I Just got some Intermoutian N gage F3’s (A & B unit) to do a free lanced paint job on. I have been told before to use pinesol to strip the paint, but it isn’t working on these units. Is there anything I can do to remove the factory paint?
Thanks,
Matt
91% isopropyl alcohol. Let the model percolate fully immersed for about an hour, and scrub with an old toothbrush. Repeat as needed.
I’ve heard that brake fluid strips paint, but I’ve never tried it so I can’t vouch for it.
Brake fluid is dangerous to use. Mainly due to the additives that are in it now. It attacks various blends of plastics and the trouble is the damage may not show for months. Since most of the diesels from places like Intermountain comes from overseas, you never will know what kind of plastic the model is made of. Better to be safe than to be sorry.
Someone said in another thread that it only affects models made from ABS and the like, (Kato). I was a pro painter for many years, and at one time it was all that I used to strip with. Then I had it attack several models at once. None of which were made overseas, and supposedly were pure styrene.
Whats even stranger it took over seven months before the damage showed. One model was mine and the others belonged to a customer. Had to replace the shells for the customer, and at the time the only way I could do it was by buying powered units and repainting their shells. My model was a steamer and I had to replace the cab, pilot, and tender shell on mine.
DOT 3 brake fluid has an alcohol base. That is why over time it draws water, darkens and rusts the brake lines from the inside out. Use the 91% alcohol and you wont have to worry about the other stuff added to the brake fluid.
I’m with you BukWrm,
Brake Fluid is the way we did it for years, but I’ve found the alcohol to be less messy.
There is a specialist paint stripper for plastics called ModelStrip, though I’m not sure if it’s available over there. Basically it comes in a tub, you mix a lump of it with a little water to make a paste, spread it over the model then seal it in an airtight container for (I think) 12 hours or so - it’s pretty effective stuff, didn’t attack the bodyshell I used it on and removed most of the paint, though I did need to repeat the process due to the amount of paint that was on there!