"Stripping" Tamiya Acryllics

Rubbing alcohol works and so does Windex or ammonia.  If you use ammonia make sure you use it where there is plenty of ventilation.

Just put the parts I want to strip in a container, cover with rubbing alcohol & let soak?

About how long does it take, on average?

I've used windex before for stripping the parts.  Just soak them for a bit or spray some on, let it sit for a bit, then rinse.  Repeat as needed.  Sometimes in some of the crevasses you may need to take a soft toothbrush and gently help it out with the windex.  It's the ammonia that breaks down the acrylics, works like a champ!

I find Windex or some other ammonia based window cleaner to be better than just rubbing alcohol. The ammonia really helps with the stripping.

The length of time depends on how cured the paint was. Newly dried paint it immediate, overnight might be necessary for full stripping. Using a VERY SOFT toothbrush is good at motivating difficult paint such as if found in corners and recesses.

Thanks guys!  I'll give it a try!

I'm doing a three color NATO camoflage.  The green went on great...nice and even.  The black went on OK too.  The problem came when I put the brown on.  I'm using a Badger 350 and for some reason can't get the fine tip to work so I tried using the standard medium tip; but the splotches were too big.

As with BGrigg, the best I've found for Tamiya acrylics is Windex. Just soak it thoroughly, let sit for a while, and most of it should just lift and dissolve.

For really tough paint, Easy-Off oven cleaner will strip anything, but will leave the plastic untouched.

I have had great results using Windex to strip Tamiya. Its much better than rubbing alochol. Just put the parts or the model in a container filled with the stuff and let it sit a while. The paint will come right off. If there are any stubborn areas just use and old toothbrush to scrub it away. It all depends how long the paint as been there...if its fresh...it will come off quick...if its been there a while...let it soak a while.

Be careful with Easy Off....its pretty strong. Be sure to wear gloves. If you are using just acrylics Easy Off is a bit of an over kill if you ask me.

rrmmodeler

Be careful with Easy Off....its pretty strong. Be sure to wear gloves. If you are using just acrylics Easy Off is a bit of an over kill if you ask me.

Yes, for Tamiya acrylics, oven cleaner may be a little excessive. The strongest thing you should need to use is denatured (ethyl) alcohol. Even 20-year old Tamiya acrylic will come straight off.

Thanks for all the great help, guys!

I'm gonna give the Windex a try this weekend.