How can i remove paint and marker from a figure?

[star35]

I picked up a hoth snow trooper which is covered in silver paint, I only bought it for the cape for my almost mint one. The cape has one spec of silver paint on and the figure has it on the top half of his body.

Could I remove this and if so how?

Ive also got a storm trooper that's in ok condition apart from some yellowing of the limbs which I can cope with. The one thing that frustrates me about it is that it has someone's initials on each foot. Ive tried to remove it with rubbing alcohol but its not done anything, is there anything else I can try with out ruining the figure?

Thanks in advance

 

[Pomse2001]

Hi mate, wrong place to ask about this

on this link we talk about cleaning figures, reapair etc. etc. http://www.starwarsforum.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=16

I have triede a few products to remove paint and ink, but so far I have not found anything that can remove it all

Maybe some other members know better products than me :?:

Pictures could also be great :wink:

 

[JuniorChubb]

Removing paint is a bitch...

If something is strong enough to remove unwanted paint then it is usually strong enough to take of the factory paint too. Not so much of an issue with a Hoth Stormie as they are cast in white.

Just be careful you don't melt the plastic with an industrial strength paint stripper :shock:

 

[Pomse2001]

Removing paint is a bitch...

If something is strong enough to remove unwanted paint then it is usually strong enough to take of the factory paint too. Not so much of an issue with a Hoth Stormie as they are cast in white.

Just be careful you don't melt the plastic with an industrial strength paint stripper :shock:

Any links to what we can use ?

 

[JuniorChubb]

Try the basics first...

Baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar, dettol, fairy power spray, oven cleaners, strong detergents etc. Start weak and slowly get stronger. Using a blade can also help to lift the paint up a bit.

Avoid the strong paint strippers you can buy from the DIY store, they might not harm metal or wood but could seriously disfigure a Star Wars figure, just like that gut who fell in the toxic vat in Robocop. :wink:

If you want a bit more info search for removing (or stripping) paint from plastic Warhammer minatures. These guys know there stuff as it painting is what they do.

If trying something new just be cautious.

Edit: Just to add, this looks promising... Just sign the disclaimer before any Hoth Stormies get melted :wink:

http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Paint-from-Metal-and-Plastic-Models-with-Dettol

 

[jay4]

you tend to find with ink on the soles of feet or infact most places on the figures will be very deeply rooted now and deeply stained so almost impossible to remove short of hacking his feet off

 

[JuniorChubb]

Ink is a bitch because it sinks in and stains the plastic, a definite life sentence...

If I remember rightly me and Mumbo had a few figures marked with a bit of mums nail varnish under the feet, that should come of with a bit of remover which could be an idea for removing paint, an acetone based nail polish remover.

Try it on a beater first though :?

 

[Pomse2001]

I have more than 10 figs with ink that I have not been lucky to remove all of it yet

Even stormtroopers and hoth stormies are not easy

 

[fuzzybuzzytoys]

As some might remember, I had amassive result removing ink form a Yak Face once...and its dead easy

Buy some OXO spot remover. Smother the stain with it and place under UV light for 12 hours. Clean it off and repeat until the stain is gone

It really works!

 

[Pomse2001]

Thanks

 

[fuzzybuzzytoys]

Should have said, avoid any paintwork and it will also come clean off

 

[JuniorChubb]

Can't beat a bit of first hand experience :wink:

 

[jay4]

Should have said, avoid any paintwork and it will also come clean off

prob with that then is especially in the case of feet near all of them are painted

 

[Pomse2001]

Well if it works on stormtroopers and hoth stormies then I am very happy. What about capes for hoth stormie can I also use it on that ?

 

[fuzzybuzzytoys]

Yup

The OXY-10 is a very strong absorbant. So imagine it pulling the ink out of the figure. So yeah, should be good for capes

The Yakface took 4 or 5 applications

 

[Pomse2001]

Thanks again mate for the help, I will try that

 

[Doomseeker]

Depending on how brave you are. ...oven cleaner!!!
I picked up a hoth stormtrooper that had been painted head to toe with black enamel paint. I dropped it in a sealable sandwich bag, sprayed in some oven cleaner, left it overnight, took a scrubbing brush to it, all the enamel paint came off leaving the factory applied paint intact.

 

[star35]

Thanks very much for all the advice everyone. I will certainly try some of the suggestions although I have already tried nail polish remover and didn't shift any of the marker at all sadly.

 

[JuniorChubb]

What about a heat gun? great tool for removing paint... :wink: