I have said this before, but will again. I have had very good luck using "Top Care" acetone free finger nail polish remover. It is a Wal Mart brand. But I recently got a bottle of "Body Sense" acetone free nail polish remover and it works just as well. Since I am very "anti" Wal Mart, i will use anything I can get that isn't wallmart if I can, and "Body Sense" is another store brand, I think my wife picked up at the dollar store. I think it works much better and faster than alcohol and to date has not had any effect on the plastic.
I myself build plastic model tractor trailers along with model railroading. I use the Purple Power stuff from Walmart. Just like Lou D. said in an earlier post. Get yourself a little container like hamburg or meat comes in from the store. Pour a little bit in the container and just put you parts that your trying to strip right in it. Just like Lou said, use gloves with this stuff, because it's caustic but it does a beautful job. Depending on the loco brand it shouldn't take all that long at all to strip the paint. Use a old toothbrush as well to help with the scrubbing. A gallon of that stuff runs around 6.00 and with last a long long time. What I do when I'm done with the Purple stuff, I'll pour the used stuff through a coffee filter and into another container, as not to contaminate the new stuff. You can reuse the old stuff again for a couple of more times. Hope this helps ya!! Johnny B cool:
Thank you ! Looking forward to always learning new stuff and hopefully contributing some as well! Johnny B cool:
I have had GREAT success with 90% alcohol. My experience so far is that within about 15 minutes most of the paint begins to wash away easily. As stated above, sometimes you have work it a little. Nothing is 100% and a stripped shell will rarely, if ever, be as clean as an undecorated shell. EDIT: Another reason I prefer the Alcohol over the other options is because it fits will with apartment living.
I have a background in miniatures painting (toy soldiers). There are a LOT of crevices on a 25mm toy soldier when it comes to stripping paint. I bring the collective wisdom of that hobby here. The hands-down winner is Simple Green Concentrated. You can get it at most auto parts suppliers in the US and many mass-market retailers. Soak overnight and most of the paint will just slide off with little to no scrubbing. The Purple stuff is considered a close second. I know I haven't used it, but many I know have and it is a toss-up. Simple Green works on hard and soft plastic, so I can't imagine it causing any damage to a train body shell.
My recent experience I read this thread just as a refresher before I started. Shells were soaked in brake fluid for about an hour. The fluid turned pinkish and that was about all. Then one was put in Simple Green, the other left in brake fluid. I used small ziplock bags with the air squeezed out, total immersion. Two hours later, the gray paint lifted as well as the decals, in the brake fluid. Simple Green: nothing. Both shells back in brake fluid. This time I set the bag in the bathroom sink, which I filled with warm water. Two more hours or so, paint brushed off, leaving a few spots and this staining. I bought some 91% isopropyl alcohol while I was out running errands, so they were placed in that overnight. Nothing. Looks like the plastic is stained for keeps.
Brake Fluid works fantastic and wont hurt the plastic, just soak it for 24 hours, tooth brush it off. Also, Oven Cleaner works well, not as good as Brake Fluid, but it works. No kidding !!! fatalxsunrider43
Richard,some paints do penetrate the plastic.Nothing will totally remove that.As long as it's bare plastic,that's all you're shooting for. AS far as all stripping methods,I don't do anything as far as toothbrushes,scrubbing,ETC,I rely on patience..If a shell doesn't show signs of stripping in alcohol in 4-5 hours,that paint won't strip in alcohol,try Purple stuff.Nearly all the different chemicals used for stripping contain either alcohol,[Non Acetone nail polish remover,denatured alcohol,Chameleon,Scalecoat remover,brake fluid,ETC] or Lye[Purple stuff,Easy Off oven cleaner,Simple green] If one doesn't work,try the other..I soak shells in alcohol as long as it takes to just lightly brush it with a soft paintbrush,and ALL the paint comes right off...
I have just totally stripped the paint off of four cars for a project with brake fluid. All paint gone in less than 24 hours.
Paint Stripping I found this file in another forum (see attached file) several years ago and have used this info whenever this topic comes up. Some of the info may be out of date so use with caution. Hope this helps. Bigboy4884 :thumbs_up:
