Restoring & Upgrading a Proto 2000 SW900 - The KNR 90 Rebuild : Paint Removal

In this post, I walk through how I removed the factory paint from my Proto 2000 SW900 without damaging the model. It’s a simple method using 91% alcohol, and I share a few things I’ve learned that might make your own projects go a little smoother.

Restoring & Upgrading a Proto 2000 SW900 – The KNR 90 Rebuild : Paint Removal

Next step in the process: getting the paint off the model—and doing it in a way that doesn’t damage anything. That’s really the key here. You want the paint gone, but you don’t want to lose detail or melt the plastic in the process.

What I use for this is 91% isopropyl alcohol. I fill a container deep enough to submerge the parts, then drop everything in and let it soak. Sometimes 15 minutes is enough, sometimes it takes longer. For this one, I let it sit overnight. Letting it soak longer not only softens the paint, it also starts to loosen up the glue on smaller parts—like the handrails—which makes them easier to remove later.

Worth mentioning: alcohol is flammable, so no open flames or soldering irons nearby while it’s out. Also, cover the container—helps keep fumes down and slows evaporation.

The next day, I pulled the pieces out and used a soft brush to scrub the paint off. Most of it came off without much effort. I used tweezers to remove the smaller details once the glue had softened. Once everything was cleaned up, I rinsed the parts in water to remove any residue and let them air dry.

At first, I used a shallow black tray for this, but it was hard to see what was going on. I’ve since switched to a clear container with a lid, which works a lot better. It’s deeper, holds everything in place, and you can actually see what’s happening.

Also, don’t throw the alcohol out when you’re done. You can strain it and reuse it for future projects. It holds up pretty well through a few rounds.

Here are some pictures of the progress.