Testing 6 Different Products To Strip Paint From Plastic Models - Plus How To Strip Chrome Plating 

FYI, over the pond here in the UK we modellers use a product called "Dettol" a disinfectant cleaner I believe the same ingredients equivalent of Dettol in USA called Cortane-B. Used undiluted the parts are simply left to soak overnight, rinse with water and scrubbed with an old toothbrush works a treat.

Yes, the Super Clean strips paint just great, it can take some time depending on the paint. It also does a Great job stripping chrome. Takes anywhere from a couple of minutes, to overnight. Some chromes, you can actually watch it come off.

Great Great video brother, this video is soo helpful in soo many ways. Thank you for the fantastic video and please keep em coming. Everyone keep yourselves and love ones safe and healthy.

I had a 1991 gundam model that had been caked in testors white for decades. I immersed it in super clean overnight and it cleaned every part with very little scrubbing needed. Amazing stuff.

I inherited a old Tamiya RC with a hardbody that I wish to repaint. Wasn't sure how I would strip the paint until I came across your video. 🙂 Thank you so much for doing what you do and sharing this with us all.

Crazy, I was stripping chrome off of some motorcycle parts today. I used oven cleaner - good to know that Super Clean can do it all. Thanks for the great information.

Your tests are great and have helped me a lot. This one just reinforces to me why Tamiya paints are my favorite. They are easy to work with no matter what. Thank you!!

Thanks for cutting through all the false opinions and doing a thorough test - this will help me out a lot. Much appreciated.

I've used that non smelling bleach and that works well over night to remove chrome on parts. To take the "fake" look of the chrome parts I have sprayed them with a matte clear. Just enough to take that super shine down a few pegs. Thanks for another great test.

Your shoot out videos, are INVALUABLE! So many modelers, just use their go to products, which is totally fine. The only problem is, they may have went straight to that brand/product, from passed down knowledge. The person they learned it from though, may lack knowledge/experience with everything out there, and/or hasn’t ran tests. Just because the product you use works, doesn’t mean there isn’t possibly a better alternative. Whether that be in price, quality, or both. THANKS for your insightful diligence, in sharing this information… for FREE nonetheless 🙏

Great video and very informative! Super Clean is the clear overall winner. Removes everything, decent value, and you can still use it as a degreaser for other household items. IPA was also impressive, since it's something most of us already have around the house. Get a cheap ultrasonic to do away with any need for scrubbing and get every nook and cranny.

duuude great vid...good tast in music!! I'm a metal head myself!! very helpful thank you!

Super clean it's tried and tested..... it was already a part of my arsenal..

Thanks! there aren't many video that goes through each paint type and options. This is super helpful.

Super Clean has never failed to amaze. I just stripped 20-year, THICK, hand brushed Testors enamel and primer off of a 20 year old 2-part resin cockpit. It was clean to the resin and completely undamaged in 2 hours flat. I really didn't even need the toothbrush.

A great test Rex. Really interesting that it's better not to use the water when brushing off. I use Dettol antiseptic which works really well but a bit expensive, so your alternatives are the way to go for me now. Also for removing chrome, I use basic no name bleach which after a 5 minute soak, lifts all the chrome off. Keep the vids coming mate.

Love this channel. Thorough testing. Excellent. Thanks.

Hello from Canada. Great review. I take a pair of scissors and cut the bristles on a toothbrush to make the bristles stiffer. You can vary by how short you cut them. The shorter the stiffer.

Awesome thank you. I do larger model's. I work on Breyer horses and used heavy duty oven cleaner and soaked it for 3 day's. It barley touched the paint. I think I'll try one of these. 🙂👍

I found your channel about two weeks ago and I love your videos. I was trying to take the chrome off some parts for a kit that I'm currently working on. I went out and bought some super clean and it worked beautifully. 👌 PS: You could put the pieces in a deli meat container. The kind you buy at grocery store instead of deli meat in a plastic bag.

I've only ever had to strip water based acrylic and i had never looked anything up but figured 91 isopropyl would do it because it cleans the airbrush and it did the job really well. Good to see a thorough test though for anything i need to strip in the future.

Very useful video, thank you for taking the time to do that.

Its nice to have options, thanks Rexxy

Thank you Mr. Rex for another very informative/educational video......................................

91-99 IPA and SuperClean have been my go tos for years, mostly the IPA. I have to use SuperClean to get some of the Walthers and Kato model railroad shells clean

Yet another awesome video! Didn't really know what was the best way to remove paint and definitely the way to remove them horrible chrome pieces.

This is so timely for me personally. Thanks for the video.

Super clean is all I use. Was a simple green user for years then switched to super clean and never looked back

Hey Rex, Chris here......I ONLY use 91% and/or 99% Isopropyl alcohol 4 removing my lacquers with no issues at all. It's inexpensive, & works like a charm.........no question!!!!! Very cool video....thanks buddy!!!!!!!!!

Man, I was not expecting to see random cds in the beginning of the video. I was tickled when I saw tge Thream Theater disc and then absolutely giddy when I saw the Testament disc. Dark Roots is an awesome album qnd they are one of my all-time favorite bands! Thanks for the video. 🤘😊🤘

Thank you for this video again, sir. Very helpful.

Thank you very helpful once again

I just got done attempting to strip Tru-Color (acrylic lacquer hybrid) from a model with Super Clean. The areas of mold lines that had been sanded did not come clean, even after several days of soaking. So, I used your test info and tried some 91% alcohol, and with a little elbow grease, got all the rest off, all within an hour - no soaking! No kidding!

So helpful! Thanks for the great work!

Thank you! Saved me lots of time and money.

Hi, I am new to modeling and have learned quite a bit from your videos. Thanks for that. My question is have you done a shootout for tweezers? I have a cheap pair I got with a tool set and I am ready to upgrade. What would you recommend.

I used a sandblast cabinet with fine glass to strip off paint. I used a press regulator to turn the air pressure way down.

Thanks for this video--very helpful!

Again thank you for this test. I have been using the Awsome for many years ,just because of the cost and it's easy to get. I have often wondered how the green and purple stuff would work. With the Awsome I just dump it into a plastic lidded container large enough to float a 1/25 scale car or truck body and let it soak over night. You do have to scrub with a tooth brush under running water and then maybe pick at the door and panel lines with a wooden toothpick. It has taken off everything thatI have tried, new or old paint does not matter. I do reuse it but it does seem to lose its power after awhile

Another GREAT episode! I have been trying to strip an old resin kit for months now, think I'll go get some rubbing alcohol and the purple stuff and give it a go!

Another great topic Sir! Well done.

Super Clean works great

About the Super clean it’s great saw a video where leaving submerged in Tupperware a bath for overnight and then scrub with the toothbrush. It comes right off and he can reuse and reuse.

Interesting!!!! Never thought about this!!!! Good to know!!!! Thank you!!!! 🤔👍😎😀🤘

Nice review as usual, thanks

I use Super clean with Ultrasonic Jewelry cleaner machine about 15 mins does the job. I also use it to clean my 3d printed parts. I have also used Strip Magic from Deluxe but at 13.00 a bottle for 125ml little pricey. As always a great video!!

thanks BR, i have a car body that i need to strip the paint off and redo. The Humbrol Maskol that i used to cover the areas to paint chrome pulled a lot of the paint off the body. When i sprayed over it again with the can paint i was using it got worse looking. might try a little white vinegar and pine oil on some small parts to see if it works. Then redo with my airbrush. Also do you have a video on how you re-chrome parts?

Thank you for another great review. I just tried removing Chrome using bleach, worked great after I left it for half an hour and didn't damage the plastic.

Old modeler's trick (me & others), brake fluid in a closed container (for safety) has been used for decades. Mostly model railroaders. Super Clean has become my replacement, just because I can also clean the toaster oven & microwave!

Awesome review, thank you!

Thank you for for this video!

Have been using 'DOT-3 brake fluid'. It takes 3/4 days with several dips and scrubbings especially if the paint is old. Good on fresh,(less than a week old), paint. Like Pactra, Humbrol and Tamya.

Even though I’m not much of a kit builder, this video was very interesting and entertaining.

I've been using Super Clean for years with great results. You can get it in a gallon jug which is good if you're going to be doing a large piece like a car body.

