Paint Stripper?

For some, it's oven cleaner. For others, it's brake fluid. Probably many more
that I don't know about. If the old paint isn't too thick, why not scuff it up a bit and
spray on a coat of primer and just start over.
Ray

I may resort to scuffing and priming, but I think there's a few spots where the detail already has too much paint over it. I'll look it over again, of course, before I start out. Hadn't really thought about doing it that way, for some reason or other.

Easy - Off oven cleaner (the foaming type), I know from personal experiance that cheap brands may not work, Simple Green and Castrol Super Clean degreasers and brake fluid. Use the two degreasers as a bath, they take a while (up to a week) but are not as bad for you or the environment. The oven cleaner and brake fluid are much quicker but quite caustic (won't damage plastic) and proper care is needed.

I just used Simple Green (not diluted) to strip a car chassis that was painted with Model Master Silver Chrome enamel. It soaked for 24 hours and then I used an old toothbrush. Looks like it just came off the tree.

Claymores got it on the button, I've used Easy-Off oven cleaner it works the best for me, I've also used Polly S' Easy Lift Off which works pretty well but it's very expensive to use and Easy-Off is cheaper and you could do about 3-5 models out of 1 can, on some kits that have a major build up it'll take a few hours to have it get to the plastic but it's like having right off the sprue,
Ugly Butt Deadly Effective Hawgs
Cuda

do any of these methods harm clear plastic

there are some purpose model paint strippers on the market, i am in the process of trying one called 'model strip' (catchy) which is a paste and stays on for 10 hours ! in about 7 i'll let you know if it works, or if it should be re-named 'model gone'

Easy-Off contains some very caustic chemicals. Wear protective gloves and do not get it in your eyes. Use it in a well ventilated are as the fumes are nasty. Brake fluid is not quite as bad but the same warnings apply. The engine degreasers are alittle more user friendly.

The Poly-S is expensive but is is very friendly and it works. I have used it to strip clear parts without a problem. I have also used it to strip paint that was at least 20 years old and it worked.

As with any chemicals, these strippers should be handled with care and kept away from children and pets. rangerj

Will these methods work over a small area? I'm trying to do the old modeling trick of painting sliver under the actual fusalage color then chipping away at the outer coat of paint to reveal the silver underneath. will oven cleaners or brakefluid do it? can you control where it gets applied and how much it will eat through? Any suggestions?

Sheikes,

Paint strippers will NOT do what you want to do. They will strip everything, including your silver or aluminum paint. If you want to replicate paint chips try applying liquid canopy mask in small irregular shapes to the metal (silver) before painting your top color. When the top paint is dry the "chips" can be pulled with masking tape, or disolved in warm water. rangerj

I discovered quite accidentally that the glue remover manufactured by a PVA super glue brand works perfectly with lacquer and acrylic paints and doesn't harm the plastic one bit. Won't do any good to tell you the brand because it's a local company (Philippines).

I have tried other formulations that are supposed to 'un-set' other super glues, but they don't work as well as my pet brand. (Now I can't find the stuff anymore!)

My big question: What about commercial paint strippers you buy by the can at the hardware store? Are these safe for plastic? 

  

I've used simple green to strip chrome and poly S EZ off for stripping paints.  Boy does it work quickly.  a minute after I drip it onto painted surface the paints just flew right off and i am not even exaggerating.  i have yet to use the castrol superclean that i got together with the simple green from Autozone.

I've used Easy -Off succesfully many times............do it outside protect your eyes and hands. Wash with warm soapy water.......you may have to do it twice.