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Recently, I got a wild hair and wanted to try painting up old plastic toys for 40k, maybe even do some conversions.


My first project is a straightforward one. I dug up an old Hasbro G.I. Joe MOBAT tank that I got as a gift back in 1983. It served me well as a toy, playing with my younger cousin. Now, I want to give it a new lease on life in the God Emperor's service.

The decals on the tank are originals, having been on it for over 32 years. To add to that, it's been stored away in various barns, pack houses, and storage buildings on the property for the last eighteen years. Needles to say, while it is in good shape, it was downright nasty.

I got it cleaned up and the old decals removed. However, there are "shadows" where the stickers were, with the old adhesive "gunk" in those areas. Gentle detergent and warm water cleaned some of it. But there is some of the sticky crap that's being stubborn.

I wanted to ask the pros this: What is the best thing for getting rid of said gunk, that won't destroy the plastic? (I've applied plenty of decals on toys and scale models, just never had to remove them).

Thanks in advance.

Isopropyl alcohol

E: maybe tea tree oil, not sure how it likes plastic

Micro sol. If over gloss should be removable. without it damaging the varnish.



Oh wait if its stickers then you could try iso l or even goof off.
goof off might hurt plastic so use it on rag then try to whipe the goop off with it.

Small amounts of limonene/lemon oil wiped on the area. Do not get it on any clear plastics or it will cloud them.

Thanks for all the tips guys. Unfortunately, rubbing alcohol didn't work. I was fresh out of lemon juice, and don't have any of the other stuff.


However, I was on the phone with a relative and she suggested, of all things, peanut butter. She told me that the oils in PB will do a number to old adhesive on some plastics. I laughed my butt off. But I figured, "What the hell. I'll try it."

And lo and behold, it actually works. I can't freakin' believe it.

Once again, thanks for the help, guys. It's much appreciated.

Ahahahaha that is fantastic

Da hell? I remember I got pine resin off my doge with cooking oil but didn't expect peanut butter

It's the oil that's important, not the source of that oil.

Whether it's the oils from citrus, peanuts, cooking oil, whatever. All get gunk off (and sometimes getting THAT off afterwards is the harder bit ).

I use de-solv-it, which is a citrus oil derived product - to remove stubborn stickers and sticky stuff. Washes off with detergent afterwards.

For these tasks i use a small cloth with lighter fluid on it, works a charm.