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Hi,

I recently found an old model that I painted (horrendously) when I was 12 and I want to re-paint it. Does anybody know any good ways of stripping old paint off a model? It's painted using citadel paints if that makes any difference.

Hi there,
A good way to strip models here in the UK is to either use neat bleach or Fairy Power Spray.
With neat bleach you have to leave the models(s) soaked in a tub of it for a few days.
With Fairy Power Spray I think you would just put the model in a tub then spray it over the model and leave for 24 hours.

TMP

For metal acetone is good, for plastic proper Dettol is also good.

Take it out to dinner, maybe a little wine...

Wait... nevermind

Dettol is the best UK product for stripping metal and plastic that I've come across. Depending on how gooped the paint is, it can take between half an hour and 24 hours of soaking to get the paint off with a toothbrush.

Seems to be the daily question...

Firstly, where do you live? Australia, the North America and the UK all have varying access to different strippers (and some are the same strippers with different names...others have the same name - but not the same formula).

Secondly - what do you consider best? Fastest, cheapest, safest, greenest, most versatile?

Thirdly - what are you stripping? Metal, resin, plastic? Is there epoxy putty you want to protect?

Here is one article which attempts to identify the best:

http://www.bonediggers.com/1-3/strip/strip.html

And another:

http://www.paintingclinic.com/clinic/guestarticles/removingpaint1.htm

And another:

http://www.paintingclinic.com/clinic/guestarticles/removingpaint3.htm

And another:

http://www.paintingclinic.com/clinic/guestarticles/removingpaint2.htm

If you can't be bothered with reading - here is one for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iJ9QxD99FE

and another:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOrMHWYMpaA

and another:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP9w6YA3LuA

and another:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLCAjcm84Ss

If you like toys and want to practice a bit to get the proper technique - you can also look at air erasers. With a steady hand and the correct medium you can remove one layer of paint at a time with those...or get down to metal in a matter of seconds (you can flex your Google fu for more information on those).

There are literally DOZENS of threads on this already. Check around.

It depends on where you live as to what you can get.

Personally, I use "simple green" and "super clean".

Dettol gets my vote.
I stripped a squad of tac marines in just a few hours with it.

I pretty much went half dettol, half water (though next time I think I'll just use it neat) and then let them soak for a good 3 hours or so.

After that it's just a matter of scrubbing the paint off with an old toothbrush or something similar.

DO NOT use water to rinse off the models or toothbrush though as it with turn the flecks of paint into a very grimy goop-like substance which is much more difficult to remove.
Instead you should just use the dettol you had them soaking in to rinse it off.

After I was done cleaning the paint off I just let them dry on a paper towel.

This should leave them paint-free and smelling medically fresh.

Oh! And it's probably a good idea to wear gloves unless you really enjoy the smell of hospital grade disinfectant on your hands

Seconded on the brown dettol (subject to availability of course). Although if you're stripping several modes without gloves the smell will be the least of your worries. Seriously, wear gloves.

I tend to use either Pine Sol cleaner cause it is in expensive also the active ingredient in it is the same as paint thinner, or automotive brake fluid. I use a cheap battery powered toothbrush to scrub the model. both should be done out doors