Finding the Best Way to Remove Panel Liner - Solvent Showdown!

[@RitzyBusiness]

As a newbie that will just straight panel line, I think the eraser will make a good starting took. I also always have isopropyl and cotton swabs so super glad cleanup will be easy without losing the thickness of that black

[@joseluiscastanorestrepo]

I have always used thinner or Zippo fluid, but I must admit that the excellent result of the eraser surprised me. I'm going to use it the next time I use Panel Line

[@Pantifo]

I use pointed cotton swabs (beauty section at target) and a single drop of enamel thinner which I then dab almost dry on a paper towel. Those swabs have tighter spun cotton buds, so I just gently wipe across the surface with very little pressure. Works super well. Ive been painting lately though, so Im not too worried about the thinner

[@aMillaGunpla]

Yeah, if you’re panel lining over paint, you can pretty much use anything to remove it lol

[@strumminandwrenchin9162]

Before I start, I want to let you know that I messed up on a Tamiya Panel Line accent color application. The project is a Hasegawa 747 airliner that has been painted and clearcoated. Upon applying the Tamiya PLAC, I didn't let it dry long enough. I used the Testors enamel thinner since my local hobby shop didn't carry a Tamiya enamel thinner and try wiping off the excess. However, it ate through my paint and made it look messy.

[@Georami]

Hey just found your channel a few days ago. Love the content! So helpful and informative. I’ve been using Testors thinner to clean up panel lines, but based on your previous comments about that product and today’s results I’ll definitely be switching things up. Keep up the great work!

[@Gunpla-Slinger]

The Gaianote Finish Master works like cotton swabs. Try letting the pane line wash dry to the touch. The tip on The finish Master is a sponge, what you do is apply your removing agent to the tip and dab the excess fluid onto a paper towel. Then gently rub the part. Reapply removing agent as need until your done.

[@aMillaGunpla]

Good to know, thank you!

[@Gunpla-Slinger]

@@aMillaGunpla Your welcome. This is one of the changes I follow, he just uploaded a video of him using the Finish Master.

[@silversavior4130]

For the Finish Master, are the tips reusable after a cleaning session?Or would you have to clean it? recently bought it and it works but I just dont want to half to keep buying tips all thetime lol.

[@loomis8845]

Gainotes tool is absolutely incredible. Ive been using them for years. Trick is if youre using lighter fluid you really need to soak it! I'd recommend using odorless mineral spirits, that doesn't dry up as fast as lighter fluid. Ive switched to save waste on qtips and also to save from getting those cotton frays onto my painted builds as the gaia swabs are smooth an rubbery and dont leave residue behind.

[@isaacisaac010]

Good video! I use zippo fluid, curious to see how rubbing alcohol does over lacquer paint

[@VyseCalamity]

Just a heads up, if you plan on matte top coating your kit before panel lining it will make cleaning up panel lining way more difficult using rubbing alcohol as the matte coat will end up absorbing a lot of the black ink. I made that mistake a while back because I was curious and thought it would be okay only to realize it was not.

[@LeviWhalen]

I discovered this too unfortunately

[@KadMan04]

Whats the best way to do this gloss coat lining then matte?

[@jonathanbiccum4486]

@@KadMan04 yes

[@liqihu4323]

Tried rubbing alcohol today right after watched this video. The result is much better than the lighter fluid! I recently transfer from gundam marker to Tamiya panel liner so I might not have much experience. Like you said because the alcohol requires use more pressure to remove the paint, I can actually have more control on it. Especially for shallow panel lines. It won’t remove the paint in the groove. Thank you for doing this comparison!

[@nerofather9351]

Do you use 90% one?

[@Brawny216]

I use cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol, but I've only been using the Gundam fine tip markers for lining. Also a wood toothpick to remove in tight spaces.

[@tjwaldie2880]

I used enamel thinner but found it was taking my clear coat off. Switched to lighter fluid and it's no longer a problem. I'm surprised by the eraser and might have to give that a shot.

[@adrncx]

Awesome video once again! Quality was top notch, thank you

[@MatteoCremaBL]

I've been learning about the world of model painting for months and I still consider myself a beginner. I look for information and I am very fussy about understanding things precisely, because I believe that knowledge is the basis of good work which can then be mastered with practice. In this video however, forgive me, you do not communicate to your audience that, regarding panel lining (and therefore also painting), there are various approaches based on the type of product used. Here, for example, you use Tamya's classic panel liner, which is enamel-based. But you should say that there are also other types of paint (and therefore panel lining), such as acrylic and lacquer, and each of these has its own coupled thinner to, in this case, remove excesses in the panel lining procedure . I may seem like a pain in the ass, but if we continue to produce this type of content, without first giving a brief summary of the world of painting, people will continue to be confused or, worse, make disasters when, for example, they have to remove the excesses of the panel lining when he first painted his model.

