Stripping "chrome" off model pieces

[TIEbomber1967]

Currently I'm trying to strip the "chrome" off an old AMT 1:2500 Enterprise-D. The pieces have been sitting in bleach for a few hours now, and I'm not seeing much progress. The bleach is fresh, bought it just after Christmas. Is this a relatively quick process, or should I expect it to take days?
Thanks in advance for any hints you may have.

[southwestforests]

This from the model train paint suppliers takes chrome off in less than an afternoon, often in less than 30 minutes.
Is what I used to de-chrome the Pilgrim Observer parts this past summer.

[Stu Pidasso]

FIRE

[USSARCADIA]

Got any Easy Off oven cleaner? That works pretty fast and doesn’t eat the plastic. Use gloves, etc.

[DaveVan]

I use cheap bleach as I can find....seems stronger. ($1 gallon) I put parts in a container that seals and shake it as often as I can. Takes 2 days or so for most.

[irishtrek]

Currently I'm trying to strip the "chrome" off an old AMT 1:2500 Enterprise-D. The pieces have been sitting in bleach for a few hours now, and I'm not seeing much progress. The bleach is fresh, bought it just after Christmas. Is this a relatively quick process, or should I expect it to take days?
Thanks in advance for any hints you may have.

What brand of bleach?? I went to strip some chrome of a parts tree using the store brand and it took way too long so I went and bought a jug that cost twice as much and the chrome was gone in about FIVE MINUTES!!! Plus they were both store brands one being a bit more expensive. It could also be the chrome is old on your model.

[Andrew Gorman]

Easy Off works just fine.

[naoto]

the recommended background music for the task?
https://youtu.be/Y2CWfSLyjx8

[SpaceRanger1]

the recommended background music for the task?
https://youtu.be/Y2CWfSLyjx8

"Like" button pressed (repeatedly!).

[Rocketeer]

This from the model train paint suppliers takes chrome off in less than an afternoon, often in less than 30 minutes.
Is what I used to de-chrome the Pilgrim Observer parts this past summer.

Agree totally. ScaleCoat is da bomb.

[TazMan2000]

Castrol Super Clean. Not as smelly as Easy-Off, but you still should use ventilation.

TazMan2000

[ronwojnar]

Another vote for ScaleCoat!

[Saturn]

Castrol Super Clean. Not as smelly as Easy-Off, but you still should use ventilation.

And gloves. CSC will dry out your hands unprotected.

CSC was the only stripper I used that made a dent on Tamiya chrome plating. (Motorcycle kits, 1/48 MiG-15) Stripped both the plating and the yellow lacquer undercoat too.

[EVApodman]

I wish I knew about the Scalecoat. Several years ago I had to strip some chrome parts and I used the old standby Brake fluid. I had to soak the parts for over a week and then had to dig off pieces with a stiff brush and toothpick.

[TIEbomber1967]

Thanks for all the replies you guys.
After 2 days I'm seeing some small amount of progress, so perhaps I'll leave it in there (since the bleach is already "used"). I'm using Clorox, the only kind I could find at Costco Business Center. Is there a better bleach? And how can you tell? And yeah the chrome on this kit is old, should that make any difference?
I'm taking notes on these suggestions though, cuz' I don't think I want to wait this long next time I need something de-chromed.

[DaveVan]

Try the cheap bleach...like I said in my post....seems harsher than the 'good' stuff....$1 gallon stuff.

[Wug]

Super Clean

[irishtrek]

The bleach I tried was purchased at a Fred Meyer store which was bought out by Kroger about 20 years ago and it cost .99 cents and then I went with the store brand at twice as much and they were both store brands. as for which works best it'**** and miss .

[jpolacchi]

I heard somewhere that bleach strips it off too.

[irishtrek]

Went and bought a kit by Salvonos model last week and Monday put the chrome tree into a container of bleach for a couple of days and when I took it out very little chrome was gone and had turned into a green powdery substance and the bare spots of plastic had started to turn black. Is this normal when removing chrome??

[Natsu-Rokka]

I have a gallon jug of Purple Power, and it is effective in removing both the chrome plating and the yellow gooey lacquer undercoat. I recently tossed the chrome sprues from a Revell car kit into a container with PP and left it for 24 hours. When I came back to it, the lacquer was streaming off the sprue like ribbons of snot!

Bleach and oven cleaner have never worked for me in removing the lacquer layer. Easy Lift Off (ELO) worked too, but was a lot slower and didn't fully dissolve the lacquer.

[DaveVan]

Went and bought a kit by Salvonos model last week and Monday put the chrome tree into a container of bleach for a couple of days and when I took it out very little chrome was gone and had turned into a green powdery substance and the bare spots of plastic had started to turn black. Is this normal when removing chrome??

Salvinos uses REAL metal chrome and not aluminum vac plate like most model kits. No one has stripped it completely.

[irishtrek]

Went and bought a kit by Salvonos model last week and Monday put the chrome tree into a container of bleach for a couple of days and when I took it out very little chrome was gone and had turned into a green powdery substance and the bare spots of plastic had started to turn black. Is this normal when removing chrome??

Salvinos uses REAL metal chrome and not aluminum vac plate like most model kits. No one has stripped it completely.

That explains why it's a tad cold to the touch and why it feels a bit heavy. Put the tree back in bleach a few hours ago and the bleach is turning black.