Partial Paint Removal On A Die-cast

[FUSIONBOY]

I have bought a couple of the "American Graffitti" die-casts at Wal-greens and like the paint job on the car , but not the AG branding they have stuck on the 1/4 panels.

any ideas on how to remove the AG logo and not ruin the paint underneath?

[Jairus]

91% rubbing alcohol and a "Q" tip.

If that doesn't do it... then emerge the whole bloody thing in the alcohol and wait.... but not too long!

[Phil Patterson]

I've had good luck using my daughter's finger nail polish remover to remove tampo printing on diecasts. You have to be careful on any raised edges, but it does a pretty good job.

I removed all the Coke emblems, panels and striping on a Johnny Lightning 57 Ford courier, leaving a nice white paint job.

[chris coffey]

i am really tempted to try out aircraft stripper on diecast, just to see if it hurts the metal. i would presume it wouldn't, as i have used this volitile stuff on aluminum, and pot metal with no ill effects. And yes, i have used it on plastic, it does take off the paint, and MELTS everything under it!!!!!

[ismaelg]

i am really tempted to try out aircraft stripper on diecast, just to see if it hurts the metal. i would presume it wouldn't, as i have used this volitile stuff on aluminum, and pot metal with no ill effects. And yes, i have used it on plastic, it does take off the paint, and MELTS everything under it!!!!!

Chris,

I used aircraft stripper on this Maisto Ferrari 550 Maranello and in less than 20 seconds it looked like this:

Scary, but hosing it off revealed a squeaky clean metal body.

Of course after all the bodywork effort and just ready for paint, Fujimi released the kit But that's another story

[Lownslow]

i learned not to strip them to bare metal i sand them down with 600 to level it out then lay the paint on them

[FUSIONBOY]

Thanks for all the feedback, I'm gonna give the 91% alcohol trick a whirl, I use it on my R/C trucks to clean them up.

Fantastic paint work on the lincoln, I've stripped metal bodies down with spray on stripper I bought at Wally world and it worked just like in the Ferrari pics. Also learned that You don't scrub the paint off while not wearing a shirt , very painful chemical burns ensue.

[Aaronw]

I've heard non-acetone nail polish works well too, its supposed to remove the detail paint and leave the base paint alone.

Edited December 17, 2007 by Aaronw

[Toast]

Oooh! Squeaky clean indeed. Where would one pick up some aircraft stripper? I've been using "easy off" but that takes forever and never gets into all the nooks and crannies.

Edited December 17, 2007 by Toast

[FUSIONBOY]

Well a little update on the removal front. the logo laughed at the alcohol, it all but evaporated on the second swipe of the Q-tip using the non-acetone nail polish remover, also goes to show how long i've been married and how well my wife knows me, i asked if she had any nail polish remover and she told me where it was and no other questions asked, I have told i'm a modelholic and she's my enabler

[Dragon7665]

Oooh! Squeaky clean indeed. Where would one pick up some aircraft stripper? I've been using "easy off" but that takes forever and never gets into all the nooks and crannies.

The Majority of well stocked Auto Parts/Hardware/Etc Stores carry it over on their paint isles, towards the bottom of the shelves. There is also an Easier to use Aerosol version as well(Usually found right next to the large gel cans).

WARNING!!! PLEASE USE IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA, WHILE WEARING/USING PROPER EQUIPTMENT(GOGGLES,GLOVES,ACID BRUSH, AND POSSIBLY A RESPERATOR FACE MASK!!)!!! PLEASE BE SURE TO READ INSTRUCTIONS ON CAN THROUGHOLY BEFORE USE, AND ALWAYS REPLACE LID IMMEDIATELY AFTER USE (if gel type).

[62rebel]

being a Modelaholic beats the daylights out of being most any OTHER kind of "holic" and the "enabler" doesn't USUALLY have to come bail you out of jail at 3:00 am because you stayed up building models all night!

BTW: i almost had a heart attack when that maranello pic came up.... then i realized it was a metal body kit! (WHEW!)

i stripped and repainted a couple of well-enjoyed Matchbox cars a few years back; whatever paint Matchbox used was very good while it lasted! (yeah, i know that ruined the collector value...)

[Robert81]

Oooh! Squeaky clean indeed. Where would one pick up some aircraft stripper? I've been using "easy off" but that takes forever and never gets into all the nooks and crannies.

I don't know where you are, but a few years ago I worked at a detailer/aluminum polishing shop. We used a product called "Tal-Strip" aircraft paint stripper, to remove the cleat coat from wheels before polishing. It can in a liquid and a spray. The spray is easier to use. And yes neoprene gloves and safety classes are a must, as with any corrosive chemical.

We got it from an auto-parts store.

[FUSIONBOY]

One last update, 2nd kit opened and it also has the AG brand but only on the left 1/4 panel, same as on the first kit I tried this on. non-acetone remover worked great.

To confirm yes it was dumb using the striper w/no shirt on, I did have on glasses, and thick rubber gloves. the spray on stripper i bought came from wally worlds paint section over in the supply section along with gloves and sand paper.

Thanks for all the feed back

[Biscuitbuilder]

i am really tempted to try out aircraft stripper on diecast, just to see if it hurts the metal. i would presume it wouldn't, as i have used this volitile stuff on aluminum, and pot metal with no ill effects. And yes, i have used it on plastic, it does take off the paint, and MELTS everything under it!!!!!

Aircraft grade paint stripper is the stuff to use on diecast, it's made for non-ferrous, works every time.

For stripping Tampo printing and "spray masked" second-third colors on diecast, enamel thinner, lacquer thinner, 91% Isopropyl all work quickly, and won't hurt the underlying base color, as that is baked on.

Biscuitbuilder