"Stripping diecast cars, trucks etc" Topic

I'm working on some Post Apoc dioramas for our local Fallout games and I want to strip the paint off some of the 1/43 scale vehicles I've got. Any suggestions? I'd prefer something not to toxic. My wife is very sensitive to chemical fumes , even though I will be doing it in the garage. Thanx.

I'd just paint over. That is baked on enamel and is usually a hard job to strip. Why not just spray it with primer and go?

I would agree that painting over the existing paint is the way to go. If you want to remove the paint without toxic chemicals, you'll probably need a sandblaster.

I don't have any idea you'd get something like that off. I'd spray prime and paint.

I just used to use paint stripper from the local DIY store, came in a glass bottle and had a jelly like consistancy.

I put some in an old jam jar popped in the bits of the car I wanted to strip of paint (the metal bit obviously!)shook it about to get the parts fully covered and left them over night.The paint would lift and wrinkle, I then pulled them out either with a pair of pliers a bent piece if wire of with rubber gloves and blasted of the psint and stipper with the hose pipe.

worked a treat and as I recall didn,t really smell of much, and removed every trace of paint, great when your re-painting cars that have had a hard previous life when you were a child.

Roger.

I've stripped a bunch of die cast cars. You can paint over it, but often the paint is so thick that when you strip it you find depth of detail you didn't know was there.

I use Methyl Ethyl Keytone (MEK). It's toxic as heck, but it works fast, is reusable, and is pretty cheap at the hardware store. I've also used acetone which works but takes a bit more time and effort.

1) Disassemble the cars. Usually they can be taken apart with screws, but a dremmel can be used to grind out the rivets if they are present.

2) Pour MEK into a jar.

3) Inset car body.

4) Remove in 30 minutes or so and scrub off paint with wire brush.

Remember to wear solvent resistant gloves and goggles and do it somewhere with good ventilation.

After using MEK, it's a good idea to wash carefully and not have any children.
: )

Try soaking a couple days in a sealed container of Simple Green. Sometimes the magic works and sometimes it does not, but it is cheap and non-toxic. Next phase up is is EZ Off oven cleaner. Line a cardboard box with wax paper, place the models on the wax paper and spray. May melt the plastic bits or mar the aluminum finish. It is toxic but not too bad. Wear gloves, use outdoors. Wash off with soap and water.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek

PeterX wrote….

"After using MEK, it's a good idea to wash carefully and not have any children."

Damn if only someone had told me this twenty years ago it would have saved me a fortune!!

Roger.

There's actually something I've learned works like gangbusters: Fingernail polish remover! Make sure you've removed all the plastic bits, put the shell in a glass jar, pour in the remover, and let it sit overnight. The next day go at it with an old toothbrush. Problem solved!

Well… I ended up using something like MEK I think but was well ventilated and it didn't take long.

Before:

After Stripping and bashing around a bit:

Next phase is painting, then mounting on a diorama.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I will be doing more because I found some cheap 1/43 scale cars at Toys R Us for $8 USD for 3.

Doug

After repaint

Final Diorama: