Miniature stripping question for UK modellers

[njetkulturny]

Brake fluid is a possibility, but

1.  it does harm even plastic figures, when exposed longer times, which you will need for the black GW coat

and  2. there is no legal way of  (environmental friendly) getting rid of the stuff either.

PVC Cleaner has deficits too with GW Blackcoat, but scratching into the paint in not so noticeable places should
do the trick.

@ Rob : Could not give any brand names for UK, so I just said what product I use 

[Antenociti]

No, I think Caustic Soda (or 'kaustisk soda' in Danish) would be too hard on plastics?

The 'brown soap' is about the colour of molasses, and comes in both liquid form (for easier mixing with hot water), and a version about the same thickness as vaseline - which can be dilluted with water or smeared upon the object you want to clean.

I usually use the liquid stuff, 50/50 mix with (hot when mixing) water.

I thik it is called 'green soap' in Holland.

that sounds interesting stuff, I cant think what it might be over here in the UK, I, as you say, dont think its caustic soda though...  I wonder if its an active chemical or a detergent....?

[Argonor]

that sounds interesting stuff, I cant think what it might be over here in the UK, I, as you say, dont think its caustic soda though...  I wonder if its an active chemical or a detergent....?

No, it's a soap. Alcalic, but not poisonous as such, it's made from jodium containing plant oils 'by neutralizing free fatty acids by using caliumhydroxide' - as far as my research has brought me atm.

[Argonor]

I think this stuff is basically the same, just in 'solid' form:

http://www.washtyme.com/

[Heyer]

Hi,today i tried a method that works perfectly for plastic miniatures, it
is easy,cheap and clean.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1:Put the plastic miniatures in a tuperware
2:Go to your first aids box and take the sanitary alcohol 98º
3: Cover the miniatures with the sanitary alcohol
4:Close the tuperware and let i t work,i put my miniatures before going bed and the next day i started cleaning them.
5:Take your old toothbrush and brush them,the paint will go very very easy,if not put them again in the tuperware and wait a little more.
The space marines i bought in ebay had a very large quantity of paint and now they look like  new,try it and you are not going to use another method for plastic,enjoy it.

[Momotaro]

Another vote for the amber Dettol antiseptic liquid.  I've stripped metal, plastic and resin using it, although you'll want to air figures well after cleaning them.  Give the minis a scrub in the liquid with an old toothbrush after 12 hours' soaking or so, then finish them off after 24-48 hours.

Pound shops like Instore/Poundland are the cheapest places to buy it in bulk, although Wilkinsons is close.

[Argonor]

2:Go to your first aids box and take the sanitary alcohol 98º

Can you just walk into a pharmacy and buy that stuff? It's illegal for non-medical persons or educational facilities to get that stuff over here. People mix drinks out of it, and die, you see.

But, ordinary white household spirit might do the trick, too?

[Black Cat Bases]

Nail polish remover works on plastic we have found without damaging it! The cheaper the better, soak and then use a tooth brush.

Jo:)

[myincubliss]

Be careful with nail polish remover though, I used some Wilko's own brand last year to strip some plastic space marines bought off the evil-bay - after half an hour or so, the paint started coming off a little. Not thinking, I left them overnight (or if I did think, it was along the lines of 'aha - more time means more clean') and ended up with bases that were melted into droopy shapes and a loss of surface detail, as well as several blights (which meant that they ended up as 'chaos marines that have been directly exposed to the blighting properties of the warp' rather than getting thrown in the bin)

[dampfpanzerwagon]

It has already been said - but Dettol works!

You can just leave your miniature in it for hours or days - or weeks!  The paint tends to peel off in layers and the metal miniatures come out shining.

The plastic has to be treated with a little more care, but I've had great results for metal and plastic.

Tony
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/

[TheMightyFlip]

Mr.Muscle yellow bottle.

48 hours later plastic is stripped.

4 to 8 for metal.

[Gluteus Maximus]

Mr.Muscle yellow bottle.

48 hours later plastic is stripped.

4 to 8 for metal.

Does it get Dullcote and similar matt varnish off too?

[Argonor]

Mr.Muscle yellow bottle.

Wasn't that marketed in Germany under the name 'Meister Proper'?

[TheMightyFlip]

Does it get Dullcote and similar matt varnish off too?

Yes.

[TheMightyFlip]

Wasn't that marketed in Germany under the name 'Meister Proper'?

Pass, I dont speak German sorry