Hornby A4 nameplate removal

[60800]

Whilst purchasing items from 247 developments I inquired about some record plates for my Hornby Mallard, and was told that I could only buy them with the etched nameplates for Mallard, so I bought the set and some works plates.

Evidently I want to use the nameplates but I would like to know the easiest and least damaging way of removing the plastic nameplates from my (current issue) hornby Mallard.

[Manxman1831]

Possibly running a brand new blade down the back of the present plates until they give?

[60800]

I've been running a craft knife along the top of the right hand side nameplate. Half of it has given considerably, the the other half won't budge... yet

EDIT: one down, one to go

[60800]

The one on the left hand side is a bu###r to get off. All those pipes in the way!

I'll get some piccies of her with all three sets of new plates in the good light tomorrow morning. Everything will be on with just blu-tack. It's held 60009's plaque on for a year and 60163's nameplates on for two years and I don't trust myself with superglue.

[Atlantic 3279]

Sounds typical for the few sets that I have removed. The factory glue, which is presumably applied as a couple of drops onto the pins of the plate that protrude through into the body cavity, and which grips like nobody's business, seeps under the plate itself by capillary action but spreads unevely. You may therefore find that only part, or nearly all, of the plate "cracks free" of the body without any trouble at all. The rest of it clings on for grim death, making it impossible to remove the old printed plate undamaged. You'll probably find that you end up with remnants of the old plastic plate still stuck firmly to the bodyshell, and that careful scraping is needed to remove them.

[60800]

Yeah that did happen with both nameplates, but careful application of the blutack helped it level off

I'll let you guys decide how good a job I've done when I post piccies of her in the morning. If the weather is bone dry I'll take her outside

[60800]

Here she is with etched name, record and works plates :

Ignore the slight messy and uneven look of the nameplates, that's due to having to resize the image to just under a quarter of it's original size. I just need to put some lamps on her now

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

re superglue - try using loctite power flex.

It comes in a special bottle. Squeeze the sides and a tiny anount is dispensed. The alternative is to decant a bit of liquid superglue onto a sheet of plythene and apply with a cocktail stick ot tip of a small slotted screwdriver, remembering to clean screwdriver afterwards....



Guess who forgot last time. Still, a sharp knife blade will scrape it off if you do!

[60800]

I'm just scared that I won't get the plates on straight, that's why Tornado's plates have been blu-tacked for two years

[S.A.C. Martin]

Good work Blackout. Those 247 plates look really good.

[Manxman1831]

Like the record plates on 4468. Do you have a similar set for 60007 for it's record run?

[Blink Bonny]

I'm just scared that I won't get the plates on straight, that's why Tornado's plates have been blu-tacked for two years

Ay up!

I haven't got anything to name on my bench at the moment but I'll keep you in mind for when I do. Warning - this will be a step-by-step. The 'plates on Mallard look good.

Must do summat about that Brit....