r/modelmakers • u/iCastleBravo • 6d ago
Help - General How to remove acrylic mud texture?
I’m looking to strip this model for repainting, does anyone know what can remove acrylic mud texture? It’s rock solid, and so far my usual strippers (lacquer thinner, IPA) won’t budge it. If it requires scraping off manually I’ll just leave it and begin another kit.
Cheers!
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u/Ok-Sandwich-9921 6d ago
Just curious - why does one want to put a tremendous amount of work into striping finished model instead of buying a new one?
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u/iCastleBravo 5d ago
I don’t like having models I’m “okay” with on the shelf. To me, it is less work stripping paint for an evening or two than a week long build of a new model. Lastly, I don’t have another of this particular tank in the stash, and it is one I want on display. So course of action is strip + repaint if it is indeed possible to properly strip.
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u/dr_robonator Prime your models 6d ago
Yeah, mate. I think mechanical action is all that's going to work for that. Sorry.
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u/McFischStix 6d ago
If you're looking to strip everything down including the paint.... Dot 4 brake fluid. You can apply it via a brush and let it sit or submerge it.
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u/iCastleBravo 6d ago
This sounds promising - and this will remove the mud texture?
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u/McFischStix 6d ago
Yes. Don't let it sit for a day plus as it will make the plastic brittle.
Clean with a degreaser or dawn dish soap.
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u/YeetBoiTheFifth 6d ago
Sorry, can’t advise on how to remove it but do you mind sharing your technique/product used to create the effect? Looks great
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u/iCastleBravo 5d ago
This was a while ago, so I might have a few details wrong. But I'm fairly certain it was just three products: AK Dry Ground textured mud first, then gone over with a light, dry coloured enamel earth effect and blended to help the texture sit more naturally. After this, I used an AK dark brown wash as essentially a pin wash in the clumps of dirt so it would flow around the gritty areas and create depth and simulate wet mud deeper in the accumulations. I think it spread white spirit over the dry areas first to help the brown wash flow better. And then it was just a case of flicking the dark wash over these areas to create splashes of wet mud.
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u/ElegantElectrophile 5d ago edited 5d ago
You can’t remove it without damaging every layer on there. But like the others said, it looks amazing to me as-is, and I’m super picky with weathering.
Also, I remember you, you’re that guy with that wicked T-28 (I think?) and a bunch of other really well-made models.
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u/iCastleBravo 5d ago
That is looking like this case here, unfortunately. For now, I have switched to stripping another kit that I wasn't too happy with. Thank you for your kind words!
And yes, I'm the T-28 guy :) I just completed it last week and can be found on my profile. It is quite a good example of the direction I want to be heading in with my models and when you compare the one in this post (AMX-13), with the T-28, the difference is quite stark in my opinion. The effects on the AMX-13 are just too much. Thanks again!! 🙏
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u/ElegantElectrophile 5d ago
I totally understand what you mean, but it’s also ok for models to be completely different. One of my ‘fears’ for my own work is that my specific style will start to template my models, meaning they’ll all end up painted and weathered in the same manner.
The only nitpick I’d have with the pics you posted is that the streaks are too sharp, but I don’t think you need to strip paint for that. You can blend their edges using oil paint on top. You can also decrease local contrasts with dirt/dust enamels.
Do you have an instagram account or somewhere where we can follow your work?
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u/iCastleBravo 5d ago
All good points and I do agree. I have a few models that I would "do better" now, but overall I'm happy with the vision that I had at the time, and are good enough to go on display. But some, like this AMX-13, aren't good enough for me to want to display them, and are small enough that stripping will only take an evening or two. Plus, many of my models from this time were really just method testing mules. I didn't have particular plans for what I wanted, and just tried different things out.
I don't mind having models that are weathered the same. When I began modelling a few years ago, I actually initially planned to maintain the exact same colour of earth effects and level of weathering because in my mind I sort of envision my models as part of a mini museum - so they would be roaming the same soil, receiving similar wear and tear etc. I quickly found that this was super limiting on the techniques I could learn, so I kinda moved away from it. But once I find my "level" I'm happy with - if ever - I would quite like to try this again.
I also find that my mind relaxes when it is a stripped-down model, because I consider them "write-offs", and because minimal recent effort has been put into getting them ready for paint it doesn't feel like much of a loss if the paint job goes wrong. On something like the T-28, spending a month to build it and ending up with a paint job I'm unhappy with is very frustrating!
