Model Stripping

Girlfriend here. And while the title might sound naughty, I'll just be talking about stripping paint. Sorry.

So what I am about to say may be a little controversial. When I have talked about using nail polish remover WITH Acetone to remove paint before, I got all kinds of negative feedback. It melts plastic!! But trust me. I'm a girl. I've been painting my nails, including the fake, plastic kind, since I was capable of holding the brush. (I also painted my first vanity with nail polish - my parents weren't thrilled.) And my nails have never fallen off, the plastic ones have never melted. I have removed color from the carpet before. Again, my parents weren't thrilled.

That being said, there are some high-content Acetone nail polish removers out there. I do recommend using nail polish remover with it, but do a test first. Just throw a little paint on some sprue and see how it reacts.



I like the cheap kind

Supplies you will need:

• nail polish remover
• a cup you will never use again
• q-tips
• wire brush

I have also used pointed-tip tweezers to get the paint in tight areas. Please ask your girl before using hers. She may be upset if her skin burns the next time she goes to pluck her eyebrows.

If you are trying to remove paint from a metal model, great! Just soak that bad boy in a cup full of remover. It doesn't take more than a few minutes for the paint to soften, but if you forget about it, nothing will be hurt. It will likely remove the glue, however! I've found this is much more common with metal models than plastic.

Just a few minutes in the polish remover

If you are trying to remove the paint from a plastic model, I do recommend doing a test (see above). I have not had an issue with the remover softening the plastic to the point that it was an issue using a wire brush. I HAVE had a piece melt some after SOMEONE put it in the polish remover without letting me know first. I won't mention any names.... but it only affected the shoulderpads a little. It is a good idea to do this near a sink, so you can rinse the polish off quickly if needed. While I have soaked plastic models, I don't suggest it. Q-tips come in very handy here. You can also dip the model, use the wire brush, then rinse, and repeat. This way the model isn't affected by the remover for long.

I have not tested a resin model with the remover. I don't know if it is affected by the remover any differently than the plastic. Feel free to comment below if you have tried it! I will update you when I get a chance to try it myself.

I do reuse the remover I soak the models in. Just pour it back in the bottle, and save it for next time!

OTHER USES FOR NAIL POLISH REMOVER:

It is great for cleaning synthetic brushes! Just make sure to rinse them after and let them dry flat, so the bristles can return to their normal position and don't fray.

It is wonderful for cleaning airbrushes! I have unclogged Nate's airbrush more times than I can count. Just don't spray it through - remover is flammable, and not great to breathe in. Just like the metal models, take it apart, soak in the polish remover, and use q-tips or pipe cleaners as needed.


***I always forget to take "before" pictures of the models I strip. Next time I do it, I will add some before and after pictures!***