SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Windex works great on stripping Tamiya acrylic

3158 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2009
Windex works great on stripping Tamiya acrylic
Posted by Falcon10275 on Monday, April 21, 2014 4:23 PM
I know a lot of people including me use Windex to clean your airbrush. This weekend I found out it can also be sued to clean off a paint job if you need to restart. I was airbrushing a thick coat of white on an airplane fuselage. I made a mistake and got a bad spot that pretty much ruined paint job. I let it dry and tried sanding away the bad spot to repaint, but that just made things worse. So I decided to see what would happen if I soaked it in Windex overnight. Well I filled bottom of bucket with Windex and put aircraft in. to my surprise, I did not have to wait overnight, it literally worked in seconds, as soon as it was covered ALL the paint just washed away not harming the plastic. It was like having new plastic again. no scrubbing, no brushing, no waiting. I was shocked.
fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 12:30 AM

That's why I switched over to acrylics. Easy to use, easy to clean up, and easy to erase mistakes. Also, if you don't need an "EXACT" match, craft acrylics can be had at such stores as A.C.Moore, Michaels, Jo-Ann Fabrics and others for about $1 a bottle + 40% off with a coupon. I went in to Jo-Ann fabrics once and walked into a 3 for 1$ sale. The bottles are also a lot bigger than other acrylics. It does take time to look through the hundreds of colors to find a close match but I think that it is worth it.

Jim Captain

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 7:51 AM

fox

Although not a fan of spraying acrylics, I use the craft acrylics too for certain jobs, specially big ones but you better use an enamel primer otherwise they don't have the tooth to bite and can easily come off when removing masking. I have a 1/24 Bandai Jagdpanther with a complete interior that I'm using craft acrylics on, mixed with a little Future and flow Improver to help it cycle thru the AB. A while back AC Moore had them at .25 a bottle so I bought a bunch.

And yes, Windex even the cheap one from the Dollar Store with ammonia will remove Tamiya and any acrylic.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

fox
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Narvon, Pa.
Posted by fox on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 4:03 PM

Plasticjunkie, I use Dupli-Color Sandable Primer from the hardware store most of the time. It really covers the red putty with only one coat and holds the acrylics well. I've started using Vallejo Model Air acrylic primers too and haven't had any problems so far when removing tape. I just finish painting a Spitfire with the brown and green camo and had no problem when I removed the tape.

I have found that when I used both primers on an old car body and then sprayed MM non-buffing metalizer on them, it came out nice and smooth but with a brighter finish over the Vallejo primer. I was practicing with them both to see if using the two of them I could make different shades on some of the panels on a P-47 that I'm working on. It looks like It will work well. I'll just have to tape the panels when spraying the primers and then I can spray the metalizer in one shot.

Jim Captain

 Main WIP: 

   On the Bench: Artesania Latina  (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Bronze Squadron - Battlestar Cerberus
Posted by Lodni Kranazon on Monday, April 28, 2014 8:02 PM

I've never used it for that (haven't had to YET!) but I use the Dollar Tree Windex to cut my acrylic paints. :-)

[Admiring Starbuck's space fighter] Cassiopeia: It's a perfect machine! Born to dance amongst the stars! Starbuck: Yeah, it's bumping into them that has me worried.

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Monday, April 28, 2014 11:34 PM

All well and good, but I still prefer enamels like Model Masters for the best finish.  But you have to be careful with initial application, as there are no easy "do overs".

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Sunday, May 4, 2014 12:22 AM

plasticjunkie

fox

Although not a fan of spraying acrylics, I use the craft acrylics too for certain jobs, specially big ones but you better use an enamel primer otherwise they don't have the tooth to bite and can easily come off when removing masking. I have a 1/24 Bandai Jagdpanther with a complete interior that I'm using craft acrylics on, mixed with a little Future and flow Improver to help it cycle thru the AB. A while back AC Moore had them at .25 a bottle so I bought a bunch.

And yes, Windex even the cheap one from the Dollar Store with ammonia will remove Tamiya and any acrylic.

Craft store acrylics are not designed for airbrushing--the carrier doesn't atomize well for an airbrush, and the pigments are very coarse; not small like hobby AB paints. And for the money you spend on enamel primers, flow improver, and Future, you're really not saving that much money when you factor in the increased effort necessary to airbrush them and their relative unsuitability for things like masking, etc. You'd be better off going with a regular hobby paint in my opinion, and you'd probably get better results. Smile

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: UK
Posted by Jon_a_its on Sunday, May 4, 2014 2:10 AM

Nice reminder guys, but please be aware that in the 'old country'  of the good 'ol UK,  Windex/Windowlene  no longer contains the circa 5% ammonia which is the active ingredient.

So far I haven't found a replacement in the usual household cleaners aisle of an store...

East Mids Model Club 32nd Annual Show 2nd April 2023

 http://www.eastmidsmodelclub.co.uk/

Don't feed the CM!

 

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Sunday, May 4, 2014 9:50 PM

Why worry abut the few pennies difference using inferior paints for a model?  I would go ahead and use what I know works well, even if it may cost an extra buck on the cost of the model.  Heck, a model doesn't use a lot of paint.

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.