We all want our modeling steps to turn out easy, or at least not that challenging, right?
I’ve started working on stripping and detailing an Atlas O SW8 in preparation for repainting and decaling in my proto-freelance livery. After watching a very informative YouTube video from one of my favorite airbrushing gurus, Barbatos Rex, I took his recommendation on a cheap stripping agent, Super Clean (available at any Walmart).
I took the stripped cab and dropped it into a measuring pitcher filled with Super Clean. Within minutes the engine’s pad-printed number dissolved and I used a toothbrush to scrub it clean. Likewise, the decals were easy to remove. Silver enamel paint on the back side of the cab was more stubborn, but after soaking for over 24-hours, it is dissolving very nicely. Super Clean does not affect the plastic, so I plan to keep soaking the part until the enamel is completely gone. I found that scrubbing the paint had no effect on removing it—one has to be patient and let the solution dissolve it over time.
With a little patience, Super Clean works like a charm for those parts that can be submerged. Now I have to figure out what to use on the engine’s striped platform printing that requires brushing on a substance. Hmm, I think a bit of 99 percent isopropyl alcohol may be the answer.
