Removing paint

[Fifer54]

Quick question!

If you remove the paint from a model (e.g. using Mr Muscle oven cleaner) is it possible to

prevent the painted interior from being stripped? Can I simply mask it off to prevent the

stripper from contacting the surfaces, or must I accept that the cockpit is going to be stripped?

I only ask because the model I want to strip has the best-finished cockpit of all my models!

Sod's Law or what,eh!

[hovis]

I really doubt it mate

unless you don't soak it, but spend hours with a toothbrush dipped in oven cleaner...

[xlpainter]

hi halfords do aluminium tape just mask an area around the cockpit strip the model and remove the tape and sand the rest of the paint around the cockpit

[gcn]

I've managed to get off future over Tamiya acrylic over alclad primer using nothing but IPA, a cloth and a toothbrush. Clearly more effort is involved in getting back to the bare plastic as opposed to a dunk in a bath of MRMOC but all the work on the interior is preserved.

[Gary C]

Yes, it's possible. I've just stripped a Tamiya Mosquito back to bare plastic after the Xtracrylix I'd used peeled off with the masking tape. If you're going to use Mr Muscle then spray it into a seperate container and let it foam and turn to liquid. Apply it with a half inch paintbrush to the kit, let it dissolve the paint and then scrub with a toothbrush and wash off. To get the Xtracrylix off I used Fairy Power spray. It doesn't foam and is better at removing acrylics than Mr Muscle. Don't try and do the kit all in one go, do it sections ie wing/forward fuselage/rear fuselage/other wing. That way you've got more control. Tape the cockpit over and work roughly around it, you can use a finer paintbrush to get the stuff around the edges last of all. You'll have to retape the cockpit every time you wash it but that's not a bad thing as you can check that nothing has got inside. It's a slow process but it rewards patience and you'll get your kit back to the prepainting stage and can try again.

[Fifer54]

Thank you all for your advice, there is hope, and my model for the KUTAIII GB can go ahead.

[Calum]

Try wiping the model with Mr color thinners. That takes everything off and doesn't harm the plastic. It stinks though so you'll need a mask

[Iain Ogilvie]

As others have said - if painted with acrylics - simply wipe off with IPA soaked kitchen paper.

Just did this with a 1:32 Thunderbolt - back to shiny plastic and no collateral damage to cockpit - or u/c bays.

Iain

[Shaun]

Whats best for stripping enamals?

Shaun.

[spitfire]

I stripped two of my old kits using brake fluid, both kits had been painted with Humbrol and Xtracolor, the reason that I stripped and refinished them was that when I built them I used to go to town and spend months on the cockpits. I just covered them in brake fluid using a brush and left them overnight in the garage, I had to use a Brillo pad on some stuborn bits but it worked well. I used the older nastier brake fluid, not the newer "friendly" stuff.

Cheers

Den

[Howard of Effingham]

Whats best for stripping enamals?

shaun, i would recommend modelstrip. it works well with enamels and i have used it for many years without much difficulty.

a good modelshop should stock it.

comes in a white pot with a royal blue lid.

[James Craik]

Whats best for stripping enamals?

Shaun.

I just wipe with a cotton ball soaked in finger nail polish remover,no harm to the plastic and the wife does the buying.

Edited December 7, 2010 by James Craik

[Shaun]

I just wipe with a cotton ball soaked in finger nail polish remover,no harm to the plastic and the wife does the buying.

Thats a good idea and cheap also.

Might give that a try and get high on the fumes!

Shaun.

[wako1302]

I've used TCP Antisecptic to remove paint from models, it does a good job but some paint is always left.

Does the Mr Muscle over cleaner work without melting the plastic ?

[timmah]

I just wipe with a cotton ball soaked in finger nail polish remover,no harm to the plastic and the wife does the buying.

I tried nail polish remover and the stuff my GF has started to melt the plastic so I would be careful before attempting a full strip with that stuff

I've used TCP Antisecptic to remove paint from models, it does a good job but some paint is always left.

Does the Mr Muscle over cleaner work without melting the plastic ?

Yes it does, the paint just washes off however I've had even better results stripping both enamel and acrylics using Fairy Powerspray.

For the original poster, my mistakes seem to happen when painting the outside and I've had to strip several models back to the plastic, if you are careful the interior "should" not be affected. I have stripped back wings with bluetack in the wheel wells and they have not been effected either so just take your time.

Regards

Tim

[Gajman]

I tried nail polish remover and the stuff my GF has started to melt the plastic so I would be careful before attempting a full strip with that stuff

You need to get the nail polish that does not contain acetone (I think that's it). It works well as a paint remover.

Cheers

Gary

[Wizball]

You need to get the nail polish that does not contain acetone (I think that's it). It works well as a paint remover.

There are (roughly) two types of nail polish remover: One containing acetone and the other usually contains Ethyl Acetate. Acetone has it's uses, smoothing Tamiya/Squdaron putty for instance. Ethyl Acetate is ALSO useful - apparently you can use it to strip paint but I would be VERY careful using it like that - since I've had most use of it as liquid plastic glue. Works just like Tamiya Thin or MEK-PAK. Does indeed melt the plastic but evaporates quickly so I guess if you are careful it could work.

Resurrecting this old post found while searching to find out if Mr. Muscle will damage the interior... Sprayed Tamiya white primer too soon over some enamel.