rebuiling models

im rebuilding my fujimi 180sx and was wondering the best way to get all the paint and glue off the body. it was one of my first kits and it has a few layers of paint (cuz i didnt know how to paint). ive heard brake fluid works, but i dont want to try incase it eats the plastic.

Soaking it in Castrol Super Clean usually gets the paint off, unless it's Laquer. Just put the parts in a tub of CSC adn let it soak, then use a toothbrush to get it off, adn rinse it off in soap and water. And I think I heard mineral spirits disolve glue. DO NOT get it on your hands, however, just wear rubber gloves when handleing the stuff. I still have a 1mm deep crater in my thumb, ate through 2 or 3 layers of skin!

i use some thinner on a rag and smear it on, then sand with wet dry sand the thinner on the car just like water. it works like a champ.

for paint i use nailpolish remover & it works fine

If you absolutely must rebuild an already built model I'd go the way Future Boy described. However, and I'm not trying to be a smart ass, why not just get a new kit and start completely over? It would be a lot easier, the parts would all be in better shape and the kit would come out better. My guess is you're wanting to rebuild it since your skills have improved since you did it? Then why comprimise the benefits of your new skills by using substandard parts from an old kit? There will be glue marks and nicks and cuts and uneveness throughout, and it will be a pain to get back to new quality. And, as an added bonus, you'll get to compare your old model to your new, side by side. Then you can really see the fruits of your labor.

I say get a new kit and start fresh. Save yourself a headache, and take push your skills to the limit by building, not taking apart.

use either Castrol Super Clean or Easy Off oven cleaner, BUT YOU MUST WEAR GLOVES. very hazzardous stuff

There is nothing wrong with taking apart and rebuilding old kits, I'm restoring a Johan 62 Dodge Dart Vert and a AMT 70 Ford Galaxie right now. but of course there both 35 year old kits that arent in production anymore.

i use some thinner on a rag and smear it on, then sand with wet dry sand the thinner on the car just like water. it works like a champ.

You are joking right? :screwy:
Applying thinner to a model is the best way I know to ruin it really fast. ITs possible if you wipe really fast it may work somewhat but if you mess up and leave it too long it will etch the plastic so bad you will have a real mess.
Use either CSC or Brake Fluid, they are both reliable methods

You are joking right? :screwy:
Applying thinner to a model is the best way I know to ruin it really fast. ITs possible if you wipe really fast it may work somewhat but if you mess up and leave it too long it will etch the plastic so bad you will have a real mess.
Use either CSC or Brake Fluid, they are both reliable methods

it wont mess up the plastic not if you just put it on a rag in small amounts and then wipe it on and sand for about 2 mins and wash it off. it dont take much thinner at all to wipe off paint. just work fast and wash it with water and then repeat it after about 20 mins.

i have left thinner on a model body for 2 days nothing happened except the paint came off and it was fine after that. but yea, could be my cheapo thinner

You are joking right? :screwy:
Applying thinner to a model is the best way I know to ruin it really fast. ITs possible if you wipe really fast it may work somewhat but if you mess up and leave it too long it will etch the plastic so bad you will have a real mess.
Use either CSC or Brake Fluid, they are both reliable methods
:iagree:

Why poison yourself with thinner if you don't have to? CSC works much, much better, and thinner does eat plastic. Yeah, it's possible to get lucky that one mixture of thinner may not attack one formulation of plastic as quickly as others, but as a rule, thinner will attack plastic. CSC is a much better option. My auto parts store doesn't actually carry CSC, but it has another generic variety, called 'purple power', I think. Same stuff. Incredible how well it works. Eats the paint right of, leaves the plastic completely clean.

But then again, why rebuild when you can build something new?

Rebuilding is a great idea for people, like myself. I can't really afford new models right now, but since I found this fantastick forum and got some new and creatinve ideas, it is possible and acceptible for me to rebiuld some of my models, so next time I show them to somebody I won't be embaresed by the crappy job or no taste selection of body work.

I will start rebiulding my models as soon as I am done remodeling in the house. Here my projects:
E34 M5, 3 of ITR, C5 corvette, C5 Racing Edition will be converted into something New, March III Corvertte, Dodge Ram pickup, Chevy C3500, VW Bettle Cup and some others.

yeah thats why im rebuilding them. cuz the first time they turned out pretty crap and i wasnt satisfied with them. also because im doing a sil80 conversion because the back of the silvia is broken and the front of the 180 doesnt look that good with the engine. but i might take willimo's suggestion and buy a new kit because it wont turn out that good.anyways thanks for the help, it was exactly what i was lokking for