Removing Paint

[Purehammer]

Looking for some advice here. I've recently started painting again and decided to give my old lizards a new lease of life. My models are from when I was twelve to sixteen and aren't to a very good standard (basecoat, blue scales, brown weapons and gold metal). I'm no great painter but my level has at least improved beyond that.

I've started stripping them using dettol for plastic and acetone for metal. Problem is its taking me ages to get them clean.

Couple of questions I'd like to have answered:

1) How clean do they need to be before repainting (so far I'm stopping when I can only see the odd fleck).

2) Are there any better method people can recommend.

3) How long should I leave the models to soak

4) What is the best item to use to remove paint? (using an oldtooth brush at the minute).

5) Is there anything I need to do before I repaint them?

Any help people can offer with these would be greatly appreciated.

 

[The Red Devil]

I have not stripped paint off other than old metal models, and those you can let soak as long as you want in acetone, though how long they require depends on how long since they were painted, and how thick the paint layer is. Though, please be aware that the acetone can make the parts fall apart, if you leave it in long enough for it to reach the glue.

For the metal models, you can use a metal brush (for example what you use to remove rust on cars), to make the process faster. Though I would not recommend this on plastic models.

For both metal and plastic models, you need to throughly clean them afterwards before base coating them again. I use a to wash the metal models with water with a little light soap in it and then let them air dry afterwards.

 

[Fhanados]

Hi!

There's an ongoing thread on this very topic that can be found here:
http://www.lustria-online.com/threads/stripping-paint-off-miniatures.15466/

To repeat my contribution: I use store-brand dettol antiseptic. Pour a few bottles into a tub with a little bit of water and let it sit overnight then scrub scrub scrub!

Works amazing with plastic and metal (albeit very messy) and leaves your minis smelling hospital clean but I've never used it on finecast. Just make sure you thoroughly rinse them before trying to repaint.

http://shop.coles.com.au/online/national/coles-antiseptic-solution

Hope this helps!

 

[Purehammer]

Cheers for the advice, I've never thought of using a wire brush.

Also I've never mixed it with water.

Not bothered about the glue coming off as I never used to use green stuff or remove flash.

I'll check out the other thread thanks.

 

[Purehammer]

Just wanted to say many thanks for the advice.

Yesterday it took me 2 hours to strip 4 models and not even to a good standard using just dettol, I added water today and I'm up to 12 so far in 30 minutes.

 

[Fhanados]

Glad to hear it work for other people!

I used it to strip about 50% of my Chaos Space Marines army. Some of the metal ones needed another swim and scrub but it's by far the best method I've found for using on plastic.