On the Athearn web site under

On the Athearn web site under videos there is one on removing lettering

Art

Lettering

On most of the recent China-made factory painted models, you dab decal setting solution (Microsol) and a small wad of tissue, let it sit for several minutes, and then rub the lettering off. Old-school solutions like Walthers Solvaset or Champ Decal-Set might be too aggressive but can be thinned with distilled water.

Using tissue to keep the solution on the lettering is the key.

I have used alcohol on a q

I have used alcohol on a q tip in the past. I have heard of some scraping off the lettering with a wooden tooth pick as well.

For printed on lettering, I

For printed on lettering, I recently used an eraser. Multiple gentle rubbings removed the lettering without harming the underlying paint. 

Changing Loco cab Numbers

To those who responded,Thank you, Carefully, I will have a go at it.  The replacement decal set,, any suggestions where to go for replacement decal set.  The readers are awesome.

decal sets

Go to these sites to get the decal sets you need.

http://www.pdc.ca. This for Bill Brillinger's site he is a decal designer & provides other service to help you out for your modeling needs. He also done a few decals sets for some fellow MRH members.The other is to Google/Yahoo search decal site for the scale your modeling. The site that I use for non-custom decals is: http://www.microscale.com. hope these help you out.

What Railroad do you want decals for?

Some smaller businesses print for specific area railroads.

Also YouTube has ChrisPalmeres removing decals from Athearn Locomotives or cars.  A very good video.

Nick

RENUMBER DECALS FOR ATHEARN GENESIS CN SD70ACe ATHG68832

Painted Numbers

I've had success removing painted or stamped on numbers from brass steam models, by using Q-tips soaked in Pine Sol, and a considerable amount of rubbing on the number. There was no damage to the paint underneath the numbers, so it was easy enough to add new numbers to the model.

Microscale

http://www.microscale.com

Look under Canadian National in the popdown list.

re: nydepot

Also they have a section in the popdown list just for locos. It contains: builder plates, numberboards, & other info needed to decals locos with. Amsnick mentioned this site in his blog/topic building his fleet of hopper cars. they have actual reflectors to use on the locos & on rail cars. The site is http://www.smokeboxgraphics.com. The sheet looks like its already cut to length.  You could use it to replace the reflectors on your loco.

At the risk of being

At the risk of being unhelpful, I can not fail to share this re-numbering method that was described to me by none other than Joe Fugate. I believe this was done inadvertently through one of his posts or articles about getting things ready for operating sessions and the short cuts he ended up taking. He mentioned not having things like handrails on his locomotives and a unique way of changing numbers.

Post it notes. I thought this was pure genius.

Surprisingly