You might want to search some of the figure painting sites that deal with the vinyl type figures. 

I wonder what type of paint the original painter used. There are some, enamel I think, that won't dry on the vinyl- they can be on for years and still remain tacky. I have no ideas other than testing different solvents like you're already doing. 

If nothing else I guess you could just sand down any rough spots and reprime over the original paint. 

If you do that they will lose any potential value.

GMorrison

If you do that they will lose any potential value.

DITTO !!!!!!!! If you strip them you destroy their "collectable" value.

That being said  if you must strip the paint try E.L.O (Easy Lift Off ) it's a Testors product.

So they're pre-painted collectable figures? Ok, I just assumed they were kits someone had slapped together and painted badly when he got them. 

I'm taking a stab in the dark here and guessing that these are the Master Artists Series of figures if they date back 18 years. These were PVC figures, if memory serves, much like the material my kids' action figures at the time. I'm not sure what kind of paint/ink/dye the company used on the figures, but it is durable.

Some of the action figure collectors use straight acetone and a rag to scrub the figures down, but I can't recommend it. It softens the details and can mess with the PVC.

If a soak in the purple stuff didn't work, I'd stop and assess if I couldn't get by with a coat of primer and a new paint job over the existing finish. The way I see it, Purple Power is a strong enough chemical base to turn the skin of your fingers into soap - literally - with prolonged exposure. If it had no effect at all on the figures, odds are good that stepping up to brake fluid won't make much of a difference at this point.

I'd like to thank all of you for your replies. Please know that I did try to respond to each of you, but I was out of town and my emailed replies got sent back as undeliverable. Funny that they were delivered to me via email, yet I could not respond?? Ah well I'm new here, you probably know the issue as old news.

1) Yes they were the 'collectable' figures put out around 1999/2000. No, I don't think they count any longer as collectble. I got them cheap off ebay with no boxes, dings & chips here & there, so I think they only count as 'collectable' to me.

2) I'll try that Testors stuff. I hope the local hobby shop has it.

3) If the Testors lift off doesn't work, them I am going with repriming and painting.

4) Thanks again to all that responded!

Whatever collectors' value the figures had was severely compromised the moment they came out of the package and any damage since has continued to erode cash value. Repair, repaint, and enjoy them.

They are yours to do with as you see fit! 

I have assembled many "collector "kits worth hundreds of dollars and take great delight in seeing the horrifyed look on other collectors faces when they see the opened box !

Please post pictures when you get them painted.