A bit of help required. Paint stripping

[robemcdonald]

I need to get rid of the paint on part of a model I’m making. I used auto paint out of a rattle can and it’s had a reaction with a lacquer coat. I want to strip it back to plastic, reprime and start over. What’s the best method?

[henryk001]

Hi. I wouldn’t use any form of paint stripper on a model especially if it’s plastic or resin as the stripping process will just spread to areas you don’t want it to go to. You will make it worse.I suggest you take a look on YouTube for ideas as to how you should resolve your problem may give you the right idea. As I don’t know the extent of the reaction you have got on your model or if you know what’s caused the reaction, I wouldn’t want to give any further advise. All I can say is if I had a issue and it was in a small area I would rub it back down in the damaged area, after masking off the undamaged areas.starting with GENTLY rubbing with 1500’ grit under a slow running tap until the reaction can’t be seen any more,a GENTLE wipe once over with silicone remover.let it dry. Then try another coat and see what happens. Hope this helps you sort it out.
Look on gxxgle for microfinishing cloths, you can get them on axxzxxn,they are a pack of abrasive cloths that are supplied in a kit pack, grit sizes from 1500 down to 12000.
Ps don’t use acetone .Good luck

Edited by henryk001 on Tuesday 2nd October 20:19

Edited by henryk001 on Tuesday 2nd October 20:21

Edited by henryk001 on Tuesday 2nd October 20:21

[Auntieroll]

If the model is polyester a strong caustic soda solution will remove most paints quickly and easily (along with skin ) .Depending on the size of the parts / paint tenacity they can be left in a sturdy plastic bag overnight then washed off with warm water and dried off.
This technique has retrieved several vintage 1/8 scale cars which were bequeathed to me.
The plastic appears unaffected . HTH

[dr_gn]

Assuming it’s a plastic kit, Try soaking in mineral brake fluid for 48 hours. If that doesn’t work, wash it off with detergent and spray with mr. Muscle oven cleaner aerosol, and put in a sealed bag for a few days. Use goggles and rubber gloves! There’s also stuff called modelstrip which is a paste, again put the coated model in a plastic bag.

If that doesn’t work, you’re into sanding it off, which is virtually impossible on anything but a simple car body. Bin it and buy another kit would be my advice.

[Eric Mc]

There is a proprietary material called Model Strip (nothing to do with The Sun) which is a form of paste which you smear all over the model - leave the model in a plastic bag for 24 hours - and then rinse off under a lukewarm tap water.

I've used it a few times and it works quite well - but is rather messy.



Googling "Model Strip" does produce some interesting pictures

[gruffgriff]

I have finished models on my shelf stripped, one in particular at least twice, that show no long term effects of being soaked in a sealed tupperware/takeaway tub in surgical spirit. Takes a night to really penetrate and one needs to brush off in the spirit quickly with a toothbrush as it evaporates immediately and dries out leaving dry patches, so a bit laborious over a few goes but in my experience has never harmed the plastic then or years down the line.

[gruffgriff]

And I like the smell....

[robemcdonald]

I’ve ordered some surgical spirit.

I don’t really want to throw the kit away as it’s a 1/12 car, so quite expensive.

[MBBlat]

Try Dettol - leave to soak for 24 hours then scrub off with a used toothbrush. Its also a bit more friendly than brake fluid or oven cleaner.

Having said that I've got a model I stripped with brake fluid about 7 years ago, no deterioration of the plastic visible so far.