"Stripping paint off figures" Topic

I have a Regiment of 40 figures that use to be in my Prussian Napoleoic army. But thay have been replaced and are going to the Russian army which they are figures of. I painted them in 1981 or 2 and at that time used Testors enamel as before I started miniatures I painted models so used many of the paints I had. So I had them in Goof Off for 5 days but hardly touched the pain. As there is little difference between the two, just coats and pants colors I'm going forward with first 10 figures and through another 10 into the Goof Off.Not looking for a alternative as much as the suggestion if you want the paint to last 35 years use enamels.

Not sure what the UK equivalent of 'Goof Off' is but I would try brake fluid or a commercially rated paint stripper.

Wear gloves and eye protection.

I have used Easy Off oven cleaner. I've used Simple Green too.

Brake fluid in a glass jar overnight

Dettol (I've used the green variety) works amazingly well.

Simple green changed it's formula in 2013. It no longer has 2-Butoxethanol. That was the ingredient that made it so good for stripping paint. I still use with my ultrasonic cleaner and it still does a good job with a little more elbow grease with a toothbrush.

On newer acrylic painted figures two days in goof off and they arepretty spotless. Also I had a French 12pdr in there and it did come clean. Usually Goof Off doesnt touch Superglue (maybe in two days it doesn't)but this one totally came apart.

Simple Green still works pretty well. Also Purple Power. Walmart has both in the automotive section. Soak for a day then hit it with a hard bristle brush like a vegetable scrubber. Gloves help. Not to protect you from the cleaner, but to protect you from the hard bristles. The cleaner leaves a slimy residue on your hands that won't want to wash off at first, but will ease over an hour or so. With Acrylic you'll get 50+% off the first time. Put the figs back into soak for another day. Repeat until it's clear no more will come off. You should ultimately get 85+% off. If the bath gets murky, pour it off and start with a new soak. Enamel can be tough. It may seem like you aren't getting anywhere, then on day 2 or 3 the whole shooting match will come off. Rinse thoroughly when your done then sit in front of a fan to unsure thorough drying. Prime and repaint.

Dettol works for me but can take a while.

The next batch will be in longer so I'll see how they go. I'm on a color a day schedule so it will take a couple of weeks till I get to them.

I've also used Pinesol. It works pretty good too.

My guide for Stripping Miniatures With Dettol hope it helps.

Take care

Andy

CitriStrip gel all the way. I've had 95% of the paint off a metal figure in under 1/2 hour.

citristrip.com

On metal figures I use 3M's Safest Stripper, no fumes to worry about and is the consistancy of yogurt for easy application.

Neat dettol, leave overnight. Works wonders on airfix napoleonics in humbrol gloss enamels.

P. S. Make sure the lid is tightly on, it stinks a lot.

For metals, I've regularly employed Acetone before (use gloves!). For plastic, follow the recommendations above.

Bartoline Clean Spirit sometimes works brilliantly…..and sometimes hardly or not at all and I haven't quite worked out the why's and wherefore's. If it works it's much cleaner, less smelly and less trouble than Dettol etc.