Anonymouse:
Afternoon all,
Since I didn’t know quite where to post this, I thought this would be the right place. Mods, please move it to the appropriate sub-forum if I’ve misplaced this.
So in my ongoing quest to find a cure for the Already Painted Mini Disease, I’ve heard people promoting brakefluid or nailpolish remover or similar things. Since I do not paint my nails (apart from that one time but that was on a dare) nor have a working car, and am flat-out broke, I plundered my cupboards and found out that using an old toothbrush (Surgeon-Generals’ Warning: Resist any temptation of using toothbrush afterwards!) with ordinary detergent and toothpaste works wonders.
Yes, now you too can have minty-smelling plastic figurines, their previous paintjob removed up until the basecoat or even the bare plastic! Not only will you save several bucks by not having to buy cheap alternative paint-removers (which you can spend on life’s essential products such as coffee), all your minis will now have a waft of pepperminty goodness surrounding them!
Conclusion: Huh. I never thought it would work. 
Grimstonefire:
Dare I ask how you figured out using toothpaste would work?
GRNDL:
Toothpaste has abrasives in it, so why wouldn’t it work? Also, lots of modellers use polishing compounds of a similar consistency to toothpaste with abrasives in it to clean up or polish plastic components before assembly, so its not that weird.
Anonymouse:
@ Grimstonefire: you may dare. Exactly because of the reason GRNDL gave: I figured that since it is nothing more than a minty abrasive polishing paste, it would be worth a try. I don’t know how much time the other options will take, but per figure I spent about 5 minutes of scrubbing. If I would use a new and stiff-haired brush, I think I can shave a few minutes off that.
Tarrakk Blackhand:
Don’t use nail polish remover or brake fluid on your plastic models. There will be nothing left of them. Try it on a test piece of sprue if you don’t believe me.
snowblizz:
brake fluid on your plastic models. There will be nothing left of them. Try it on a test piece of sprue if you don't believe me.
Tarrakk Blackhand
I guess that depends on the break fluid then... because I've used it and I've seen other's who have without it damaging plastics.
After all isn't it carried around in rubber/plastic hoses in the car?
Anonymouse:
Don't use nail polish remover or brake fluid on your plastic models. There will be nothing left of them. Try it on a test piece of sprue if you don't believe me.
Tarrakk Blackhand
True: aceton would destroy plastic models, but some other gamers swear by what i believe is brake fluid (I want to say Solyent Green but since that's made of people, the name will probably be different).
Mainly because the risk of my plastic figures melting to a small puddle if I would have used terpentine, I thought toothpaste could work. There's a certain abrasive soap, specially designed to clean mechanics' greasy hand, but since I couldn't get that, toothpaste was a pretty good second :)
Ishkur Cinderhat:
Wow, toothpaste, now that’s new. Any particular brand you want to recommend?
Old One Eye:
After all isn't it carried around in rubber/plastic hoses in the car?
snowblizz
NO they are usually carried in steel tubing with a rubber exterior
for any parts that move frequently it will be a metal braiding with a rubber exterior
thought it would be useful
O.O.E
cornixt:
True: aceton would destroy plastic models, but some other gamers swear by what i believe is brake fluid (I want to say Solyent Green but since that's made of people, the name will probably be different)
Anonymouse
I believe you are thinking of Simple Green, which is not made of people (I hope)
Anonymouse:
@Ishkur: I personally have the cheapest brand, which is a bit coarser in texture. I would say that it doesn’t depend on the brand, but on the amount of abrasive materials in the paste.
As far a the paint goes: i used GW’s. Depending on the quality of the paints used, I found it very easy to wash away the upper layer but leave the black basecoat intact, VERY useful when I want to try out a new colourscheme. I can imagine Vellejo or other brands are more/less easy to scrub away. Removing the basecoat as well took a bit more work but was pretty quick too. Side-note: wash your hands AND minis thoroughly afterwards. Especially if you roll your own cigarettes, like I do. It might seem you have washed your hands/minis well enough, but the sensation of menthol-flavoured rolled cigarettes when you weren’t expecting it did put me off.
@ cornixt: Thank you! Simple Green, that’s the bunny! The reason i didn’t try that out is because I have no idea if I can get it here (Holland/Belgium/Germany)
Servius:
Simple green is ok… but slow as crap and have found that some sealers are neigh immune to its processes… DOT 3 Brake Fluid is good for pewters but will if not babysat, melt your plastics.
Willmark:
Nail Polish remover + toothbursh works well for metal minis just fine.
Toothpaste eh? nice.
saurus:
Wow, toothpaste, now that's new. Any particular brand you want to recommend? :)
Ishkur Cinderhat
Well the best really is 'Colgate Total + Whitening' as this is not only a excellent and total paint stripper, but also base coats your model at the same time. But 'Colgate Minty Freshness ' wil also work and make you win 'best smelling army' at any tournament. :cheers
'McCleans Tarter Control' also works for those who wish to spend less money, just becareful if you bought you model secondhand as children love to suck on miniatures and breaking down too much tarter could ultimately damage the model. :o
Stay away from Nicorette toothpaste as this is really just hydroclauric acid in disguise. :mad
Homebrand or budget toothpaste may not work as it could just be water or urine. Use your own discretion here. :~
saurus
Anonymouse:
@ Saurus: 
This message was automatically appended because it was too short.
Willmark:
Wow, toothpaste, now that's new. Any particular brand you want to recommend? :)
Ishkur Cinderhat
Well the best really is 'Colgate Total + Whitening' as this is not only a excellent and total paint stripper, but also base coats your model at the same time. But 'Colgate Minty Freshness ' wil also work and make you win 'best smelling army' at any tournament. :cheers
'McCleans Tarter Control' also works for those who wish to spend less money, just becareful if you bought you model secondhand as children love to suck on miniatures and breaking down too much tarter could ultimately damage the model. :o
Stay away from Nicorette toothpaste as this is really just hydroclauric acid in disguise. :mad
Homebrand or budget toothpaste may not work as it could just be water or urine. Use your own discretion here. :~
saurus
saurus
Slaves are definitely needed for that.
Bolg:
Thanx Anonymouse! I’m always on a budget so every cheap ass trick is great (:
Anonymouse:
No worries Bolg: since you’re from Holland, I recommend the toothpaste you can buy at the Lidl: coarse, cheap and of course mint-a-licious.
Ronshank:
This definately ticks the safest method box! It goes down drains and smells minty fresh rather than like a chemical spill. I especially like that the cheapest stuff works best. Woo hoo something to save money on!
