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paint store thinner has eaten away the plastic on my chassis and im in deep touble

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  • Member since
    November 2005
paint store thinner has eaten away the plastic on my chassis and im in deep touble
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 10, 2004 12:31 PM
firstly, for those who had to read my unedited post, im sorry if i sounded awful, things were getting a little overwhelming for me. apologies.

i feel stupid. here is my problem, help would be really appreciated.

i needed to strip the paint from my single piece chassis of my tamiya enzo, so i tried using oven cleaner. it wasnt easy off brand, it didnt work. i had earlier stripped the paint very effectively off a small part painted with laquer spray. thinner seemd to work where oven cleaner didnt. so i dipped the chassis into the thinner, adn tehn i went tot eh bathroom. when i cam back, i found that all the fine detail had been mushed up, and everyhting was getting gooey. i detected a problem. pulled thing chassis out, but it was too late.

basic shapes of the chassis remain, the alignment ought to be acceptable. now i need to see if i can salavage things. will the plastic be permanently softened ? if it isnt, i think i can attempt to recreate some detail, but i doubt myself, ive never even used an AM kit before, let alone scratchbuild.

if things are too bad ( i have a sinking feeling they are going to be beyond repair ) then how can i get a replacement chassis ? i live in singapore, so mail ordering parts from the tamiya catalogue system might be tricky, i dont know.

any help will be really appreciated, this model was supposed to be my magnum opus, but things are looking extremely bleak. any help would be really really really appreciated. thanks.
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Friday, September 10, 2004 1:04 PM
If it's still soft, put it on something hard and flat and leave it alone for a day or so and see if it hardens back up. If you have some sort of fan, blow air over it to help any thinner that might have soaked in evaporate quicker. You may have to support any pieces that could droop. Any detail that is gone is just gone. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

You can order a replacement from Tamiya. They won't sell individual parts, but will sell the entire sprue (or sprues if it is on more than one). There is probably an order form in the instruction booklet.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Pensacola, FL
Posted by Foster7155 on Friday, September 10, 2004 1:11 PM
I know this is a bit late in the ballgame to mention this, but have you mentioned anywhere exactly what brand and type of paint you were trying to remove? I have reviewed your previous posts and can't find it anywhere.

Now to your problem. You may have a lost cause. Your only action at this point is to wash the model thoroughly in water and let it sit to see if the damage is beyond repair.

This should be a lesson for everyone. Industrial, off-the-shelf paint thinners are NOT designed for model use and every effort needs to be taken to ensure they are safe for plastics before they are used. In some cases, using these thinners to try and strip paint is like using a flame-thrower to strip the paint off your house...it will work, but oh, what a cost!

Robert Foster

Pensacola Modeleers

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 10, 2004 1:12 PM
thanks for your help scott. what kind of cost can i expect for shipping the sprue over ? i live in singapore, shipping from the internet is incredibly slow
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 10, 2004 1:16 PM
robert, i realise now how this catastrophe happend. i was trying to strip laquer paint off with oven cleaner, and it didnt work. paint store thinner worked on that laquer part. so i assumed that oven cleaner would not work on the arcylics that were on the chassis (they would im pretty sure), so i used thinner cos taht was what worked on the laquer painted part. i guess i shouldnt cry over spilt milk, its useless, i better start trying to fix things. thanks again for all the help.
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Friday, September 10, 2004 1:21 PM
QUOTE: thanks for your help scott. what kind of cost can i expect for shipping the sprue over ? i live in singapore, shipping from the internet is incredibly slow

I have no earthly idea. Contact Tamiya USA (for that matter, Tamiya Japan is probably closer to you!) and find out. If it's excessive find out what it would be to go to the states and have it shipped to me and I'll send it on to you.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Ozarks of Arkansas
Posted by diggeraone on Friday, September 10, 2004 1:31 PM
Reggie,I to a long time ago leaned that lission the hard way.You can pat dry and set it out in the sun for about 30mins this will bring back the hardness.I found out years ago that the stuff you buy in a store when it comes to thinners is to hard on soft materals and were made for hard materals like wood and concrete.I would use paint or lacquir thinners from wal-marts and hardware stores to clean brushes.So one day I used it to strip paint off of a plane.That was a no-no it ate right throught the plastic and destoryed the kit.I would if I was you so Castorl cleaner or simple green next time.Both can be used as stripping agents.All you will need to do is to get a pan or something to put the piece you want stripped and fill it with this cleaner as mentioned.After you have covered the piece in cleaner diloot with 1 cup of water or it might do the same thing as the thinner.Castorl cleaner will strip paint off of metal at full strenght and if left on for a hour,so this ought to tell you how strong this is.Check your piece ever 5 mins to see if paint is bubbling up.If it is pell paint and reapply to areas that didnot get stripped.
As far as your detailing of lines you can rescribe them or as mention above you can do that.I would scence this happen is to rescribe and build up your skills because you can always reorder at any time.Hope this helps you out.Digger
Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 10, 2004 1:40 PM
thanks digger and scott, looking at things i need a new sprue. im going to make some phone calls and try to contact that local tamiya dealership and see what i can do.

again, thanks for all your help everyone, means alot to me Smile [:)]
  • Member since
    December 2009
  • From: West Grove, PA
Posted by wildwilliam on Friday, September 10, 2004 2:42 PM
Reggie,
just for future reference, ammonia will strip acrylic paint quickly too.

hope you make out w/ getting a new chassis.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Medina, Ohio
Posted by wayne baker on Friday, September 10, 2004 3:23 PM
Sorry too.
We keep dropping brand names on you from here in the states, like they are available every where. You probably should check your local stores, and see what type of things are on the shelves, so we can better answer your questions.

 I may get so drunk, I have to crawl home. But dammit, I'll crawl like a Marine.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Friday, September 10, 2004 6:21 PM
I cracked the canopy on my Tamiya Shiden "George" and called and they shipped the complete clear sprue to me for about 8 dollars, cost plus shipping. I imagine a car body would be more, but less than the cost of the kit. Got it in about 3 days.

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 11, 2004 4:34 AM
ive placed the order with the local dealership. the guy says 2-3 weeks. meanwhile, scenes of me pouring thinner wont leave my mind. thanks very much everyone.
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Saturday, September 11, 2004 7:31 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by reggiethedorf

ive placed the order with the local dealership. the guy says 2-3 weeks. meanwhile, scenes of me pouring thinner wont leave my mind. thanks very much everyone.


Maybe you should see a doctor about that... I'd hate to think of you 40 yrs old, lying on a Psychaitrists couch over this... Wink [;)]

<in best Freud accent> So.... Meester Dorf. How do you feel when you think about thees...thees theener? ::writing something on pad:: mmhmmm... very interesting...
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 12, 2004 12:13 AM
i am veery soree meester mittelsdorf, baat joo arre jast going to haf tu bee eenstitutionalized...........
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