It's a trick for removing paint. It works quite well for some paint apps... softens up the paint so you can just scrub it off. And the effect of the alcohol on solid plastics is usually not too bad. It's the clear plastic that really reacts badly (usually). zmog
I believe you're thinking "paint thinner". Fact is, alcohol is one of the usual methods used to remove paint apps from figures; I use it all the time and have no unusual effects.
So would paint thinner not destroy clear plastic? Looking at those I've never seen somebody peg the double guns into their shoulders with the other pegs. The ones that combine into a full 5 mm peg. I always display Barricade like that (or peg the combined gun into his 5 mm forearm port). It distinguishes him even a little bit more from the others and looks way better to me. Especially in alt mode.
Just switched my Barricade's shoulder guns and yes, it looks great. I'll be keeping it that way. He also gets the pistol and baton from TLK Barricade. They fit on his hips perfectly.
I would not trust paint thinner to be honest; it's a death sentence for polystyrene plastic. My reply was to point out that alcohol normally doesn't ruin plastic in my experience.
The main problem is that we do NOT know what the exact types of plastics go into each toy. Each toy may use multiple types of plastic. Each one has its own relative strengths and weaknesses. Any chemical that can remove paint can damage plastic. It's that simple, even if it's just making the surface look "cloudy". Based on multiple posts across multiple boards, the current clear plastic on Siege figures will melt from isopropyl alcohol. One post even reported and shown that Gundam markers will melt certain opaque plastics (Siege Rainmaker thighs...likely from the solvents in the markers). Trying not to go way off topic but almost forgot to mention this: Smokescreen and Barricade are the closer mold mates since they share the same face. Bluestreak and Prowl share the same face.
Wow, I'm surprised to see alcohol do so much damage to plastic. I knew clear plastic was brittle, but jeez! I've used 50% and even 91% ispopropyl on regular Transformers pieces--even relatively thin ones like the prototype "silver"--and they always came out just fine. Honestly, my history with broken pieces like this always came from enamel thinner. Unless you plan to use it conservatively on very pigmented and durable plastics like black or sometimes very very dark grey, that stuff's actual poison. I'm pretty sure that's the substance Gundam Marker Erasers are made of, and it astounds me how they advertise these to be used on model kits with plastic that reacts so negatively to this stuff! I guess if you're looking for alternatives, apparently lighter fluid works remarkably. You might be able to find dedicated plastic-friendly paint removing substances from some online hobby shops. In the meantime, I've got a spare Smokescreen coming in the mail if anybody wants to buy it off my hands </plug> Best of luck with the future customs!
Ya, I had noticed that as well, but I wanted the rifle which comes with Prowl, Smokescreen and Bluestreak and not Barricade. So I decided on Bluestreak ultimately. I guess all the Autobots will share a face as well.
In the case of my collection, Prowl, Bluestreak and now Smokescreen will all share the same face mold.
Hey dan have you ever tried to paint the clear of the legs? I would like to know it it will fall apart once painted
Thanks for the heads up on the alcohol and clear plastics. I didn't know that it could possibly ruin clear plastic. I know that when I soaked my PotP Swoop's swords in 91% isopropyl alcohol for a day to remove the red paint, I didn't have any issues.
