I am sure most of you know this already , but I have just read about using bleach to remove paint of old models
I have been restoring an Impala Mk 2 (Macchi MB 326 K). I just left the plane in a container of undiluted bleach for 14 hours and it looked like this
I then sanded the paint residue off with 1500 wet paper and it is nice and smooth again.
The resin bits seem to be un-affected by the bleach.
Theuns
Depending on the paint used, bleach can do some interesting things to a model. Try some household cleaning powders (Ajax, etc) with bleach in them for some fun weathering- sprinkle some on, wet it and start a mild scrubbing action and then rinse it clean with water. If you’re careful it can look like heavy wear down through layers of paint but it really is hit or miss.
Cool idea! I forgot to mention the model was painted with Humbrol enamels.
I have completed the sanding and I am very happy with the result. The oven cleaner trick just plainly did not work for me.
When the plane was in the bleach I could see tiny bubbles forming all over the surface. Must be the chemicals reacting with the paint and desolving it.
Theuns