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What to use to strip acrylic paint?


CANicoll

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Ok, now that I have a new set of decals coming, and I need to correct a major painting error - what is the best way to remove (Vallejo Model Air) acrylic paint from plastic, without damaging the plastic?

 

Thanks!

 

Chris

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Ian,  FIVE LITRES???  LOL  Are you sure you are not drinking the stuff?  

Thanks for this - and I found the source of my error:  I have a book on the Grim Reapers who flew SPAD XIIIs in the war, and their tails, beautifully shown on the cover, are Blue, White and Red...  But they are a French group.  Blast it all.

 

Cheers!

Chris

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I use it for other things too  :innocent:

 

But 5 litres works out as not much more than 1 litre, at least here in the UK  :)

 

I can do a test on some Vallejo Model Air before you go this route if that helps?

 

Here's one I stripped a while back - purchased second hand (already painted using a variety of acrylics) - so stripped paint off, down to bare plastic) with Isopropyl Alcohol/kitchen towel and resprayed to this (I don't have any before shots).

 

1118-1.jpg

 

Doesn't take too long - some areas may need several applications...

 

Using cotton buds/kitchen towel to apply you can be reasonably local to the area that needs 'wiping' too...

 

Iain

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I've been told, peeing on it will strip the paint. LOL! Just kidding!!!

Saw a fancy BMW on I-40 the other day passing a cattle hauler tractor trailer. As it began to pass, a stream of cow piss came from the 2nd floor of the trailer and thoroughly hit the BMW. The Driver wasn't sure what to do. He hesitated, and was hit by more piss, turned his wiper blades on, and finally floored the BMW to pass the truck!!!! I never laughed so hard in all my life!!!! Figure that cow piss did his paint job in. Can you imagine reporting that to you insurance company? LOL!

:tumble:

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Iain,

 

That's perfect, thanks.   The Thunderbolt looks amazing so it just have done a nice job cleaning off the old paint.

 

I just need to clean off the rudder itself of the SPAD XIII, not the entire thing so the cotton bud suggestion is perfect.  We are getting a big snowstorm at the moment so as soon as the roads are clear I'll head to the store.

 

I'm not sure I can procure any large quantity of cattle urine!

 

Chris

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Not sure alcohol would work on water-based paints like Vallejo or AK (vinyl type i guess). It will certainly help to strip it, but it wont disolve it smoothly like it would with alcohol based paints like tamiya or gunze. Only a try would tell !

Edited by Zero77
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Before applying the alcohol, I would first see how much comes off, especially the decals, by applying a strip of Scotch Magic Mending tape.

 

I have been able to strip water based acrylics right down to the bare plastic before just using strips of it first.

 

Then, I use the alcohol to clean up any stubborn spots left.

 

Works great for both Testors MM and Vajello acrylic paints!

Edited by Gigant
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Iain,

 

It will be a day before I can get to the store since we are in the beginning of the big snow storm so no hurry, but I do appreciate the effort.  

 

I have enamel thinner on hand, may give that a go too.

 

Really do appreciate the help!

 

Chris

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I don't know about the Vallejo acrylics, but ammonia will melt Tamiya's off in a matter of seconds.

 

Tamiya's is a bit more stubborn, and does require more "elbow-grease".

 

I really do not recommend regular paint thinner for acrylics, especially since there is a decal on one side.

 

The main reason is that because instead of cleanly stuff stripping off like Scotch Tape does, it tends to melt/pucker decals, etc., making more of a mess.

Edited by Gigant
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I have used alcohol to strip paint when I made a major mistake on my P-51A. It works great, just so long as the paint has not truly cured, 3 months and you will have a hard time, but a week, and it will come off easy. I heard Tamiya's X-20 (Thinner, not cleaner) is a little more aggressive for tough spots, I also heard it can "bite" plastic. But always try the mildest cleaner first.

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As far as I'm aware Tamiya's X-20 thinner is just Isopropyl Alcohol diluted with water and possibly a few other additives? Caveat being I'm not a Chemist  :)

 

In my experience neat 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (Isopropanol) has more effect than X-20 - and won't mark plastics (but as with all things, test on a hidden spot first!).

 

The paint on the P-47 I posted earlier had been on there a lot longer than 3 months (I think it sat in my loft for a couple of years before I stripped it) - and came off fine...

 

Iain

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Now you guys have me chasing this - very interesting.

 

The material safety sheet on the Tamiya X-20 lists the ingredients as:

3-methyl-3-methoxy Butahanol 10%
Secondary Butanol 20%
Normal Propyl Alcohol 15%


Water 55%

 

For the Media Airbrush Cleaner the material safety sheet says it is less than 10% 2-butoxyethanol

 

Chris

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