Hey all,

I'm currently looking to do a quick repaint of my HftD Sidearm Sideswipe, so try and make him movie-accurate. However, before I bother to start repainting, I thought it might be a good idea to remove the Hasbro red paint details from his hood, so they don't protrude through the paint layer I add. I was curious if this was possible, and what the best way to do this would be.

I have a junker Cyberfire Bumblebee that I've been testing stuff out on. When I tried using acetone, it seemed to eat away at the plastic as well. Another suggestion I saw was to use vegetable oil, but I'm hesitant to try this, because I thought maybe it would make the surface slick and unable to hold new paint after.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

Ohh, I never thought of using a Magic Eraser. Awesome idea! Thanks, man!

 

There's also stiff that is used to remove paint from brushes, denatured alcohol iirc. However, from what ive heard, it could damage the figure.

 

Thanks for the input! I haven't yet tried the 90% alcohol or the Magic Eraser that Yaujta suggested, so I'll have to see how that goes.

 

Not sure if this is available where you live, (I live in the UK)



I've been using it for years, removes paint and tempographs very well, its also very good for removing scratches especially from clear plastic.

 

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/tutorials-how-tos/214542-stripping-removing-paint.html

If someone would like to post things to add to that tutorial, by all means do so in this thread, as it seems that tutorial in particular could use some more things, especially some helpful images  

 

Thanks Superquad. I did see that thread when I was searching for an answer, but I kind of figured that was for after you had painted something yourself. I wasn't sure what kind of paints Hasbro uses on their products.

 

You're very welcome. Tutorials is here to help anyone of any skill level!

That thread was created with the intention of having a factory figure in hand and then removing the paint from it.

 

When stripping paint from clear plastic, be careful and don't use 90%, 70%. You can either buy 70% or dilute it yourself. Then apply it to a cotton bud or cloth and rub slowly and gently.

If the clear part turns cloudy, paint the clear part with future and it will come back to normal.

Go slowly as otherwise you risk warping or destroying the plastic. Give it a soft scrubbing and then wait a while for the alcohol to evaporate and also the plastic to return to normal as the alcohol does soften the clear plastic, it might not be observable but it's there. Do not soak clear plastic in alcohol as it can end up destroying the plastic

Turned out this mold has clear windshield/side windows, which I had to first clear up before I added the clear red.

 

I find testors paint thinner and q-tips work wonders for me! They're available at any Michaels or AC Moore

 

I'd only use thinner for oil-based paints. Typically, Hasbro uses acrylics.

 

Testors thinner is made for acrylic paints

 

Unless there's a kind that Testors makes specifically for acrylics (which is certainly possible), then no. Thinner is typically watered down acetone, which breaks down oil based paint. Oil and water don't mix.

The Testors thinner I generally use from Testors is the agent necessary to thin out/break down enamels.

 

Why has no one mentioned Isopropyl Alcohol 91% specifically? Although as previously mentioned it can do damage to clear plastics. I read someplace else that 70% will work better for the clear plastics and that you only really need to soak them for a couple of minutes each as it is the alcohol fumes that react to taking off the paint not so much the chemical bathing itself.

 

Actually speaking from a chemistry standpoint, you're wrong.

Acetone will dissolve most things actually as it works as a detergent so it will allow oil and water to mix. Oil and water can mix with a detergent, as it bridges between them. It's sometimes called a universal solvent [DMSO fills that role better, do not come near that stuff], it can dissolve oils, alcohols, and water. So most likely acetone, even thinned down, will dissolve acrylic paint, but would also dissolve the plastic too if left there too long.

Testors does have an acrylic thinner though it's marketed in their airbrush line iirc.

 

You did mention 90% alcohol. Is there any place special you need to go to find the 91% stuff? I just checked and the stuff in my house is only 70%.

 

not much difference between 90% and 91%, but 100% does work amazingly.