Removing acrylic paint

[Jaime]

I'm not happy with how the finish is turning out on my 1/72 Henschel 123 as the brush applied acrylic paint has gone on too thick - does anyone have any tips on how to remove it so I can start again?

[iggie]

Oven cleaning fluid or brake fluid is said to do well (I've never tried either) , otherwise how about sanding it back and if needed re-scribe any panel lines

[DavidWomby]

Try ammonia or even Windex (window cleaning fluid containing ammonia). It should soften acrylic paint.

David

[Jaime]

Thanks fellas. Everything's raised on this old kit so nothing to scribe.

This is what I did anyway:

1. Dipped a cotton bud in airbrush acrylic thinner (Revell Aqua Color) & rubbed onto the painted surface till it started to break up & peel. This really just serves to soften the paint & doesn't get it all off, so;
2. I put a small drop of washing up liquid on an old soft toothbrush then scrubbed the softened area under running warm water. This also doesn't get everything off, so;
3. Again under running hot water, scraped away at stubborn paint with a cocktail stick (went through a few) until it was all gone except for paint that is effectively sanded into the plastic.

It took me about an hour but all those lovely old rivets and raised panel lines that I'd obliterated are now visible again and I'm glad I did it.

Time to start painting again now!