Miniature Rehab

Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.

Stripping Miniatures with Simple Green

I often see questions on social media forums asking about how to strip miniatures and Simple Green always comes up. I use it, and I decided to document this process to refer to it later when it inevitably comes up again.

Basically, you just need to get a jug of concentrated Simple Green and then soak your miniatures in it for a day or two and scrub them with a toothbrush to clean them up.

In these pictures I used a set of 4 miniatures I picked up at my FLGS that were already painted/primed in some black paint. I think they were just spray painted black. Simple Green works great for removing paint from metal or plastic miniatures and it’s easy to find at large hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot.

 

Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.

As you can see, a soak in concentrated Simple Green for 24 to 48 hours cleaned off the majority of the paint after a bit of scrubbing with a toothbrush. It’s just that easy…

The Viking Horde, Revealed…

I had no idea these were viking looking Norse guys. Stripping the black paint off these really revealed the details and now I can’t wait to prime them in white, paint them up, glue them together and finish them off.

Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.
Stripping Paint from Miniatures with Simple Green. Click to Enlarge.

Retouching the Witch

I decided to retouch the flesh tones on my Reaper Miniatures Vampiress. Just one lightly thinned coat of Citadel Pallid Wych Flesh over the Nuln Oil washed layer of the same paint from when I’d first painted it.

Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.
Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.
Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.
Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.
Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.
Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.
Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.
Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.
Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.
Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.
Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.
Reaper Vampiress Retouch. Click to Enlarge.

Previously she looked really dark. Her tone is now lighter and cleaner, but I’m lacking detail in the hand and feet that I had before from the wash. I will have to try giving just a localized wash on those areas to get definition.

Glass pots from the beauty store. Click to Enlarge.
Glass pots from the beauty store. Click to Enlarge.

Another score from my secret craft supply spot; the beauty supply store. These little glass pots are meant for nail technicians in beauty salons but I thought they’d make great little paint pots.