Question

[1994]

How do you make acrylic paint come off of a scale train made of plastic?

 

[brianel027]

Welcome to the Forum 1994. You need to be a little more specific on your intentions. I am assuming this is a modern made kind of train, which would mean the plastic is probably styrene. If it were an older one from the postwar years of Lionel, chances are good it could be Bakelite. Also by scale, do you mean one of the newer Lionel/K-Line/Atlas/MTH cars that are more scale in proportion and have more intricate detail? Is the car made by MTH, because that will be an entirely different challenge since MTH puts their paint on so it is almost impossible to strip easily?

Also is this acrylic paint brushed on and only covering part of the train item? Do you wish to leave as much of the orginal paint intact or do you wish to strip the shell entirely?

There are differing courses of action depending on your desired end result. I do what can only be described as a tremendous amount of repainting. I know all my locomotives have now been repainted and at last count above 60% of the rolling stock had been entirely or partially repainted. So I can probably help you,. but more specifics would be inorder. Thanks.

[More to restore]

Welcome 1994!

As Brianel already pointed out that more information is highly desirable. Most acrylic paints are water borne (although there are also a few industrial acrylic coatings based on ethanol and isopropanol) and therefore immersion in water (or even better an aqueous detergent solution) and light brushing will get it off. However, postwar-red paint will also dissolve in water and metal parts -that could be present- rust in water, so some consideration of what type of paint and what type of substrate is indeed important.
Greetings
Egbert

[andregg1]

Hi
Welcome to the forum!
I use break fluid, because is cheap, non smell and doesn't attack the plastic.
Andre.

[phillyreading]

andregg1,

I am not that sure about break fluid as I know it will attack the paint but what about the plastic?  Not all model train companies used the same grade of plastic over the years.  I work on cars occasionally and break fluid does have a smell to it, not as strong as gasoline but there is a smell.

Be sure not to spill the break fluid as it is slippery on a floor, will strip paint off almost any surface too.

Lee F.