Renumbering CIE diesels - best transfers and best method to remove old numbers

[Mol_PMB]

I've got several locos needing renumbering or a change of logo to represent my favourite ones. They are:

• Bachmann 181 class
• Murphy 141 class
• IRM 001 class

Firstly, I'd be interested to learn from anyone's experiences of removing numbering on these particular types of models. Which methods worked best - IPA, T-cut, fine abrasive, careful scraping? Which methods attacked the paint?

Secondly, what's the best source of number transfers to suit Supertrain livery? Railtec seem to do sheets to suit particular loco classes, but not these ones.

There are two distinct styles of number:

• Side numbers on these classes are larger, with a serif on the 1 and with black shading.
• Front numbers are usually smaller, sans-serif and unshaded (you wouldn't see the shading on an 001 class because it's applied to a black background, but it's also missing on the 141/181 classes).

Also, some locos had S or SA suffixes which were smaller and unshaded. My photos of 158 and 014 illustrate the different number styles:

 

For completeness, I should note that the first few 141/181 supertrain repaints in 1974 used the larger seriffed shaded numbers on the front too. Here's one of Ernie's photos showing 156 in the late 1970s:

The following locos carried this style in the 1970s until their next repaint: 141, 156, 158, 160, 173, 175, 182 to 186, 188 to 190. There may have been a few more.

 

And finally, not part of the question, a bit of inspiration for those cases where you can't quite get the old and new numbers to line up, or the sizes don't match, or the varnish doesn't protect them properly...

(all my pics, and in IE days so well after my modelling time period)

 

Cheers,

Mol

[murphaph]

I have had success scraping the numbers off MM 071s with the sharp tip of a cocktail stick. 

[Mol_PMB]

Having failed to find any suitable transfers I have started doing some artwork for my own custom decals. And it has become apparent that there is more variation than I had thought, so I'm basing these on photos of my preferred prototypes. I'm not quite finished yet, still fine-tuning the black shading.

The shaded numbers are based on the Humanst521 BT font, which is similar to Gill Sans but with some subtle differences. However, I've still had to tweak a lot of the numeral shapes.

The unshaded numbers I've created myself from scratch using arcs and straights, as I couldn't find any suitable font. I'm trying to match the number spacing on each loco individually. 192 had a mismatched numeral on one end only! This is hard work, but I'm getting there.

Observant readers will realise that I don't have 4 baby GMs but maybe I will get some more in future. All these have some significance to me.

Please forgive my OCD!

Mol