[@x2thebass]

this is the most useful video explaining literally everything about panel line cleaning. i have watched most of your videos i also just subcribed.. keep up the good stuff bro!!

[@NE0WN]

I use Tamiya pointed cotton swabs with mineral spirits. I bought a 946 mL bottle of it for around $8 CAD. I've been told it can make the plastic brittle, so use it sparingly.

[@misfitstudios3100]

The Gaia notes is for absorbing excess moisture when applying water slides the rubbing alcohol is new to me though definitely going to use it! Thanks you!

[@aMillaGunpla]

Thanks for the tip!

[@misfitstudios3100]

@@aMillaGunpla no problem! You got an IG?

[@aMillaGunpla]

Yup! There’s a link in the description, or you can look for @ayemilla

[@yw9686]

Tapered cotton swab and lighter fluid would be my choice. 🤓

[@nezukiwilsonch.9238]

if the Zippo won't remove the paint right

[@frodrigues1011]

The eraser is fine, but on flat parts or if you have the time and patience to rub the ink off. I was doing with the eraser but was tasking, my best method was Rubbing Alcohol and cotton swabs. On parts with lots of dents, details of different heights, the eraser isn't good enough, the Alcohol is faster and easier. Just need a small drop of alcohol, put a little in a bottle cap (lid) just tap it with a cotton bud, just clean the part, will not drop anything, no need to use paper towels, and will erase just the messy part, after I change from eraser to alcohol with cotton buds, was faster, cleaner and left a very good end defined line, the eraser tends to make some line blurred. It's my experience with panel lines atm.

[@nerofather9351]

I'm using 70% one and its very hard to remove them

[@Kinglink]

I was ready to hear "Erase is just crap for people who don't want to spend the money or time to do it right" and am pleasantly surprised it did this well. I use the eraser method because... well I'm just getting started, but I like my results so far.

[@hhaste]

If cleaned immediately, do you think just water on a cotton swab would work? I build model cars and the panel lining is usually done after paint & clear coating, so I need something that isn't a solvent that won't remove the clear coat etc. If not, the eraser might be the best option.

[@EqpBeats]

Great video exactly what I been searching for!!

[@MrSMD-rr9xw]

I left my thinner at my gf's place and I gotta say that I'm stunned at just how well the eraser works.

[@camaro7444]

I never knew about the eraser method. Does it leave any type of streaks that would be easier seen in person? And I use paint thinner normally and the easiest way to remove the panel liner is to rub a q tip in a circular motion and I've found that most of the time when plastics have got brittle on me is when some panel liner gets into the cracks of 2 different parts apparently since it can't evaporate well it cause the plastic to crack

[@aMillaGunpla]

The eraser method hasn’t left any streaks on me yet, just a lot of eraser dust 😅

[@BeyfighterFaris]

Okay, wow! Thanks for this comparison. I will definitely go back to erasers as well. Now, i do wonder if Art Kneaded Rubber Eraser would be gentler and works better on painted surfaces

[@TehUltimateBlazer]

I use Zippo fluid and i have to correct you on that one since it CAN make plastic brittle and crack. I have learned the hard way :(

[@aMillaGunpla]

Oh no, but that’s some good information to know!

[@willisjackson7029]

I’ve learned that thinners, alcohol, and liter fluid can all make the plastic brittle if it’s applied directly onto bare plastic. Especially in large quantities but if you apply it sparingly then you should be safe.

[@buriburibub]

@@willisjackson7029 I’m using Gundam pour type markers which remove can I used that won’t destroy my gundam? Do I need to apply any finish’s gloss matte?

[@willisjackson7029]

@@buriburibub If you clear coat your model before you use the panel liner that will protect your paint job from the cleaning process and then you can use enamel thinner to clean up the panel liner makers overflow. Just make sure that you use a lacquer clear coat that way you won’t destroy your paint job with the enamel thinner when you’re cleaning the panel liner. Then after you’re done with the cleaning process give it another clear coat to finish it off and then you’ll be done.

