Stripping

[Primarch]

Well I tried out the Simple Green on a variety of different models.
The spray on foam did....nothing. No paint removed of any type. On the plus side, some sprayed onto the balcony and took the dirt right off.
The liquid type cleaned a metal stormtrooper (painted with GW paint) in under an hour. The paint just brushed off.
On a similar model sprayed (rather thoroughly) with tamiya spray paint, it has been sitting in the stuff for 5 hours and still no sign of improvement.
A couple of plastic lizardmen were sitting alongside the stormtroopers and they have been taken out, scrubbed and have gone back in to get the rest of the paint off, but they are looking better. Finally there was a space marine painted in some very thick blue paint. That hasnt shifted at all.

Conclusion
GW paint comes off easily. Spray on stuff doesnt.
Metal models can be cleaned very quickly, plastic takes a longer time.

[me_in_japan]

interesting. Was the stormtrooper painted GW paint over a spray undercoat, I wonder...

One thing: I was thinking - when we strip minis they tend not to be our own. They tend to be ebay purchases/trades. Its unusual to know what kind of paint was used previously in this kind of situation, thus the end result will still be "dunk em in the stuff and see what happens". Still, its interesting to know the different outcomes with different types of paint. Cheers for the science

ooh - do you have any really old minis, like 15 years+ you need to strip? ive found that the usual bleach method gives these 'orrible lead rot. I wonder if simple green would have the same effect...

[Primarch]

The GW painted stormtroopers was one of my own from about 10 years ago, it was undercoated by hand which made a huge difference I think.

I dont have many really old minis but I will have a look and see what I find.