Super clean is what i use to de-chrome my Tamiya kits

I clumsily used Pactra enamels to camouflage parts of a WW1 biplane kit over 30 years ago. Wanting to do a repaint, I soaked the parts in Purple Power overnight. After a rinse in water, all of the pieces were back to bare plastic and undamaged. It's been my go to stripper ever since.

Adult Oriented Rock, lololol Great music choices, BR! I wrecked a $350 resin kit by stripping it using oven cleaner when I first started out in the hobby, and I now swear by Super Clean or even the cheap no-brand Walmart type stuff, Purple Power. Never had any problems with it. LA's Totally Awesome is tougher to source up here in Maine but it works just as well, too. Another great vid here, chief!

Thank you for this video. I airbrushed a model car body with Tamiya acrylic and I used Super Clean to try to get the paint off. It’s been in it for a week and it still hasn’t removed any of the paint. Really weird? Could it have something to do with how long the paint has been on dried on the model? I’m going to buy the denatured alcohol and the Testors ELO and hopefully it’ll come off. It’s made me leary of airbrushing another model.

Well DONE and thank You!!

Awesome video. Thank you so much for sharing this…..

Super job on this video. 👏

Another great video I liked it ,I never knew some of those cleaners would takeoff the paint and Chrome ,but I do have one question how does all the different paints work on all the pieces that you used different cleaners , does it affect the paints when you paint the pieces or when they dry after painting them , Another question have you tried it on a 1:18 scale car, please let me know sir thank you !

Good Testing. Would have liked to see the test with Alclad II.. I use to use Purple Power but might try Super Clean... Cheers BR !!

i use super clean for everything, including chrome wheels and 3d resin prints, a lil more pricey but it works for all

I've had very good results with both 91% ISP and Super Clean for both paint and chrome removal. A word of caution for using Super Clean - only use a glass or plastic container for soaking parts in. I had an interior tub for a car soaking in Super Clean in a disposable foil pan and the Super Clean ate through the foil, leaked all over and made a big mess. Thanks for this test as well as all of your previous videos.

Here in Oz denatured alcohol is called methylated spirits and that just doesn't work at all on enamel or something like Vallejo water-based. Meths is a good cleaner but not for this purpose. I've also found using thinner and a toothbrush is a no-no as the brush scrapes the plastic. Some swear by brake fluid but I'm not ready to go that far just yet. Thanks for the video.

I've used simple green (the concentrate, not the ready to use), la's totally awesome, and super clean. And of the three, I've come to like super clean the most. using it in a mason jar over night, it strips everything i put in it, including chrome bits, with little to no scrubbing. You can also get it in a gallon jug from walmart for less than $10, and i've reused the same mason jar of the stuff for multiple paint removel sessions. All of them work great in combination with a sonic cleaner though!

@Barbatos Rex have you tried the tamiya paint remover? You brush it on just like that testors Elo you showed in the video. Also it has a mild chemical smell to it, so I use a mask and gloves just to be sure.

Hi Barbatos Rex & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks Barbatos Rex & Friends Randy

Great video, very useful! Now try it after each is varnished, lol. I went through this whole ordeal as well, maybe 3+ years ago, and what I had most trouble with were varnished models/minis and everything that was primed with a Citadel spray. I'm not kidding you, even acetone has difficulty pulling that Citadel spray primer off, and for the life of me, Idky.

how safe is the oven cleaner or the superclean on say, gold plated gundam plastics? will it cause any breakage or make it brittle ?

love the music , i hope you've got you some nightwish in there too. i'm a bit of a metalhead myself 55 yo and still rockin' out. in between models currently on bentley blower 1.12 was painting with brunswick green. on fortunately it only comes in spray cans. i messed up really bad stripped it down with isoprpyl alcahol over about 12 hours. also found tamiya green ( X-5) is almost identical and gives a much fuller look to the paint job. so anyone out there like me x-5 works for brunswick green.

I’ve had a couple of 1 to 10 scale car bodies soaking in LA Awesome for two days now. It’s gently removing all the layers of paint. About 10 of them LOL. Word of warning I was sick to my stomach last night wear a mask and don’t let it get on your hands. By the way I can’t wait for you the rear view that new paint that comes in a box!