[@buriburibub]

​@@willisjackson7029 Thank you, I was using an eraser and 70% isopropyl alcohol for the cleaning process. The current model kit I'm working on is the 2019HG The Origin ZAKU II Red Comet ver. Is this way safe since I'm using 70% and eraser Or I should go with the method you stated: 1. Lacquer Clearcoat 2. Panel liner 3. Cleaning process -Enamel thinner 4. Lacquer Clearcoat like this or my method? Sorry for taking some of your time I just got introduced to this hobby a couple days ago. Thanks a lot.

[@alyssamoniqueboyles9275]

Hello! Glad I stumbled on your channel because I've been looking for comparisons and alternatives to clean the kits without potentially damaging the plastic. You just gave me the answer! I'm about to use pour type markers for panel lining and am assuming the same thing applies to those, is that correct?

[@aMillaGunpla]

Yes, for the most part it will be the same. The markers are oil-based paint though, so you should be fine with just using IPA. Drying times will also be longer since they're oil-based!

[@alyssamoniqueboyles9275]

@@aMillaGunpla Oh! Been searching for the markers' contents and never got clear info about it. Oil-based huh, thank you so much for telling me this, knowing rubbing alcohol can be applied, it helped a lot!🙌

[@CrowemagModelWorks]

Get the bigger Gaianotes Finish Master and make sure you get enough solvent soaked in. It is amazing and does not get into the recessed panel line like cotton buds can do.

[@asurajeff6316]

I am not using top coat, in this case what do you think lighterfluid, rubbing alcohol or x20 is best for the plastic?

[@viewtifulmike]

this man sees tweezers in the health & beauty aisle and he's convinced it's the gunpla aisle. tweezers, alcohol and cotton swabs in the same place? this the model man zone

[@aMillaGunpla]

If something can make a person look better, maybe it can make a model kit look better 😂

[@HobbyGunpla24]

The thinner and zippo lighter fluid is better for the plastic kit to use??? I mean nothing happened to the plastic like decay or melt if long time to use????

[@MrNickdulce77]

Is mr. Color thinner a lacquer thinner?

[@josephhernandez5586]

Great vídeo i Just have a great question,i have seen many videos on how to clean the tamiya panel line but i Found that many recommend lighter fluid or thinner or alcohol isopropyl so i would like to Know which liquid to use for the parts my gunplas do not become brittle, i would really appreciate it if you tell me which one to use definitively 🙏

[@aMillaGunpla]

The biggest thing is not letting the solvent pool up on the plastic. It has to be able to "breathe" and evaporate. Lighter fluid is almost equally as damaging to plastic as thinner is, the main difference is that lighter fluid evaporates much faster

[@josephhernandez5586]

@@aMillaGunpla so what liquid do you recommend i use or something to clean it ?,it and i,m sorry for the question,you are new to gunplas 😅

[@JM94_]

Should I get alcohol or the eraser? I’d prefer the alcohol but don’t know if it can damage the plastic.

[@trinity2077]

i’m using the tamiya black panel liner and it leaves a stain on the plastic, i’m using the tamiya x20 paint thinner but all it does is just smudge the ink around, i’m so bummed out i ruined one of the legs on my 30 min mission. if anyone could help me out that would be great, thank you

[@Kidney_stones_eater]

Question: can you use other type of alcohol? Like ethanol ?

[@ExiaLupus]

There are a couple of ways in which this test could be improved. Firstly, this panel lining is freshly done - lines that were drawn in a long time ago might be harder to remove. The other is the plastic colour. Apparently some solvents like IPA can cause white residue to appear on plastics, which wouldn't show up on these white parts. I'd be interested to see a similar test, but using some darker coloured parts which were panel lined longer ago - ideally years, if not months. I'd also like to see all of the marker inside the panel lines removed, not just the excess.

[@d-mart3733]

Thoughts about electric eraser

[@HanSama98]

Hi aMilla i need some help/advices as a new builder. I build RG kit and use gundam marker for panel linings and use tamiya x-20 thinner, i do as many tutorial did, but my kit crack after that. Can you tell more details about this?

[@atomicdynamite1631]

The Gundam marker ink is really easy to clean, it honestly doesn't need a liquid. Just an eraser or tissue will do. Using thinner on bare plastic will make it brittle and/or crack, so as the video demonstrates I'd recommend an eraser or rubbing alcohol

[@V0ID0NER]

Any chance you can do a scriber/panel lining tool review? looking to start scribing but theres so many brand and tools i dont know what to start with

[@ThePlanetDez]

How well does Denatured alcohol work?

[@kurararawr]

Lighter fluid and cotton buds works best for me.

