Several years ago I bought a bottle of a product at a hobby shop that was a re-useable paint remover for plastic models. All I can remember about it is that it was blue and actually didn't have much of a smell. Unfortunately that hobby shop is out of business and I really want another bottle. Does anyone know what it might be?
Thanks!
Andy

You can use Windex (the regular blue stuff) or brake fluid to remove paint. Just place the model in a container and cover with the fluid. Leave over night and rinse off the paint. I've never done this but have read about it here. I do have a model that I will probably try the Windex on.

Andy,

The only hobby product I know of is Polly S "ELO" Easy Lift Off paint and decal remover. However, if you are removing acrylic paint, submerge the model overnight in Windex or any comparable ammonia and alcohol window cleaner.
If you are removing enamel paint, submerge the model overnight in DOT 3 brake fluid.
These will safely remove the paint without dislodging parts, loosening glue, or softening plastic. Once all the paint is gone, just rinse with clean water. In either case use a plastic tub. I have done both of these procedures myself more times than I care to admit and still do. You never know when the planets are out of alignment and a perfect airbrushing job will go totally FUBAR on you. Both methods are safe for you and the model and they really work.

Castrol Super Clean will work wonders on Acrylic, Enamel and Lacquer paints, and can pick it up at your local Wal-mart or most well stocked auto parts places.

Same idea, immerse the kit you want to strip in the solution, and off comes the paint. Strain out the left over paint from the solution and return to the CSC bottle to be used again.

One thing i have used for many years is oven cleaner .. the non-foaming one .. it strips all types of paints and if your into cars and want to do some real nice custom work it will strip the chrome of the chrome parts to ..its fast ,,under 2 hours in most cases but it sure can smell ..the smell can make you cough real bad but i wear a face mask and i use an old stainless steel sink to spray it ... when its done its work the paint will come of with some very gental brushing with a tooth brush works very nicely ..one reason for the oven cleaner over the brake fluid is the price ..brake fluid is not cheap here but it does work rather well too.
I am going to give that Castrol Super Clean a blast ,,thats got me interested

Oh the oven cleaner is best used out side duh!

Any drain cleaner containing sodium hydroxide NaOH is good but not breathe in and avoid contact with skin or eyes!

I use two things;

1- Alcohol 95%- i used this once and dipt a whole tank in, and about 30 minutes it was all clean. I had to brush it a bit clean from black slime but it was clean

2- Mr. Hobby thinner- Even brushes soaked with old paint and dryed putty are no problem for this stuff. It will be clean...

Regards,

Remco

Andy,

I'm a closet model railroader, as well. There is a product from Scalecoat called Wash Away or Rinse away. It comes in 16 oz. bottle and is water based. It will lift any paint I've used including acrylic, enamel and others. It is for plastics.

You just dip it in the solution and the paint should lift off within and hour. One word of caution, if you leave it in overnight it makes the styrene brittle. I have soaked figures in it I wanted to strip and the arms broke off the next day. So leave in only to lift the paint. The corners will need the aid of an acid or tooth brush.

Look it up on the web anywhere model train paint is sold. I've used it for years...you can even lift decals by putting some on a brush and stripping a local area.

Hope this helps...

Bill B.

Oven cleaner sprayed on the vehicle while it is in a large plastic bag works for me. Leave over night and then place in an old spaghetti strainer and rinse with cold water. I use the airbrush to dry the vehicle. Ensure you have rubber gloves on while doing any of this...watch your parts.
Hope this helps
DJ