Thanks I use to the alcohol on my model came off find I reprime it and now and restart painting my statue thanks to you I didn't know how to paint from it I thought I damage the model life saver 👍

Hello, can you please tell me how to brush tamiya acrylic flat aluminum xf-16 on plastic models? Should I paint the plastic black before? Thinner?

For chrome is use a old Jam-jar for 50% filled with the cheapest bleach i could find here in Spain. Put my 4 wheels in it. Shaked it a few times every 5 minutes and withinn1 hour the were clean as the non-chrome plastic from the kit. And i am using that bleach for over 1 year now,and does still his work as in the beginning. the 25 cents solution for me. For the paint i used the ovencleaner,but not liquid,i used a foam. But the DOT-3 braking oil works also great.

WOW! Thank you!!!

One of my first classes was Fates Warning. Very similar to Dream Theater. Great driving music!

When I was buying some oven cleaner the other day I noticed that there were multiple types, some had lye in it, and obviously required gloves which was what I purchased. But the same company, Easy Off makes one that doesn’t have the Lye in it and I’d imagine it’s less effective. As a rule when you need more protection for your skin, it’s a better cleanser! Of course my concern was for the plastic underneath the chrome and as Lye can get extremely hot when mixed with water I was worried that it may melt the plastic itself. It didn’t, but I am working with a hard and thick wheel from an RC model. If it was a thin plastic it possibly could do damage. So I would always recommend to look at the ingredients in each brand of cleaner to ensure you know what you’re using. It also can kill some brain cells too! Use in a well ventilated area!

Useful info!!!

I was totally shocked at the isopropyl alcohol. As cheap as it is might be my new go to... used the purple pond for years ! But the alcohol appears quicker

I have a Paasche Talon. I bought a quick conector. The quick connector fits the moisture trap, but not the Paasche Talon. Can you point me in the direction of the adapter to join the booth? Your the man sir

I have a question what can you use to take off tamiya polycarbonate spray paint off of a model car

Thanks for the hot tip on getting the fake chrome off. I like the 'chrome' parts provided. But would rather paint them myself. I never knew how.

I just stripped a 'tricky' part (radiator) with 99% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) that had been painted with Mr. Color Lacquer. Soaked 10 min, toothbrush for 5 minutes, PERFECT!

Put in Super Clean before bed and the next morning most stuff is melted off and usually no scrubbing involved. The problem with ELO is that its a 1 use product and then you get to buy more. I have used the same jug of Super Clean for 2 years since I keep it in a Tupperware container. Big spray bottle is like 2.50 at DG.

Oh man I’ve got two spray bottles of the LA’s Totally Awesome, it definitely comes in a spray bottle. And in NYC it’s dirt cheap too.

Tamiya throughout the video: Aight, imma head out

Super Clean work great on chrome as well. Guess I should of watched the entire video before commenting.

Super Clean is my go to product. It doesn't smell and works awesome.

The best remover I found is Brake Fluid. Soak the model overnight in a tub of Brake fluid and the paint comes right off. Then soak the model in soapy water and scrub then you have a like new model ready to paint.

What would you recommend for removing factory paint?

I'm using one called Biostrip 20 which is water based and non toxic. Works well on acrylic paints but not sure on others

I use DOT3 break fluid ... Works really good on acrylics

I would be interested in seeing it with paint over primer, Paint over Putty, and how it affects the plastic itself.

Great test! Especially the Super Clean! But after seeing the oven cleaner eat at the plastic, I'm wondering how the other chemicals affect the brittleness and durability of the plastics. Could you do a test on that? I tried mineral spirits once and that softened the plastic to an unusable state.

Good demo of paint removal. I tried 99% isopropyl alcohol and took about 2hrs to start softening the black paint someone used on this 69 Charger I obtained, not knowing it was painted. However, I think I will get that Testors ELO, and hope it works as with you. How long did you leave parts in it?

This is helpful I grabbed isopropyl alcohol how long should you soak the models?

Great test, thank you. The IPA did the standard paints as good as Testers, better than the Super Clean, I wounder how IPA would do on the chrome.

Tamiya makes a paint remover as well. I haven't had problems with it on tamiya plastic. I used it on a Meng kit and it ate the plastic I don't know why it did that?