I know theres gotta be some model car builders here. My 11 year old found some gray paint in the garage and decided his yet to be built Z06 should be gray. Problem was, it was household enamal geared more for patio furniture than model car finishes.

Its finally dry and badly wrinkled, what can we use to strip it off with?

Castrol Super Clean.

Let it soak and it will soften the paint without harming the plastic.

...sandpaper

a mild thinner would be your best bet test it on the inside of the modle first to make sure it wont harn the plastic.

my young and inexperienced also tried to paint with household enamel...

i would get some thinner in the airbrush and try and get it off....if that dosent work get some aerosol thinner and fo the same

what i can tell you NOT to do is let the plastic sit in the thinner for any amount of time. That will degrade the plastic making it almost like butter

The easy way to take the paint off is to soak it in DOT 3 brake fluid. Don't leave it in too long. Give it an hour or so to soak, scrub the loose paint off with a soft toothbrush, then repeat. When you have the part cleaned up, rinse with a lot of soapy water.

Note, the surface of the plastic might get etched a little, not much of a big deal if it is going to be painted again anyways.

I use this approach to strip model trains in prep for repainting, and have done it this way for years. The problem with real solvents is that it usually melts the plastic too.

Next mission...teach the kid to use an airbrush

Here'* one of mine that went through the brake fluid bath before repainting. As you can see, it doesn't effect the final finish.

Do not follow any of the advice given....

you will Melt the plastic with any type of thinner
sanding will remove fine lines

get 3 or 4 bottles of oven cleaner and soak it in there then use a scotch brite pad and water to clean it off.

I used to build models like a freak and would regularly change them up using this method.

http://www.gremlins.com/david_morris/paint_removal.html

Oven cleaner is the same chemical as Castrol Super Clean.

When I bought my hood vents off Ebay, I researched the best method of paint removal on model railroading forums, since those gizmo'* are plastic too.

CSC will soften the paint and take it right off with no damage to the plastic.

I would think any of the above would eat at the glue.


I say buy a new one and start over


Oh and Glenn, we want pics of the model car


edit: I just re read that it is YET to be built.

Good suggestions, all. Thanks!

I got corrected by my son, its not a z06, its a c6-r. Looks like we are going to be yellow when done. Revell 1:25 scale.