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Ok, so I got the ultrasonic cleaner and some good stripping chemicals. The paint is soft, but loose in the crevices. I have to spend 10-15 minutes on each model with toothpicks to clean what a toothbrush can't reach. Have to get it out, because it's flaky and will look terrible if sprayed over.

Will it come out easier if I leave it in longer? Is there a faster trick than toothbrushes? Got at least a hundred old models I want to strip.

How long did you leave the models in the solution? In short, it depends entirely on the model and the paint.

I have stripped several hundred models and it just varies constantly. Some strip clean fine, some require more work. When in doubt, just leave it in longer - or run more ultrasonic cycles.

Thanks - appropriate screen name for you.

I would also give them a good brushing with a soft toothbrush, then put them back in as needed.

Sometimes you just have to accept that it’s as clean as it will get, i’ve left models in different solutions for up to 48 hours and brushed them with a toothbrush every so often, sometimes the paint will not come off in certain crevices no matter how hard I scrub it or leave it in solution. That said however, once primed you can’t see it anyway as it tends to just be a very tiny amount of paint left over.

Grab a cheap battery powered toothbrush from the drugstore and give them a good scrub. That should get 90% of the gunk out.

metal models: I soak in turpenoid natural overnight, a good scrub and rinse in water and its good to go, any paint left in deep crevasse, you can get it out with the tip of your jewelry tool or xacto knife.

plastic and resin: put in clear sandwich bags with small holes via squads or you'll lose pieces in the tub ocean, soak in purple power for 3 days-couple weeks, scrub with brush and let dry on cardboard/newspaper overnight; quick soak in 90% rubbing alcohol(1 min for resin, 10+ min for plastic) and scrub with brush, then rinse in water and let dry on cardboard/newspaper. DO NOT soak resin in rubbling alcohol overnight, it will get rubbery in thin areas, and crack in thick areas. wear rubber gloves when working with rubbing alcohol. I use 1/2 gallon plastic ice cream bucket with lid for purple power soak, and Tupperware with lid for rubbing alcohol soak.

I have been leaving my old marines in 91% alcohol and running the ultrasonic cleaner a few times a day. I left mine in for a 5 days and use toothbrush to scrub. Some of them still have paint on them. I just dental picks to get some of the paint off but even still, sometimes it just wont come off. It seems to be primers mostly. I used Army Painter Ultramarine on some marines and most comes off. I think I may just have to accept it. I will airbrush a primer over it and try and even it out.

If you have an old electric toothbrush, use that. It's what I used.

One thing that helps is the same principle that applies to washing machines; agitation and heat. Put the container you’re soaking models in into sunlight so it warms up a bit, and pick it up for a gentle shake every once in awhile. I’ve found this can get paint to slough off and come out a little better, as it gets the stripping solution down into those hard to reach spots where it can work on those stubborn crevices.

 Todosi wrote:
Grab a cheap battery powered toothbrush from the drugstore and give them a good scrub. That should get 90% of the gunk out.

Yeah amazon also has kids tooth brushes for like 5 bucks.

its well worth it for the majority of work but some times a stiffer brush is need to knock stuff off.

but generally speaking some times the paint wont come off or what you are looking at is just a stain that wont effect the model after a spray prime.