I have been looking through, and I would love to do a repaint of various models. However do you strip them first? Can you strip them first? If you can, what do you guys strip them with?

I am an experienced hobbyist, however I don't know the actual models that well, so any and all insight would be great.

I feel that in most of the conversations with painters here, we don't bother stripping. I've soaked figs in Simple Green and gone at them with a toothbrush, and *maybe* a little wash would come off but nothing significant.

As long as you keep your paint thin, you can paint right over the out-of-box paintjobs without destroying the detail.

As long as you keep your paint thin, you can paint right over the out-of-box paintjobs without destroying the detail.

That is what I need to know really; does the detail disappear?

Use a primer. Black, grey or white...

As long as you keep your paint thin, you can paint right over the out-of-box paintjobs without destroying the detail.

That is what I need to know really; does the detail disappear?

No, granted you keep the paint thin.

I have stripped the ships in the past (my go-to for stripping is Super Clean) but it generally isn't worth the hassle. You can paint directly over the factory paint job, but I prefer to give it a coat of primer to cover the factory paint and start from a fresh slate.

When it comes to aerosol primers, I use Tamiya Fine Surface Primer, which in my opinion, is one of the best available.

No need to strip or prime, the original paint is as good a primer as anything. I have repainted lots of these and you dont lose detail unless you use a heavy coat of paint.. keep it thin and multiple layers and you will be fine.

As good as the original paint it, you DO risk clogging details by painting over it. I personally recommend soaking the model in brake fluid; simple green and purple power are great for removing Citadel paints like what GW uses, but brake fluid barely bothers it; it's the other way around for the X-Wing models.

My proof:

I would probably want to strip them first, however I just want a feel for what the community tends to agree. Any pictures of un-stripped models vs stripped models?

The one I posted was the only one that wasn't totally washed-out by the flash. It's also after I stripped my black primer; once the original paint comes off, you get a bright white plastic (with a small hint of yellow) and MUCH sharper definition of the details. I even GAINED details from my X-Wing!

I have yet to try a TIE Fighter; I don't know if I'm going to leave them as-is, or use them to make Y-TIEs.

You do not need to strip them, as others have said, the paint is very thine and works as a primer for new color.

I do think you should wash them in hot water and simple green or Windex and gently scrub them with a soft toothbrush.

After you have painted them you should coat them with a good sealer like dull cote.

While that's true, Joe - as stated, painting over old paint CAN increase the odds of clogging up detail. So...it really depends on your skill level and the kinds of paints you're using.

I have painted over the old paint, with primer first and just on top of the old paint - but never stripped the old paint first - and it works fine and looks great.

I've never stripped any of mine and they all came out great after repainting. The only one I think might need stripping is the A-wing, because the panel line details are not as deep as on most other minis, so after painting there's less of a groove for a wash to seep in. A few of my models have really thick, gloppy factory wash (I guess it wasn't thinned enough or something), I haven't repainted those ships, but if I did I would probably try stripping them first.

I highly recommend washing them first with some dish soap or something similar.

I've never stripped any of mine and they all came out great after repainting. The only one I think might need stripping is the A-wing, because the panel line details are not as deep as on most other minis, so after painting there's less of a groove for a wash to seep in. A few of my models have really thick, gloppy factory wash (I guess it wasn't thinned enough or something), I haven't repainted those ships, but if I did I would probably try stripping them first.

I highly recommend washing them first with some dish soap or something similar.

Yeah you need one of the GREENS: Simple, Mean, Super... or Windex.

A-Wings are one of the odd early ships.

Tamiya lacquer thinner works great . I like a fresh start when I start a repaint

I stripped a few of mine in this heavy duty dish degreaser and ended up with gummy paint residue that I had to scrape off. For other models I gave them a soak in Simple Green and a quick toothbrushing with an old brush under warm water.

I wanted to remove the factory top layers and washes since I don't know what their washes are composed of. Acrylic washes will dry pretty hard but cheap washes can reconstitute when you get them wet (like with a wet paint brush). I don't want that stuff in my paint pots so I like to remove them.

I use $3.50 Krylon gray primer from Walmart after that.

As good as the original paint it, you DO risk clogging details by painting over it. I personally recommend soaking the model in brake fluid; simple green and purple power are great for removing Citadel paints like what GW uses, but brake fluid barely bothers it; it's the other way around for the X-Wing models.

As good as the original paint it, you DO risk clogging details by painting over it. I personally recommend soaking the model in brake fluid; simple green and purple power are great for removing Citadel paints like what GW uses, but brake fluid barely bothers it; it's the other way around for the X-Wing models.

How long did you soak for? I'm trying to strip a Rebel Aces B-wing since it has such stark markings that will be hard to cover with a light-colored basecoat. 18 hours in Simple Green did nothing, and so far 8 in brake fluid and some brushing has only loosened half the wash.

Might need to do an overnight soak in brake fluid. Leave the container in the sun if you can, heat speeds up the process.

Might need to do an overnight soak in brake fluid. Leave the container in the sun if you can, heat speeds up the process.

As stated by myself and others.. stripping is not necessary. I have repainted many of these and never had a loss of detail and the original paint makes a good primer...

I have had loss of detail, on the skirt of a Firespray (which I primed over & painted) and on the front sides of a HWK (which I just painted over). The panel lines are very fine there, and aren't deep enough to take a good amount of wash with all those other layers in them. Plus the Dagger Squadron markings on the Rebel Aces B-wing are stark maroon-and-black-on-white and will probably need extra layers of paint-over if I leave them on. It seemed like a good time to try stripping for once. :/

We obviously had different results then.. my firespray is primed after I decided to start from scratch, and then repainted over again, I still have great detail in those areas..

Many here have been repainting these and I know some local folks doing it as well.. I feel more are not worrying about removing the thin ... almost non existant original paint and just overpainting these models. I also see some of our kore professional painters here recommending not stripping as well...

Personally, I feel there is no need.. I've been painting since ... ya know.. it doesn't matter... everyone is goint to do what they want... some will be doing it one way or the other.. knock yourself out... I know what I'm doing on my next one... and it will be awesome...

Good night kids..

There can be a lot of difference in the amount of paint and wash from model to model.

I have some with very heavy washes and some with very light washes.

So yes some do need to be striped or at least partly striped.

I recommend if you plan on doing a repaint have a good look through available stock and pick up the one with the least amount of wash.

Save your self the pain of trying to strip.

Just my two cents....

I appreciate the advice. Really. I always did (and still do) think stripping was usually unnecessary, and never planned on doing it regularly.

There can be a lot of difference in the amount of paint and wash from model to model.

I have some with very heavy washes and some with very light washes.

So yes some do need to be striped or at least partly striped.

I have tried both striping first ( to bare plastic with brake fluid), striping only the wash (with a simple green equivalent) and no striping.

Given the results on my unstripped B-Wing:

compared to my striped one, especially around the cockpit, engine area, I decided to at least strip the black wash on all my models.

The y-wings especially have heavy washes.