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I have a Land Raider that has resisted multiple attempts to clean it. I'm going to give it one more attempt before abandoning it and using it for a terrain piece.

In your guys' opinions, what is the strongest paint stripper available that won't damage the underlying plastic? Environmental safety and my own personal health are no longer concerns, I just want the multiple layers of paint off of this damn thing.

Isopropyl alcohol always works for me. Soak it for a few minutes then go over it with an old electric toothbrush. If it's really built up I might soak it again. Works like a charm on acrylic paint.

Im using the stuff that greenstuffworld sells. It is expensive and i dont know whats in the bottle, i just know it removes all the paints i have used on any plastic models i own including GW plastics without damaging the plastic. A 10 min handscrub with a drybrush or simmilar type of brush removes 90% of the paint, im shure a longer bath will remove da,n near everything. 90% removal is enugh to reprime and repaint the model imo.

Downside is, if you get it on your skin you will experience a burning feeling for 15-30 mins and washing with soap dont help, rubber gloves is mandatory.

If cost is no hinder, i recommend it

 Jimsolo wrote:
I have a Land Raider that has resisted multiple attempts to clean it. I'm going to give it one more attempt before abandoning it and using it for a terrain piece.

In your guys' opinions, what is the strongest paint stripper available that won't damage the underlying plastic? Environmental safety and my own personal health are no longer concerns, I just want the multiple layers of paint off of this damn thing.

In all theses cases, wear gloves, do not drink and avoid contact with eyes as can cause burns if handled improperly.

If you want the absolute best, money no object paint stripper, testor's ELO (easy lift off) is the way to go. Immerse model in ELO, soak toothbrush in the ELO, scrub with toothbrush. May require a soak first for enamels, but will even get rid of those.

Next best is either LA's totally awesome degreaser or castrol Super Clean; both are very good paint strippers.

All 3 however are rather US-centric, so if you can't get any of those, then next best is 99% IPA; not quite as strong as LA TA or Super Clean, and will struggle with enamels, but will still strip acrylics very well. Benefits from a short soak.

For plastic my go-to has been Simple Green. It doesn't harm the plastic and does a reasonable job of removing paint. I also have a friend who swears by isopropyol.

With Simple Green I've soaked models for days, and then gone at it with a toothbrush. I cleaned a bunch of old plastic Tyranid Warriors with this method over on this thread:
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/743240.page

Used to use Simple Green until they changed the formulation. Still pretty good but Purple Power is cheaper, works better and still has the 2butoxethanol that Simple Green doesn't. Ive stripped hundreds of figures with Purple.

AFAIK, Purple Power and Super Clean are about the same thing, but I haven't checked the MSDSs. Have used both with no appreciable difference noticed. Purple is cheaper.

Didn't realuze they changed the formulation! Excellent heads-up. I wonder if my batch is old enough to be the prior formula. At least 5 years old, I think.

Us donkey-cave AK fanbois use AK paint stripper.. because its got ladies in the label

I use acetone-free nail polish remover (go figure) - no soaking required, just warm water to remove the residue of the paint & nail polish remover. A tooth brush or stiff brush soaked in it will strip any water-based color to the bare plastic.

 Insectum7 wrote:
Didn't realuze they changed the formulation! Excellent heads-up. I wonder if my batch is old enough to be the prior formula. At least 5 years old, I think.

It's probably the reformulation. Green is still a good enough stripper and it has the benefit of non toxicity. It's just that purple works better for less. Also, I was never a big fan of the Green smell.

 KhorneGirl wrote:
I use acetone-free nail polish remover (go figure) - no soaking required, just warm water to remove the residue of the paint & nail polish remover. A tooth brush or stiff brush soaked in it will strip any water-based color to the bare plastic.

No soaking? That's a product I'll definitely try.

Biostrip 20. No contest.