I have models from Z to G - Z, N, HO, Lionel, and 1:29, to be specific, and one of these little gems is a Lionel ALCO FA from the post-war era. Originally, the FA was painted for Union Pacific, but somewhere in the late 1980s I decided that it would look better in a different scheme. First it got a stylish dark blue and dark grey scheme with silver trim, and then - for reasons I cannot begin to explain - I repainted it gold. Solid gold. Solid metallic gold.

Thirty or so years later (2016) I decided to repaint this eyesore into a more realistic paint scheme. I ordered some O-scale decals from the internet (Genesee Valley with the matching black, white, and red logos). And then I started to strip the gold paint off.

I don't recall if it was spray paint or a paint from a little tin can, if it was imitation gold or gold leaf, but it was definitely NOT hobby paint. This must be the stuff that they make nuclear bunkers out of, because it laughed at all attempts to strip it. If anything, the strippers merely cleaned off 30-odd years of dust and crud off the paint and made it shine brighter.

After running up the white flag, I decided to leave the paint and paint over it using Tru-color's dark grey primer. My airbrush broke. The paint laughed and gestured rudely at me. A new airbrush was obtained and I managed to finish priming it, and lay a coat of white paint on the nose and flanks. I masked with painters' tape and sprayed the roof and pilot black. I careful removed the tape.... and large patches of the white paint and primer.

I desperation, I decided to try sealing the gold paint (and what remained of the other layers) with a liberal spraying of dullcote.... and the gold paint started to crackle and melt. I'm not quite sure what is in dullcote, but it effectively helped to strip the model of the gold paint. Unfortunately, it also made a royal mess of melted paint in the kitchen sink, on the countertop, and my hands - not to mention parts of the shell. 

Nail files, sanding sponges, and green scrubbing pads were called upon to clean up the mess - and you know it's a __MESS__ when you have to use a sanding sponge to clean your hands!

The model has been thoroughly washed in warm, soapy water, dried, and given a fresh coat of primer. Tune in tomorrow to find out if I have defeated the gold paint, or if it will have the last laugh.....