[@Hey_MikeZeroEcho22P]

'aMilla'.....I wish I saw this TODAY!!! Used Tamiya Black Panel Liner, with Tamiya X-20A thinner......... NO JOY!!! I'll need to repaint a part. ☹ BUT, I do have rubbing alcohol, so I'll re-watch to get the % alcohol, and try again on my plane wing's......Wish me luck!! And I'll let you know ... soon how it works, here!!😐

[@tomt373]

The other alternatives are "black-basing" your model's paint job with a spray can of black primer, or using an air brush, carefully spray the panel lines black before applying the main finishing coats of paint,

[@ppjerry420]

hell yeah fresh vid

[@taufiqhidayat1848]

Thanks bro, i really need this, keep it up

[@izzatsofwan7505]

Anyone knows why after i wipe off tamiya panel line using mr color thinner it left white marks and it's frustrating to see especially on darker runners!!

[@nattercakes2384]

Does rubbing alcohol damage the plastic over time or should I be good to go?

[@aMillaGunpla]

Most commonly used cleaning solvents, including alcohol, ethanol, acetone, naptha (, etc., will have an effect on plastic because they attack the oils in the plastic. Some will be more harsh, like acetone. Some also evaporate quicker (lighter fluid) which make them "safer" to use on plastic, since the length of contact is shortened. With that being said, rubbing alcohol is fairly safe to use, but I wouldn't consider it "non-reactive"

[@rizwan2632]

Is using eraser give best look when you do top coat ?

[@aMillaGunpla]

An eraser is probably the safest method, but typically you should do your final top coat after panel lining

[@Ramen551]

I used both 70% alcholol and gundam remover marker on my RG nu gundam. Will it damage the plastic ? 🤔

[@willisjackson7029]

As long as you use it sparingly to a cotton swab and then rub it on the model kit in little quantities then you should be ok. But I’ve experienced using the Gundam eraser directly on a model caused it to crack. It’s basically almost like alcohol in a pen. And the lower percentage alcohol is safer on models so 70% should be fine.

[@canirunitDOTio]

Would this work too with gundam marker panel liner? And will any lighter fluid except from z*ppo brand would work & safe for the plastic??

[@aMillaGunpla]

Gundam Marker is an oil-based paint I believe, so all of these methods should work. Rubbing alcohol would be much more effective on it as well! Any lighter fluid in theory should work, Zippo is just one of the cleaner burning ones, not that you'll need to burn it anyways 😅

[@Meijin_Kawaguchi02]

Is it okay if I use semi gloss before panel lining?

[@aMillaGunpla]

It should still be smooth enough for the panel liner to flow, but you'll want to coat it again afterwards for the best finish

[@GSAViolist1991]

What quill pen are you using for the liner?

[@aMillaGunpla]

I just added a link to it in the description, it's the Tachikawa Pen Nib Holder + Pen Nib Pack!

[@UchuNoko]

Will 91% isopropyl alcohol rub off an acrylic top coat when trying to clean panel lining?

[@jjlbridge7877]

Yes

[@armangunpla409]

I always go for the eraser when removing panel lines, my 2nd go to is lighter fluid.

[@HappyHobby26]

Can i use hand sanitizer?

[@bigfloppymonster]

What eraser did you use? Ive tried a lot of different erasers and none of them did anything

[@aMillaGunpla]

Pentel, used to use them in school, now I use them for Gunpla! Link is in the description if you wanna check them out

[@bonwilliams9760]

Just a regular rubber eraser ? As in pencil eraser ?

[@fffffflacko8020]

Yes exactly, I saw once on Instagram some sticks with a rubber-like tip used to clean the tamiya panel liner excess and thinking it was regular rubber I tried and was amazed by the results. The only tip I want to give in case of using a regular rubber is that due to its shape it may be difficult to clean very narrow points so you should let the panel liner flow from a point that you are sure you can reach and clean easily.

[@santiagoavilavalero3788]

Hey thank you so much, awesome video

[@BrandonDensley]

I used Tamiya panel liner and I am trying to use Tamiya paint thinner to no avail! I’m worried about my MG Barbatos! What can I do?

[@aMillaGunpla]

The Tamiya thinner (X-20A) is an acrylic thinner which isn't strong enough to remove the panel liner, which is enamel. Your best bet is to try one of the solutions mentioned in the vid to remove it. The more I try it, the more I start to prefer the eraser over any of the solvents--it's just a pain in the butt to clean up all the eraser shavings

[@BrandonDensley]

@@aMillaGunpla I saw your comparison video not long after this and I got an eraser right away. I love using it to clean up my panels!

