Alcohol paint removal on Lifelike engines?

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Sometimes it does, but Brake Fluid works better & faster. Some paint won't come off if it's a real old unit. When you use brake fluid, only leave it completely submerged for about 12 hrs. & then take a coarse fiber brush & try to brush the paint off. If it all doesen't come off try the BF again. I put 4 pints of the cheap WM brand in a plastic shoe box & angle the box up on it's edge so the shell is completely covered. Then I lay the lid on the box. That makes the BF work faster. By all means you have to do this outdoors.
I just stripped about 10 engines in 10 days. Most were Athearn & 1 was a Lifelike & 1 was an AHM. The LL & the AHM were the problem shells.
 
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I use brake fluid exclusively. I do not immerse the shell, but just paint the BF on the outside where the paint is to come off. The inside of the shell does not need the brake fluid. Plastic handrails do not do well in brake fluid so extra care is needed if using brake fluid on those. As the paint softens I then use the tooth brush method to remove the paint. It takes awhile but the result of not having a brittle plastic shell is well worth the extra care.

Cheers
Willis
 




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