Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Ok so I have a secondhand imperial knight that I dislike the paintscheme on. How do I strip it? I have never stripped models before so explain it to me like I'm five years old.

Simple.

1) Acquire a bucket, large enough to fit the model. You don't want one too big, though you could lay it down in the bucket easily enough.

2) Go to an auto-parts store and purchase a large purple jug called "Super Clean" - it's a powerful automotive degreaser. (alternately Wal-Mart has something similar called "Purple Power"). It will cost between $6-9 per jug.

3) Get some large rubber gloves to avoid actually handling any of the automotive degreaser. Use a mask or ventilated area.

4) Place your knight in the bucket (on its back or standing, whatever you can cover).

5) Pour said automotive degreaser into bucket - covering the model completely.

6) Wait 24-48 hours (or longer depending on paint), remove model with gloved hands --- rinse and brush off with a toothbrush.

7) Repeat as necessary.

Caution: The auto degreaser is not super deadly...you're not going to melt if you touch it, but for safety sake, use gloves and don't huff the vapor or fumes.

Also, because it's plastic it's possible some of the base layer may stain the plastic, or some primer may remain after this process. It happens, but should not impact the model at all.

I found a product called EasyOff oven cleaner that strips acrylic paint from plastic pretty well. However it's been a while since I've used it and they come in three types: Normal, Heavy Duty and Light. And here's the dilemma; I remember at least one of them will melt plastic while another one doesn't affect it at all.

And no, their relative cleaning power doesn't scale like you'd think. At least not for stripping acrylics. I'm in the process of testing them but so far haven't had much time to actually sit down and record my results, so I would highly recommend you test them as well (lest they turn your imperial knight into a nurgle knight).

But they make stripping big models easier. You just need a big enough container and then spray the model. Leave it for about an hour or so and then scrub as usual. It strips MUCH faster than most other products while using only what you need (you don't need to fill up an entire bucket, just spray the surface). But again, if you get the wrong one, you run the risk of melting the model. I'm fairly certain Heavy Duty is out of the question, but again my memory is fuzzy at best.

I will let you know when I have definitive results.

Yup, Elbows has it. I use LAs Totally Awesome cleaner from the dollar store to do all my stripping (yellow stuff). Works a treat.

Mecha Emperor brings up a good point - many people use oven cleaner spray/foams (As they are, likewise, degreasers) but I've no personal experience with them so I can't recommend one --- introducing propellant could potentially harm plastics depending on the type, or so I'd guess.

Many people used to use Simple Green for a similar effect, however they have recently changed their formula a bit, and people have reported less stellar results with the new "safer/greener" recipe.

Eye protection is important when using de-greasers as well.

Note you can water down the de-greaser if one jug isn't enough to submerge it, though it will probably act slower. I've had models in Super Clean for over a week without harming the plastic (GW plastics, including the bases), so check it every 12 hours to see how it's peeling off.

First post has great advice - I'll throw in my 2 cents - use a stiff brush, such as a grout brush (for cleaning the grout between tiles), they are inexpensive and remove the paont better than a toothbrush IMO. Also, I can personally vouch that Simple Green is safe on plastic models for long periods of time, and that it does the job.

Methelated sprit works amazingly you can even use it to strip small sections of work by painting it on carfully

I soak my plastics in 90% isopropynol. Leaves no residue, evaporate in room temperature. Works great.

If you dont want to waste that much stripper

chuck it into a plastic bag while inside a container then fill it up and zip it up. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)