Baldwin Centipede locos by Broadway Limited.
Mike Swederska
|
I once had two scale Rex gons, in my infinite wisdom I sold them! I still have one hi rail version that with some milling work could be made “scale” with a pair of Ace conversion boosters, the ones made with the shallower flat bottom. I have to weigh if I can find my gumption in the toolbox to tackle this! ? ? ?Bud Rindfleisch
|
Re: Plastic paint striping
Wow! I did forget about that.
Mike Swederska
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Show quoted text
On May 22, 2025, at 8:41?PM, Edward Sauers via groups.io <edsauers@...> wrote:
?Mike,
Just a reminder...when I asked the guys at AM they told me that the FP40 paint was "MARS" paint and it could not be stripped !!
Ed
On 5/21/2025 2:48 PM, Mike Swederska via groups.io wrote:
Ed,
Haven’t tried yet on a locomotive. But plan to soon on one of their box cars.
These are a pair of the Baldwin Centipede locos by Broadway Limited.
Mike Swederska
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
Re: Plastic paint striping
Mike,
Just a reminder...when I asked the guys at AM they told me that the FP40 paint was "MARS" paint and it could not be stripped !!
Ed
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 5/21/2025 2:48 PM, Mike Swederska via groups.io wrote: Ed,
Haven’t tried yet on a locomotive. But plan to soon on one of their box cars.
These are a pair of the Baldwin Centipede locos by Broadway Limited.
Mike Swederska
|
Re: Plastic paint striping
Found it at kickass for $10.99
On Wed, May 21, 2025 at 12:03 PM, Mike Swederska via groups.io <mikesscale@...> wrote:
There have always been modelers asking what to use for stripping paint from plastic models. I have tried so many techniques using everything from brake fluid to Scalecoat stripper. I have been successful over the years using products such as Simple Green, Goof
Off and Isopropyl alcohol but everything is just a crap shoot hopping it will work.?
Awhile back I took on a plastic diesel job. Not to my liking but I wanted to help out a friend. He has two of the same locos that he wants painted and lettered. The issue is one was painted by some other painter that he tried and put the wrong colors on the
loco. The other is still in its factory paint scheme. I needed to strip both of them and start over. I tried all the usual stripping products and nothing touched either model. The 91% alcohol did soften and make sticky but really needed to soak forever and
scrub very hard to the point of damaging the model shell.?
I went to a hobby shop that is not really trains but cators to the plastic model guys and all the other stuff that is needed to keep them in business. They sold me a bottle of paint stripper for plastic, and I bought it with hesitation. It is called AK 185.
I read the reviews and everyone said it was nothing more than alcohol. They are wrong. This stuff really works.?
I keep 91% in a spray bottle and started with it first. Again, it would not touch what ever that first model was painted with or its decals. I tried a small spot inside the shell, and it darn near wiped the factory color off in one wipe. I used it on the aftermarket
paint and with a toothbrush I was able to get all the way down to the factory shell with not much work or worry. I then tried it on the next shell with just a factory paint job, and it removed all the lettering and color down to the shell by wiping it with
a paper towel.?
Just recently I used brake fluid on one of my own PRS box cars I painted over 20 years ago and destroyed it. Run fast, Run hard from using brake fluid. I wish I knew about this stuff then.
SKU: AK186
Paint Stripper 100ml
-- Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
https://www.youtube.com/@mikesscale3149
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
|
The Rex gondola was a Southern Railway prototype. Here's a beautifully detailed example by my dear friend, the late Dave Felmley. All cast grab irons were ground off and replaced with real wire ones, steps are by Grandt Line (now San Juan) - perhaps the original cast ones had broken off - , a complete brake system was installed, a Mantua stamped brass brake wheel was used, and Kinsman trucks and Kadee 802 couplers were installed as running gear. These cars track well because the weight is close to the rails.
Just a couple years ago I saw one in MW service on the Wheeling & Lake Erie (Southern to NS to WLE would be the ownership route), so a few of these may still be around. It was coupled to a small crane being used for trackwork on the west end of the old Pittsburgh & West Virginia line, near Cecil PA.
The underframes were one part of a multi-part die, so they could be swapped out. Bob Werre is quite correct in that there were therefore four versions of the two car styles: AF and hirail/scale for the gondola, and the same for the flat car. Also attached is a picture of the unpainted flat car, AF version. I have a small supply of the AF-version flat cars; see me at the NASG convention if you would like one.
Jim Whipple Pittsburgh PA    
Sorry about jumping the gun on this,
but the Rex instruction sheet Bill references does indicate the
difference between the AF and scale versions if you pay close
attention.?
Bob Werre
Phototraxx
The Rex flatcar was my first scale
car I ever bought.? Eventually I was able to buy my first bottle
of Floquil black paint and some GN decals. I was pleased with
it's detailing and it till runs on the layout.
