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Hi all,

I've got a batch of second hand models due in the next week or two and about 12 of them are already painted. As the quality of the paintjob wasn't obvious, I was after people's recommendations for stripping paint, without damaging the models (as I've seen people do in the past!).
They're a mix of plastic and metal and, while I'm confident I can get the metal ones back to mint condition, I've no idea about the plastic!
Any help would be appreciated,
Cheers,
Crispinius

Easiest way in my experience is simple green watered down a bit. Soak the models for a few days, scrub with a toothbrush or some such and viola! Works every time.

This is the stuff I use, It looks similar to PVA glue, coat the models and leave for 30-mins or so, scrub and repeat as needed. I have used it on metal and plastic but not on resin so I dont know how it reacts with resin.
https://www.diy.com/departments/paint-varnish-remover-1l/262313_BQ.prd

 Freya wrote:
Easiest way in my experience is simple green watered down a bit. Soak the models for a few days, scrub with a toothbrush or some such and viola! Works every time.

I've used simple green a few times myself, but I've never watered it down and I've only stripped metal models, though they were on standard plastic bases that came out fine. I've also got some plastic models that I need to strip of glue (my friend who gave them to me is absolutely awful apparently) and I have been worried about ruining them. Does strait simple green damage the plastic or does it simply work better watered down slightly?

Purple spirit is fast, can get through 10 minis in less than ten minutes with a toothbrush

Thanks everyone for your replies!

Simple Green looks to be a bit hard to get hold of over here at the moment... Pandemics etc I'll keep a lookout though and see if it appears on Amazon again.

This is the stuff I use, It looks similar to PVA glue, coat the models and leave for 30-mins or so, scrub and repeat as needed. I have used it on metal and plastic but not on resin so I dont know how it reacts with resin.
https://www.diy.com/departments/paint-varnish-remover-1l/262313_BQ.prd

Do you think Nitromors would be worth a shot based on that? Or would it obliterate the plastic? I have to say I thought the varnish/paint strippers would knacker anything that isn't metal!

Purple spirit is fast, can get through 10 minis in less than ten minutes with a toothbrush

Also a good shout, have you used that on plastics with much success?

I am a rabid OOP mini collector (just don't like the aesthetics of so many of the new models) and so I am stripping minis A LOT. Isopropyl alcohol and dettol are the two methods I use.

Isopropyl alcohol is less messy, but won't strip certain primers without a lot of elbow grease with a toothbrush.

When you buy used you are often gambling because it is hard to tell what the mini was primed with....some primers won't come off without a ton of work. Like whatever the hell 10 year old me primed this old assault marine with a powerfist that came in that GW start painting box back in the early 90s...

Dettol has eventually worked on every mini I have used it on - safe on metal and plastic - but it sometimes takes multiple routines of soaking for a few days, brush + toothpick.

If you go the dettol route, watch a few of the tutorial videos on youtube. You must not wash the dettol off with water or it will make a gummed up disaster of the mini.

It is also messy as all hell. Definitely a garage project if possible, you can muck up a sink very easily with the stuff.

Even dettol has its limits on plastic. Sometimes it seems as though the primer stains the plastic and you just cannot remove it, but it primes fine and does not damage the mini in any way.

I personally now try and stick to buying only metal second-hand as I know 100% that between dettol and acetone I can get any metal mini absolutely pristine clean. Which is great because it lets me try new paint schemes on the same minis.

The purple spirit is alcohol (methanol and ethanol), it works like isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) just easier to purchase on the street than rubbing alcohol in the UK.

Its safe on plastic and metal (I haven't tried it on resin) and will get through acrylic and enamel paint with ease.

However it will dull the the shine on the plastic and make you skin soft so wear gloves and scrub outside unless you don't mind the vapours



Dettol is nasty slimy stinky messy stuff, turns acrylic paint to sticky rubber strings

I have not tried purple spirit so I will keep an eye out for it. As yes Dettol is just a huge mess to work with. However I have come across a few minis that only dettol seemed to remove the primer on. Would love to find a safe on plastic alternative to dettol as I very much agree that its a pain to work with

Look for denatured alcohol or methylated spirit, it really is great stuff, it works almost like acetone but safe to use on plastics

+1 for Isopropyl Alcohol, no need to soak for more than a few minutes, just keep the model wet while brushing as the paint can reset when it dries.

Crispinius wrote:

Do you think Nitromors would be worth a shot based on that? Or would it obliterate the plastic? I have to say I thought the varnish/paint strippers would knacker anything that isn't metal!

Nitromors will indeed destroy plastic minis.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I'll have a look at what's available and give it a whirl.

 SergentSilver wrote:

I've used simple green a few times myself, but I've never watered it down and I've only stripped metal models, though they were on standard plastic bases that came out fine. I've also got some plastic models that I need to strip of glue (my friend who gave them to me is absolutely awful apparently) and I have been worried about ruining them. Does strait simple green damage the plastic or does it simply work better watered down slightly?

You could use straight simple green but it is a relatively strong solution just base... it could soften the plastics unless you baby sit them to make sure. Which is why I usually water it down a bit to be safe so I can ignore it for a day with impunity

Crispinius wrote:
Thanks everyone for your replies!

Simple Green looks to be a bit hard to get hold of over here at the moment... Pandemics etc I'll keep a lookout though and see if it appears on Amazon again.

This is the stuff I use, It looks similar to PVA glue, coat the models and leave for 30-mins or so, scrub and repeat as needed. I have used it on metal and plastic but not on resin so I dont know how it reacts with resin.
https://www.diy.com/departments/paint-varnish-remover-1l/262313_BQ.prd

Do you think Nitromors would be worth a shot based on that? Or would it obliterate the plastic? I have to say I thought the varnish/paint strippers would knacker anything that isn't metal!

Purple spirit is fast, can get through 10 minis in less than ten minutes with a toothbrush

Also a good shout, have you used that on plastics with much success?

Nitromors WILL murder the plastic in a few minutes.

I'm lazy so I just use AK paint stripper. Works well and doesnt damage the models. Pretty sure you could just read what ingredients it has and buy that chemical in bulk, but havent been arsed yet.