Heljan Class 27

[Strathyre]

4 hours ago, SHerr said:

. Has anyone renumbered a weathered Heljan loco and does it remove the weathering as well? (or more to the point can it be blended back in?)

 

Many Thanks

excuse my ignorance bit what's the Sharpie pen method? Never managed to satisfactorily remove numbers from Helena paint jobs!

 

Thanks

 

Paul

[SHerr]

1 hour ago, Strathyre said:

excuse my ignorance bit what's the Sharpie pen method? Never managed to satisfactorily remove numbers from Helena paint jobs!

 

Thanks

 

Paul

There’s a thread on here somewhere - basically take a Sharpie of the nearest colour to the body colour below the number  and gently keep colouring over the numbers. Then use acrylic thinner on a cotton bud and rub gently, that lifts the number and pen colour. Don’t rub too hard or it can still go through.
 

It worked on a couple of 47’s including nameplates, leaves a bit of a shine but doesn’t seem to go straight through to the base plastic like white spirits alone.

 

works for other males as well but some of those are less stubborn.

[SHerr]

Following my questions above about removing weathering etc, I managed to get a great price on 27001 on ‘the auction site’.

 

The numbers came off quite easily with light scratching (mainly finger nail) and didn’t require any sharpie pens etc and no paintwork damage. I assume Heljan have changed the printing techniques or similar as this was never possible on older locos.

 

The weathering also came off fairly easily with enamel thinner on a cotton bud and I removed some of the very thick grime off the body sides as well - one photo below is half done so you can see the difference. You actually get quite a good streaking effect and much better than the heavy handed Heljan weathered finish.
 

Quick renumbered with Railtec transfers and it’s looking good.