I recently reclaimed my model kits from 15-20 years ago. One of my kits an A-6E Intruder was taped together with scotch tape during a mock-up. Unfortunately the 15 year old residue remains. How can I remove it without damaging the plastic? I don’t think using acetone or mineral spirits would be a good move.
I’d say with another bit of tape (gluing the glue, sort of) and all the remaining with isopropylic alcohol on a cotton swab. Here in France we have a kind of product to eliminate the remaining of band aids on skin, with a tiny amount of ether ( so you can’t “take off” sniffing it, as with pure ether ). I would never use acetone (neither removing glue, nor putting my nose on it ).
I don’t know what it’ll do to your model’s plastic (probably nothing?) but I have a product called “goo gone” that specializes is un-gunking adhesives from price tags and tape, etc… It’s available from many discount and hardware stores. Be advised: I’ve never actually used it myself but hear that it can discolour surfaces slightly yellow. For a plastic model part you’ll need to prime and/or paint it anway, so the difference should be minimal.
Goo gone works well, Ive used it to clean up canopies that I masked with BMF. To date I havent had one yellow or discolor.
Goo gone is amazing. Relatively cheap, and 1 bottle will last ya forever… Awesome stuff.
A word of caution - Goo Gone comes in a plastic squeeze bottle and works very well. However, there is a product out there called Goo Off which comes in a metal can (and is often on the shelf right next to the Goo Gone and is a little cheaper) - DON’T get or use the Goo-Off! It will wrinkle/craze plastic instantly.
I gotta concur with the rest, Goo Gone is great stuff. It’s a natural, citric acid based product so not caustic or harmful to plastic. I’ve used it a few times on both bare and painted plastic with no problems. Haven’t had the staining or yellowing issues either.
I would say 91% isopropyl alcohol would work well. If not spray some Easy-Off oven cleaner on it (yellow can) as it will take off most anything and won’t harm the plastic. Super Clean degreaser works even better.