How to remove acrylic paint?

[munkster]

Having aborted a first attempt at airbrushing after messing it up (a 1/72 Spitfire) and moving onto my 1/48 F-15 (which has gone much better!!!) I was wondering how I could strip the acrylic paint off the Spitfire and try again? It's coated in Tamiya acrylics over Halfords primer if that makes any difference?

Is there a preferred method? Is it more trouble than it's worth?

Thanks for any help...

 

[john]

I've used Purisol and modelstrip with good results, but usually if/when I make a mistake I just reprime and do it again, this isn't an option is your paint layers are too thick as you would loose too much detail

 

[munkster]

Great thanks, I think yeah the paint is a bit thick - heavy handed on my first attempt - seems a shame to bin the model (as suggested by a friend who must have, inexplicably, less patience than me!!) so may look at these product. Cheers.

 

[munkster]

ps - just ordered some Purisol out of the shop John - in the product description it says can be used as an airbrush cleaner too - does this mean that airbrushing is a possible way of applying it? What's the usual way of doing so? cheers!

 

[john]

I brush it on I think airbrushing it would apply too thin a coat to work properly and using as cleaner would workout expensive.

 

[m1ks]

not to take away from the shop sales but an alternative suggestion for future use. I read that fairy power spray, green bottle, makes a good paint stripper. Some use brake fluid but I'd strongly advise not to, it's nasty nasty stuff.

 

[phalinmegob]

i have used brake fluid once and it worked well,using a toothbrush to scrub away paint.

 

[m1ks]

I'm not saying it's ineffectual, it works very well as a paintstripper but it is thoroughly unpleasant stuff, it belongs in one place only, in the reservoirs, calipers and hoses of a braking system.

Speaking as someone who's had the delightful chore of stripping and repainting car panels after malicious fluid attacks I can assure you it's nasty, on a metal panel you need to use a chemical neutraliser before prepping and painting again, you can quite literally see corrosion re-form in front of your eyes after cleaning and wiping off without the neutraliser.

 

[stona]

Methylated spirit will shift most acrylic paint.

Steve

 

[phalinmegob]

i beleive you can also use the stuff that you can buy for cleaning your oven but cannot remember the name,comes with a bag and you are supposed to put the metal grills etc in.have not tried it though.

 

[munkster]

ps - for reference, "Purisol" works, oh yes, it certainly works... :shocking:

 

[john]

Glad to hear it