I’ve got several pieces of rolling stock, as well as locomotives that I want to repaint; some are factory-painted, and some I painted years ago (mostly Testor’s brand paint). Any good way to strip them before repainting?
Generally, soak them in 91% isopropyl alcohol for between 15 minutes to an hour, and then give them a good scrubbing with an old toothbrush. You might need to repeat this a couple of times, but it’s a good way of stripping paint, and the only chemical method I use now (I’ve also got a grit blaster).
I’ve used Polly S/Floquil ELO in the past with very good results, but it’s bad for your drains, lungs and skin. Brake fluid also works, but not the synthetic stuff, which is all you can get these days. And again, bad for you and your plumbing. Some people even use oven cleaner, but the stuff will eat away some types of plastic. Pine Sol does work, but I’ve never been able to get the smell out of the plastic.
As I mentioned on other threads, I’ve had excellent results with 91% Alcohol.
I soak the locomotive or car shell in a small aluminum foil pan. Almost right away the paint starts to float off!
After 15 minutes, I scrub the body as well as nooks and crannies with a soft bristle toothbrush. Afterwards I rinse the shell of with warm water and dry with a lint free cloth.
Athearn, Atlas, Proto, etc, should be fine but always test an area first. I’ll immerse just the back end of a car or locomotive for about 3 minutes and check it to make sure the plastic is o.k.
But as always: DO NOT SOAK KATO SHELLS IN ALCOHOL OR THEY WILL WARP!!
a note using 91% isopropyl alcohol to strip paint.
With testors paint I’ve had to soak models for a few days to completely remove the paint but it depends.
You just have to be patient. It generally shouldn’t take too long to strip most of the model of its paint but if you want every mm of that model strippend, then you’ll have to leave the model in there even longer.
Where does one get 91% isopropyl? Rubbing alcohol is 70%. Do Home Depot have isopropyl? I know they have denatured.
Drug stores should carry it. I got some from the pharmacy department at the local Wal-Mart.
Bob Boudreau