Paint stripping large models?

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Hey all,
I'm reworking my old AMT Deep Space Nine Defiant, I painted it when it first came out and now I feel its time to light it up and repaint it.
Its a large surface area to strip the paint off so has anyone got any tips, I usually use Fairy Power Spray to strip smaller models, should I just get a large bag and dose it completely?

Cheers in advance

Adrian

[Guest]

Sounds good to me Adrian, the large bag would I think with the model inside would enable you to seal in the Fairy Spray and give it time to work .
Is there a time limit to leaving the item to be stripped in the Fairy ?
Good luck .
John .

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Sounds good to me Adrian, the large bag would I think with the model inside would enable you to seal in the Fairy Spray and give it time to work .
Is there a time limit to leaving the item to be stripped in the Fairy ?
Good luck .
John .

I normally leave a model overnight.

[Tim Marlow]

Should work Ade. The bag will stop it drying out, but you might need several applications to get thorough coverage....not a problem as long as you’re not in a hurry...

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Should work Ade. The bag will stop it drying out, but you might need several applications to get thorough coverage....not a problem as long as you’re not in a hurry...

No got plenty of time. Thinking I'll follow the way Trekworks built there version :smiling:

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Well the Fairy power spray didn't work, think I used enamels back then so might need something with a little more kick. Any suggestions?

[Tim Marlow]

Hi Ade
You don’t want anything organic solvent based, such as cellulose thinners. They will take off the paint but might attack the plastic.
I would try something like household bleach (which removes chrome plating on plastic parts when used neat) or caustic soda solution.
Both are quite nasty so use good rubber gloves to protect your hands....as they are water based they shouldn’t attack the plastic.....meths might work as well, but test it first and work in a well ventilated area in all cases....

[Si Benson]

I recently found that detol antiseptic liquid cleans stuff off.
Maybe worth trying a small patch and see how it goes. It isn’t very nice to bare skin though, made a mess of my pinkies!

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Hi Ade
You don’t want anything organic solvent based, such as cellulose thinners. They will take off the paint but might attack the plastic.
I would try something like household bleach (which removes chrome plating on plastic parts when used neat) or caustic soda solution.
Both are quite nasty so use good rubber gloves to protect your hands....as they are water based they shouldn’t attack the plastic.....meths might work as well, but test it first and work in a well ventilated area in all cases....

I considered Detol, have used it before but don't want to melt my kit

[Tim Marlow]

Dettol is water based, so should be OK, but I don’t think it will do much paint stripping....it will disinfect the model nicely though Try windowlene.....it’s a pretty good airbrush cleaner....but as always, test first....

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Dettol is water based, so should be OK, but I don’t think it will do much paint stripping....it will disinfect the model nicely though Try windowlene.....it’s a pretty good airbrush cleaner....but as always, test first....

I did use Dettol on a resin model to completely strip it, only downside is that it still smells of Dettol even after its painted and finished lol

[Tim Marlow]

Sorry, got Dettol and Savlon mixed up....apparently pine scented disinfectants work as well.....it’s the pine terpenes that do the business.....

[Tim Marlow]

While we are working our way around the kitchen cupboards, you could also try oven cleaner. It’s caustic soda based......