Paint removal and kit restoration

[flyjoe180]

Looking forward to the result. Not sure about those rubber tyres though and how they may react with the cleaner? When you scrub/rinse the model under the tap water you can also use dish washing detergent to help the process.

[Guest]

hi all,

back with good news and bad, first the bad. for some reason the missus took umbridge with me when i tried testing my new airbrush on the living room floor. i put news paper down didnt i? and also when cleaning it through with white spirit, i opened the window. what more does she want? go ifgure.

secondly, the mr muscle oven cleaner worked, to a fashion, the first spray of the tin got the primer off and the second spray started off on the enamel and varnish, it has also had no reaction to the rubber wheels, but i dont guarentee this will happen every time.

now the bad news, so far its taken a tin to get through to the plastic for 2/3rds the 1/24th scale, and it still needs another spray, once done i can turn to the tail section and start on that.

so to sum up, no mr muscle left in the house cos ive used it all and as for wearing gloves, you dont need to, after its burned through the first layer of skin on your hands the nerve endings seem to give up and you dont feel it no more lol.

the spit is coming on though as im taking time to try and get all the paint off. the other good thing is that if you leave the canopy in the closed position then it hasnt touched the paint on the pilot or inside the cockpit.

yayy

Rob

[flyjoe180]

Good to hear Rob! Thanks for letting us know how it went. Enjoy the refurb once the rest of the Spit is stripped.

[Guest]

Hi

I have been informed that brake fluid does the trick as it not only removes the paint but also destroys the glue holding the parts together.

This in no way damages the plastic parts see a link on internet about restoration of an Airfix Small scale Golden Hind, should be easy to find from a google search.

Regards Jon

[Guest]

I use brake fluid to remove paint from models I let it sit in the brake fluid for a couple of hours and rinse it off in the sink it's water soluble and rinses off.

Paul

[Guest]

well after reading about various concoctions to strip paint i thought i'd try something a little more obvious.

Wilkinsons Paint and Varnish Stripper.

I bought a red arrows hawk cheap from ebay but hadnt noticed in the description than the fuselage had already been painted, painted with Humbrol enamel.

I made sure it wouldnt affect the plastic by trying it out on an old wreck i had, it cut through the coat of Klear, the decals and the acrylic paint right back to the plastic after just 30 minutes soak time.

Would it work as well on enamel?

This is before application

The i pasted the kit with the stripper as advised on the bottle

30 minutes later after a quick wipe over with some kitchen roll

This Bottle cost me £5-50 from Wilkinsons and should last a long time.

I'd say it was a roaring success

I'll see what its like on an old clear canopy tomorrow.

[flyjoe180]

Great success there Wayne, thanks for sharing the results.

[Dave W]

Rob. Did you use Humbrol matt clear varnish on your spitfire?.Ive had trouble with it in the past drying in white patches.I won't touch the stuff now.I use Vallejo matt clear.Its acrylic but gives a perfect finish over enamel or acrylic paints.

[Guest]

I use brake fluid to remove paint from models I let it sit in the brake fluid for a couple of hours and rinse it off in the sink it's water soluble and rinses off.
Paul

Hi there - new to this forum in 2015 and found your post so hopefully you'll still receive new posts! I also have ancient plastic models in need of restoration. You say "brake fluid" does the trick but a bit of research says there are three types of brake fluid - one (ancient one) based on castor oil and two more modern and still available ones, one based on glycol and the other on silicone. Which type did you use?

[Guest]

Just a side note... A lot of these chemicals should not be washed down the sink. Not good for our planet or or water courses.


we should all dispose of our waste responsibly

[PaulTRose]

You say "brake fluid" does the trick but a bit of research says there are three types of brake fluid - one (ancient one) based on castor oil and two more modern and still available ones, one based on glycol and the other on silicone. Which type did you use?

the cheapest the motorfactors has lol


actually you would be lucky to find mineral based brake fluid these days

[zuludog]

I have used oven cleaner to remove enamel paint from models, and it works well enough, but I hadn't thought of putting them in a plastic bag or container till now. That's a good tip, thanks


Remember that oven cleaner will affect white metal and brass parts.


I use the glass oven door off an old cooker as my modelling board. When that's scruffy & daubed with paint I scrape most of it off with a Stanley knife blade, followed by a spray with oven cleaner and a scrub with a kitchen scouring pad; then plenty of water of course.

[Guest]

For the love of god Do Not Mix Bleach Products With Brake, Hydraulic fluid....

[Guest]

For the love of god Do Not Mix Bleach Products With Brake, Hydraulic fluid....

just watched a video of that... OOOOFFFFT!