recently purchased a couple Scalextric C052 escorts
these cars have both been painted , badly , with what looks like rattle can paint
would like to try to restore them
so 1st need to remove the paint
tried this before , without success , the body turned into a squishy distorted mess
any tips / products to safely remove this paint without shrinking / distorting / ruining the body
I've used the nail varnish remover method and ended up with a squidgy mess.
Last time around, I used the wet and dry method to remove the paint from a Scalextric TR7 and paint I'd sprayed on when I messed that up and it worked a treat.
Started with fairly course wet and dry to remove the bulk of the paint and then used various, less abrasive grades and it left the body looking great.
I won't bother with a chemical attack in the future.
Yes there is a chemical solution that will remove the paint and leave the plastic as is. It's an engine degreaser found at hardware stores. It's called Super Clean.
I have used it on 25+ cars without issue. Bodies can soak for 3-days without issue.
I bought a T-jet that was painted poorly.
It looked like this after soaking for 24-hours.
Word of note. Super Clean also removes chrome. But is safe on windshield glass, etc.
I use a product called Modelstrip, it is available from model shops. It is a past which is applied to the body. It is then sealed in a plastic bag and left overnight and washed off with water once the paint has softened. I have found it very effective and does not damage the plastic. It can even be used on windows without damage. It is quite a messy process but very effective.
In Wal-Mart's Automotive section the carry a similar looking jug of cleaner called "Purple Power" or something similar. I've put in old Eldon bodies with several different coats of different types of paint to soak for a couple of weeks. After removal and rinsing with water they looked like brand new body shells. So scrubbing or scraping.
This has been depending upon the paint that you're removing as well as the sort of plastic. Resin bodies and injection molds are resistant enough to use odorless thinner. But a lexan thermoform requires further delicacy. To begin
with, use shavings from some bar soap and cover the hull with the soft soap. Wait a few hours as the paint softens. Then rinse away. A label-removing fluid also softens most enamels. Though resin casting with a coat of nitro-cellulose has a higher resistance. Use a dozen cotton swabs to get to the seam lines.
(12th-Jul-21, 12:09 PM)KensRedZed Wrote: Hello Kev and Rob,
Yes there is a chemical solution that will remove the paint and leave the plastic as is. It's an engine degreaser found at hardware stores. It's called Super Clean.
I have used it on 25+ cars without issue. Bodies can soak for 3-days without issue.
I bought a T-jet that was painted poorly.
It looked like this after soaking for 24-hours.
Word of note. Super Clean also removes chrome. But is safe on windshield glass, etc.
As Kev's in the UK getting SuperClean isn't going to be cheap.
Yet another google on this subject throws up a suggestion I'd not heard before - soak in bleach - makes sense as it comes in a plastic bottle but not sure the chrome would survive.
Dot 3 brake fluid has been a favourite for many years with R/C guys.