However, it's been years since I've
been 'hawking' used stuff from 0thers--but Rex actually made two
versions of both the flat and the gon.? The underbodies were
different--four cars total!? One version must have been for the
hi-rail version as the underbody was much more basic and suited
for AF trucks.? I don't recall the particulars.
Bob Werre?
From:?Corbin Bates
Date: Thu, 22 May 2025 01:52:51 PDT?
. . . I got a Gondola from a friend . . .?I
found it was made by REX . . .?The gon is fairly well
detailed for its time.
The NASG web site has the kit?.
|
Sorry about jumping the gun on this,
but the Rex instruction sheet Bill references does indicate the
difference between the AF and scale versions if you pay close
attention.?
Bob Werre
Phototraxx
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
The Rex flatcar was my first scale
car I ever bought.? Eventually I was able to buy my first bottle
of Floquil black paint and some GN decals. I was pleased with
it's detailing and it till runs on the layout.
However, it's been years since I've
been 'hawking' used stuff from 0thers--but Rex actually made two
versions of both the flat and the gon.? The underbodies were
different--four cars total!? One version must have been for the
hi-rail version as the underbody was much more basic and suited
for AF trucks.? I don't recall the particulars.
Bob Werre?
From:?Corbin Bates
Date: Thu, 22 May 2025 01:52:51 PDT?
. . . I got a Gondola from a friend . . .?I
found it was made by REX . . .?The gon is fairly well
detailed for its time.
The NASG web site has the kit?.
|
The Rex flatcar was my first scale car
I ever bought.? Eventually I was able to buy my first bottle of
Floquil black paint and some GN decals. I was pleased with it's
detailing and it till runs on the layout.
However, it's been years since I've
been 'hawking' used stuff from 0thers--but Rex actually made two
versions of both the flat and the gon.? The underbodies were
different--four cars total!? One version must have been for the
hi-rail version as the underbody was much more basic and suited
for AF trucks.? I don't recall the particulars.
Bob Werre?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From:?Corbin Bates
Date: Thu, 22 May 2025 01:52:51 PDT?
. . . I got a Gondola from a friend . . .?I found
it was made by REX . . .?The gon is fairly well detailed for
its time.
The NASG web site has the kit?.
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Re: Plug door improvements.
Which article?are you referring to? It is not referenced or attached.
On Thu, May 22, 2025 at 9:16?AM Pieter Roos via <pieterroos53= [email protected]> wrote:
I just ran into this article on improving an HO car, much of it is applicable to the AM plug door car (or adding plug doors to the standard AM boxcar if you want the rivets without using decal rivets).
We could use a source of steel ice hatches and a few other parts.
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I bought a group of abused cars I probably should not have. 1 of the best shape cars was a American Models Railbox that was missing a door. I did not have a list of parts I wanted to get from AM but that would have been easiest…. ? So 5 hours of Solidworks and 4 prints later I got the door I wanted only to make sure it is facing the inside of the layout anyway. ? That was easy! ? ? ? Thank You,
Bill Lane
Modeling the Mighty Pennsy & PRSL in 1957 in S Scale since 1988
See my finished models at:
Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale!
PRR Builders Photos Bought, Sold & Traded
(Trading is MUCH preferred)
?
***Join the PRR T&HS***
The other members are not ALL like me!
Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society
It's FREE to join!??
Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL ?
|
From:?Corbin Bates
Date: Thu, 22 May 2025 01:52:51 PDT?
. . . I got a Gondola from a friend . . .?I found it was made by REX . . .?The gon is fairly well detailed for its time.
The NASG web site has the kit?.
|
I just ran into this article on improving an HO car, much of it is applicable to the AM plug door car (or adding plug doors to the standard AM boxcar if you want the rivets without using decal rivets).
We could use a source of steel ice hatches and a few other parts.
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I bought the one right beside it at the S Spree. A piece of history.
Bruce Bogart
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So I got a Gondola from a friend for $20 that wasn’t in its original box. Neither of us could figure out who made it at first. After I did some digging around the internet I found it was made by REX or some of you know them by Putt Trains. The gon is fairly well detailed for its time. Here are some pictures. The last two pictures are from the internet.
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Re: Plastic paint striping
Scalecoat is “back in business” selling their plastic paint stripper and thinner – only.
? I have used it recently. It is slow but works well. ? Thank You,
Bill Lane
Modeling the Mighty Pennsy, PRSL & Reading in 1957 in S Scale since 1987
See my finished models at:
Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale! ? See my layout progress at:
Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society
It's FREE to join!??
Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL
?
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SDL39FAN
Bob Werre
Rick Naylor
Bill Lane
Corbin Bates