[@readyplayer0n383]

Will tamiya lacquer thinner work?

[@machpandac]

Gas. So my dad told me to go to the gas station with a water bottle and fill it up as needed with the cheapest fuel. He told me that it works pretty much like thinner but at a fraction of the cost. The old man doesn't teach me too many things anymore that I havent figured out but this one was a nice surprise.

[@aMillaGunpla]

Very interesting! While I don't formally endorse this (for safety reasons), I'm curious now as to how plastic would react to it! Might need to do some experimenting!

[@kurararawr]

Let's goooo!

[@elizabethm.8318]

MY GUY When I tell you I whipped out my erasers to clean up the base for my God Gundam so fast...!!!! DANG!!! Erasers my new jam for clean up!!

[@memyself3895]

About to start my first Gunpla. I have two identical Entry Grades, and was going to paint up one and not the other. I have never used panel liner. I understand that once painted with acrylic paints, a gloss coat is necessary to protect the paint, but what about the unpainted plastic? Can I use Tamiya enamel panel liner directly on that without harming the plastic, or will this still need a clear coat? Thanks in advance.

[@aMillaGunpla]

You can use it on bare plastic, just be mindful not to soak the line with too much panel liner. If panel liner seeps too deep into a crack, it won’t be able to evaporate and may make the plastic brittle

[@OGGangstaT]

Mr color thinner is a lacquer thinner while Tamiya panel liner fluid is enamel so if you do any custom paint jobs with lacquer paints, you'll want to use an enamel thinner instead or you risk ruining your paint job.

[@brandonbell5108]

Mr clean Magic erasers are the best

[@blkastro7893]

Can you use acetone to remove not panel lining but actual paint from the gumpla itself like Gundam markers?

[@aMillaGunpla]

You can, but acetone is pretty harmful to plastic so I would avoid using it. It'll make the plastic brittle much faster than paint thinner would

[@aliftaz1]

Can I used [water] instead [Alcohol] to remove the panel? [Money problem for me]

[@aMillaGunpla]

Water will not work because it is not strong enough to dissolve the panel liner

[@aliftaz1]

@@aMillaGunpla Damm...Better save up some money.... Thanks Bro!!

[@agusrze2230]

you remind me so much of guga foods channel because of the intonation which you speak with, it's almost uncanny (?)

[@aMillaGunpla]

I love Guga! But his videos always make me so hungry 😅

[@agusrze2230]

@@aMillaGunpla yeah, everything so juicy and fatty haha

[@Pekkabloo]

Didn’t think an eraser actually works 😮

[@FarlezBarkley]

Can only imagine your conversation with your gf when you were looking for the eyebrow thing 🤣

[@aMillaGunpla]

Literally what happened: “Look at this eyebrow remover thing I got!” “Why did you get that” “Idk, maybe it’ll work with Gunpla” “Okay…” *walks away* 😅

[@jokersat]

Zippo i hink is better it gives more sunshine finish look...

[@willisjackson7029]

On bare plastic I like to use a toothpick and I’ll rub the panel liner off with the toothpick.

[@marcofreire]

Dude, IPA is not rubbing alcohol. DO NOT clean wounds with IPA. IPA is mostly for cleaning stuff.

[@d9_1056]

So uh, it's been a little while. Where's the content brah?

[@jhulsz]

google translate is your friend sir. just point your camera at any Japanese text and you would be able to somewhat read it. :D

[@Pantifo]

Yoooooooooo, 👍

[@TK-oo9gq]

Why on bare plastic. We still have no idea how these would affect a paint finish. 🤦🏼‍♂️ waste of time. That’s 8 minutes I will never get back.

[@tomd96]

I might be a bit late, but I came here because I bought AK Paneliner to use on an acrylic Humbrol water-based top coat over a Tamiya acrylic base coat. After some research, I found out that isopropyl alcohol and enamel thinner would damage my acrylic paint due to the solvents involved. Also, using this Enamel paneliner will damage bare plastic over time on bare plastic and make it brittle (especially if not used sparingly) I found that white spirits and lighter fluid may work best in my particular situation. There are conflicting posts on message boards that say Tamiya X-20 Enamel Thinner won't damage the acrylic. I would recommend experimenting on spare parts or bits of the runner first to prevent damage to your kit.

[@TK-oo9gq]

@@tomd96 thanks. I actually went with oils. Much safer and worked well.