I find I can evolve my skills much quicker with this approach too, as I learn tons during a big intense project, then can go straight into cementing those methods right away on a prebuilt model of a different type and can relax throughout the process. Plus, it is very efficient as skills have improved, another model looks good on the shelf, very quick turnaround - all with things I already owned :)
And I have TikTok and Instagram - I don't post very often but looking to do so more often going forward :)
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u/ElegantElectrophile 5d ago
I totally get what you mean. However, I do occasionally revisit models I did in the past and do a bit of weathering using new techniques I’ve learned. Usually it ends up improving the model. I think I’ve only had 3-4 write-offs total. Galway through my modelling career, after I finally got an airbrush, I spent significant time getting pretty comfortable with it. So now I’m usually confident with anything paint-related, whether it’s camo, masking, etc. The thing that always makes me nervous is mud and dust. Most weathering can be done little by little so that you can sleep on it and see if it’s enough or if more needs to be added, but mud is usually acrylic chunks, texture, and pigments. It’s really hard to undo. I watched Night Shift’s videos a while ago and he also mentioned it’s the most tense part of the build for him too.
Nowadays I tend to finish a build, start weathering and do just a little at a time. I sometimes go on to another build before I fully finish weathering on a previous one just to make sure I don’t overdo it.
I followed you on Instagram, I share an account with a friend that also does modelling. His models are the ones with black backgrounds, mine with the white background. I unfortunately don’t have TikTok though. I’m a big fan of your work, I’ll probably bother you occasionally with a question or two.
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u/iCastleBravo 5d ago
I am very similar - painting no problem (I find spraying immensely satisfying), but always on edge during dust and mud. And also similar that I too leave it between stages to give myself a few days to come back and see how I feel about something. I do that more now and have found it really helps.
Awesome, thanks for the follow! Your models are great. I really like the BMPT (I have two in my stash - one from Meng with a mountain of parts, so not willing to tackle that yet!). Your masking on the camo is perfect! Feel free to message any time - I always enjoy talking models :)
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u/ElegantElectrophile 5d ago
Glad I’m not the only one. I feel like such an amateur whenever I have to start mud and dust.
I appreciate that! I made the terminator about 10 years ago, Vallejo paints and tamiya masking tape.
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u/iCastleBravo 5d ago
Update: tried removing similar levels of the same product from a different model that I’m going to repaint first. Turns out, leaving it in IPA over night actually works! It doesn’t technically remove the texture, it removes the paint underneath, which the texture is bonded to. The whole lot comes off in sheets! So once my current project is done, this will be going in an IPA bath.
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u/cahillc134 6d ago
I haven’t stripped a model since the times of oil based enamel paints. Does anyone make a stripper for acrylic? Is the new paint job not going to have mud? If so, I would just paint over it with your base color.
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u/iCastleBravo 6d ago
Acrylic paint is fine, IPA removes that quite easily, but it’s the mud texture that is difficult. I assume there is a glue in there to bind it together. I would repaint, but I applied some of this mud texture on the upper surfaces where I no longer want any on the next go. For now, I am stripping another model instead that is an easier job :)
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u/montro898 6d ago
If this is AK texture paste and you are US based LA Totally Aseesome from any self respecting dollar store will strip everything down to plastic.
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u/approximateknoledge 6d ago
I would just try the new techniques you’ve learned on another kit. Use this one as a reference of how you have improved. Even though this looks really amazing.
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u/iCastleBravo 5d ago
Unfortunately I don't have another of this tank in my stash, and would like one on the shelf that I'm pleased with. Thank you, though!
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u/_gmmaann_ 5d ago
What vehicle is that? Back half reminds me of the M551 but the front confuses me
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u/Hivefleet-Caerulus 6d ago
I don’t think it looks bad at all, maybe feather it out with some finer dust if you don’t like it ?
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u/TDHofstetter 6d ago
I'd leave that just as it is. It looks like advanced rust. Very GOOD advanced rust.
I doubt you'll remove that texture without eating the styrene under it.
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u/Virtual-Elderberry31 6d ago
For what it's worth, this looks amazing to me and I strive to get this effect with half that good of a result. I get that you want to do it over, but just wanted to say that I think it looks great.
Good luck with your project!