Stripping old paint from models

[Allegany2666]

Well I spent part of my free time rehabing three locomotives I picked up from some guy on Craigs list. I purchased the remainder of his HO layout and got a ton of really good stuff.
The 3 locos were a couple of Kato RS3 & RS11 and a SW1500 Athearn switcher. Well I guess the guy like Krylon or automotive engine paint because they all had horric spray bomb paint jobs. I used the old DOT brake fluid method of stripping off the paint. I have two of those plastic shoe boxes you get in the home centers and use them as dunk tanks. One is alot dirtier then the other so one for step 1 and the other is for the final dunk. I use sopme dollar store tooth brushes inbetween and scrub off the old paint. Well the RS3 top coat came off pretty easy to revela that he even painted over the decals and the paint underneath was in decent condition but figured I would just give them all fresh paint jobs. Well the RS11 took a lot more work but I got it down to the primer. The SW1500 is stalled at a two tone blue Krylon job and I'm just gonna let is soak if it comes off it comes off if not the body shell isn't that much money so I'll just go to my train guy and get a new one.

So during this fun process I was wondering if anyone had any other methods they use for removing old paint?

[Trainman1965]

So far as i know brake fluid is the best way to get it off. But i would not let them stay in it very long. I have messed up some shells with it to. I know a bachmann shell does not like the brake fluid it melts down and then gets real brittle after it drys. Are at least the one i did come out this way.

When i done my Athearn shells i let them soak for about a hour then scrub them down some and put it back in the fluid. hour later scrub it some more until i got all the paint off of it. They came out nice and clean and paint free.

Just make sure you have the windows out of the units when you are doing this it will eat them up if you don't.

O yea i washed them down real good after i got the paint off of them with dish washing liquid this helps get all the brake fluid off of them.

[ak-milw]

I always use brake fluid too. Never had a problem on factory paint jobs, never tried it on heavy duty enamel.

[Puppyfang]

Have used pine sol at times if i am unsure of the plastic... takes a lot longer, will only work on some types of paint, also does a decent job of removing decals... that is how I noticed the paint removal...left it on to long..

[Puppyfang]

Have used pine sol at times if i am unsure of the plastic... takes a lot longer, will only work on some types of paint, also does a decent job of removing decals... that is how I noticed the paint removal...left it on to long..

[CPrail]

From My IPMS model car days and a couple of HO paint jobs,if you want paint stripped right down to the raw plastic in one go,use Castrol Super Clean in the 4 liter jug, use a plastic tub pour enough in to soak on side at a time,use rubbr gloves when you handle the item you are stripping, Castrol super clean eats skin ( Ask CNrail) but does not harm plastic,rinse it over a running tap or bathe it in soapy water and you are good to go with a compelety clean shell.

Mike

[stevechurch2222]

Iv'e hears of using 91% acohol for removing paint.

[Allegany2666]

Steve I don't know about using 91% alcohol as a paint remover because most guys who use I/A India ink & alcohol use 91% I have used 91% straight out of the bottle for weathering. Once you get the car looking the way you like it with chalk or airbrush etc. you spray the 91% top down to get the streak effect, but you need to give it just the right amount if not the entire side of the car turns into an illegible blob. The first time I did it I actually watched the decal almost slide right off the car. OOPS!

[CNrail]

CPrail is right Castrol woks great but please wear rubber gloves as it does love to eat skin

[Allegany2666]

If thats the stuff I'm thinking of you can't buy it anymore here in the states. It's considered way too caustic and it's not biodegradable. That's why all the engine cleaners and de-greasers sold now are equivalent to peeing on a forest fire.