Hi. Is there at all an effective method of removing a winter whitewash down to the bare necessities as need the tank for a different period and is mostly a question of lack of funds that makes me ask this... I'm sure that straight turps etc. would start to eat the plastic, yeah?

You can use oven cleaner, tilex, brake fluid, and simple green. Use care when using these products. Wear gloves and definitely eye protection.
Place the model in a zip-lock type bag and spay a generous amount on the model. Let it soak for an hour or so. Use a soft old toothbrush under a gentle running sink and lightly brush the old paint away. Repeat as necessary. Be sure to use a drain screen in case you knock a piece off the model.

There is a nice site on paint strippers here: http://www.bonediggers.com/1-3/strip/strip.html

Thanks lads! This will help a plenty. Naturally, the armour I buggered up is the mantlet to the 105mm Sherman, non compatable with the other 3 Shermans I have lying around...

If it's Tamiya a safer paint stripper is spray window cleaner- the kind that has a some ammonia in it. I've used it to strip a model that was painted 3 weeks previously- and it worked great. Less fumes and mess than oven cleaners etc.

Peter

Honeycut

Dunno which part of Oz you are in, but I use "Classics Oily Polish Remover" nail polish remover that I bought for $1.50 at Silly Sollys or Crazy Clarks - anyway one of the cheap trash stores that seem to be the in thing at the moment.

Works well on Tamiya Acrylics even if they have been on for a few months.

For other paints - Humbrol enamels and MM Acryls - I use Koala Degreaser that you can get from Supercheap Auto. Just put a couple of litres in an appropriate sized container and sit model in for 1 hour. Acryl may need a bit of a scrub with a (old) toothbrush as it can be stubborn. Remember to use gloves as this is lye based. From memory a 5 litre container was about $10. I decant the used stuff back into the container and throw out the bit in the bottom containing the paint sludge. I have been re-using the same stuff for about 3 years and haven't noticed a drop in its performance.

Brian

I had to use this after being dis satisfied with a paint job I started on a FM XWing for the Winter SciFi Campaign.
I used EZ OFF on Testors Model Masters Enamels and it worked like a charm.
I let it sit in the zip lock all foamed up, and took a toothbrush to it under warm tap water rinse.
It was flawless...
Thanks for posting these tips fellas !!!

I learned this from a friend of mine when he helped me remove paint from my model for correction. Instead of thinner, he used acetone. Preferably the moisturizing kind that does not dry quickly. You can get 'em at your nearest beauty care store or beauty salon.

HTH.