FUD-safe paint stripper?

[spookshow]

So, I had a bit of an oops momemt with a Shapeways model - accidentally tipping over a freshly painted tender and getting a bunch of workbench crud stuck in the paint. IE, time to strip the paint and start over. So, I immersed the whole thing in 91% alcohol and this was the result -



Is paint a one-way trip on these FUD models? I can't imagine a stripper much gentler than alcohol (that's still going to get the job done).

Thanks,
-Mark

[Kisatchie]

my Toyota looks like that...


Hmm... it's just a 6 inch
dent in one fender, Kiz...

[Chris333]

Holy cow!  I think something reacted to the paint because FUD is pretty much indestructible. Unless that shell walls are very thin?

[spookshow]

The shell walls are not thin - pretty much the same as any other model you'd care to shake a stick at. The paint is nothing special - the same Model Master enamel stuff I've been using for years.

Based on my results, I think it's safe to say that FUD is not pretty much indestructible, LOL.

Cheers,
-Mark

[Rich_S]

Mark, Since that model is pretty much a basket case. Try Scalecoat II Wash away paint stripper, see if it removes the paint without doing any further damage to the plastic?

[sd45elect2000]

I had a near identical result with Scalecoat stripper. I'd skip that one too.

Randy

[thomasjmdavis]

Thank you for posting this.  And here I was, considering whether alcohol might useful for cleaning Shapeways shells prior to painting.  Guess I can check the "NO" box on that one.  I destroyed a resin shell a couple years ago with alcohol- it curled into a U shape- but otherwise have had very good luck with it.

[Rich_S]

I had a near identical result with Scalecoat stripper. I'd skip that one too.

Randy

Randy, Was it scalecoat or scalecoat 2? Only scale coat 2 is safe for plastics. I've used it for years on all the popular manufactures models (Atlas, Athearn, Bachmann, Life-like, etc) without any issues.
Another popular brand of paint remover was Chameleon Stripper, but I think they have gone out of business. I've never tried Testors ELO (Easy-Lift-Off) paint remover but according to their web site it's suppose to be safe for plastics?

 

[sd45elect2000]

Randy, Was it scalecoat or scalecoat 2? Only scale coat 2 is safe for plastics. I've used it for years on all the popular manufactures models (Atlas, Athearn, Bachmann, Life-like, etc) without any issues.
Another popular brand of paint remover was Chameleon Stripper, but I think they have gone out of business. I've never tried Testors ELO (Easy-Lift-Off) paint remover but according to their web site it's suppose to be safe for plastics?

 

I honestly don't remember.. I know I used it on plastic before.

[peteski]

Randy, Was it scalecoat or scalecoat 2? Only scale coat 2 is safe for plastics. I've used it for years on all the popular manufactures models (Atlas, Athearn, Bachmann, Life-like, etc) without any issues.
Another popular brand of paint remover was Chameleon Stripper, but I think they have gone out of business. I've never tried Testors ELO (Easy-Lift-Off) paint remover but according to their web site it's suppose to be safe for plastics?

 

There is no Scalecoat 2 stripper - there is only one Scalecoat "Wash-away" paint remover.  Its chemistry has nothing to do with the paint chemistries.
Testors (um, ex. Floquil) ELO contains a chemical similar to brake fluid.  That might not be safe for FUD either.

I'm also surprised that FUD was damaged by alcohol.

We need to remember that all these paint strippers were introduced (as safe for plastics) when plastic kits were made pretty much of polystyrene and ABS.  Obviously FUD resin is made from some material which behaves differently.

One more type of chemical left is lye. It works differently than the other strippers tried so far. Castrol Super clean (or generic "purple stuff") would be something to try.  Or the old-school EasyOff oven cleaner (the original formula).

[sd45elect2000]

Actually ... the last time I made a boo boo on a model , I stuck it back in the Bestine and it stripped the paint. I didn't let the paint dry. I used Scalecoat paint to begin with.

Randy

[spookshow]

Actually ... the last time I made a boo boo on a model , I stuck it back in the Bestine and it stripped the paint. I didn't let the paint dry. I used Scalecoat paint to begin with.

Randy

Having never tried it for such things, I wasn't sure about Bestine's ability to strip paint (and so didn't try it). What flavor of Scalecoat are we talking here? 1 or 2?

Thanks,
-Mark

[ednadolski]

With the right weathering, that could be used as the starting point for a fire-damaged model.   Could be a real eye-catcher.

Ed

[Rich_S]

There is no Scalecoat 2 stripper - there is only one Scalecoat "Wash-away" paint remover.

Sorry Peteski but my bottle clearly reads "Scalecoat II Wash away" They also sell a paint remover for metal, not sure what they call that product.  Just because I'm new here, does not mean I'm new to this hobby. 

[Rich_S]

Here, I'll even upload a picture so you don't think I'm full of it.



It doesn't say scalecoat wash away, it says Scalecoat II wash away  And the gray lettering says PLASTIC. Why, because Scalecoat 1 paint is for brass, metal or wood.