Painting over old painted figures

[ltcdoty]

Hello All....
I am a bit of a newbie and a lurker on this great site, though I have been painting on and off for years. My question is, I have aquired several figures from Ebay that have been painted. Is there a way to strip the paint so I can repaint them, or do I have to paint over the old surface, that in many cases have old thick paint. Thanks in advance.
Regards,
TomD
Cambridge, New York

 

[Einion]

Hi Tom, welcome to pF.

Definitely strip off the old paint if you can! No way you'll get the best finish possible working over existing paint.

Einion

 

[Gary D]

Hi Tom. Welcome.
If the figures are resin or white metal, I find that soaking them for a couple of days in PineSol works great. This has been suggested on this website several times as the pine oil in it is what will lift the paint.
Make sure that if there are thin resin parts, you keep an eye on them and clean them first after 24 hours as they might soften.
Use an old toothbrush or electric shaver cleaning brush and scrub while rinsing under the tap. Be careful and use a trap over your drain.
Some people use brake fluid, but I have not tried it.

I would not suggest this for plastic figures.

Good Luck!
Gary D

 

[baldwin8]

If they are metal, Easyoff oven cleaner works great, and I have used this plastic models but I am not sure how it would affect resins.

 

[lock-n-load]

Don't use any of the commercial aerosol paint strippers, especially on resin or plastic. I experimentally stripped one recently and it got soft and I actually melted some of the details!! It was a MG-42 gunner with the ammo belts around his neck, and now it is pretty much ruined.

 

[Einion]

If the figures are resin or white metal, I find that soaking them for a couple of days in PineSol works great. This has been suggested on this website several times as the pine oil in it is what will lift the paint.

The isopropyl alcohol and alkyl alcohol ethoxylates probably have something to do with it too

Tom, if you need any other options on stripping Castrol Super Clean works great if you can get it where you are.

Einion

 

[Chrisr]

Does anyone have a suggestion for stripping paint from plastic such as old historex and airfix 54mm figures?

Chris

 

[ralpht]

another newbie

I addressed this same question several months ago. I have been painting poorly for a long time, but with the internet interchange I am learning a little about technique and style. I have returned several old figures, metal and verlinden resin. I find that easy off spray does the trick on both types, with the caveat that you do it in a well ventilated place like the out of doors. I have been using a baggie but now spray in an old stainless mixing bowl and the cover with saran wrap. The results are good with a little water and an old tooth brush for the chain mail and devilish corners.

 

[damkid2]

Not just for ovens

Easy Off is one of the best general purpose paint strippers that I have found in all my years of painting. I don't remember how many times I have screwed up painting a figure to the point that it needs to be stripped. Easy Off works well on metal and has yet damage any of the resin or plastic figures I have tried it on. Remember the fumes are toxic, use only in a well ventilated area away from pets, plants, and people. When you handle a coated figure wear gloves (House hold kitchen type will do). Use a metal or glass pan to lay the figure in and spray with Easy Off. Oh and when your done don't give the gloves and pan back to the wife, It's not worth risking any type of contamination, there your's now and part of your extended collection of tools! Allow the stripping action to work for 5-15 minutes. The longer the better. Use an old tooth brush to remove loosened paint and flush with water. Then wash with warm water and dish soap.

 

[Einion]

Does anyone have a suggestion for stripping paint from plastic such as old historex and airfix 54mm figures?

Don't know where you're based Chris but vehicle modellers swear by Castrol Super Clean - supposed to not attack styrene at all.

Einion

 

[Einion]

Caustic soda-based oven cleaners

I should mention that the thing you have to be most careful about with these is not to get any in your eyes.

Einion

 

[PJ Deluhery]

Easy Off makes a "no fumes" product that works well without the toxic odor, and it's prety gentle on the hands. I've used it for quite a while with great success on metal and resin. Just watch your exposure time. I do it in 20 min increments and use an old toothbrush to clean the tight spots.