Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Once upon a time, every wargamer had a jar of Dettol or brake fluid bubbling away in the corner, working its magic on battered old miniatures. Stripping paint from metal models was part of the hobby’s culture — a way to restore forgotten figures, rescue bring-and-buy bargains, and give them new life. But does anyone still strip models these days?
In this video, I look back at the once-universal ritual of paint stripping and ask whether it’s a dying art in today’s fast-paced, plastic-and-resin world. We’ll explore why the practice has faded, what’s replaced it, and whether it’s worth reviving for the sheer joy of restoration. From nostalgia to practicality, it’s a conversation about how the wargaming hobby has changed — and what we’ve gained (and maybe lost) along the way.
*** Why the Frost Giant on the Thumbnail? That was the last model I stripped and repainted. I got it second-hand and it was in a real mess, with thick, enamelled paint and horribly chipped. Hopefully, my restoration has improved it, and it has now seen action in several RPGs since then.
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Once upon a time, every wargamer had a jar of Dettol or brake fluid bubbling away in the corner, working its magic on battered old miniatures. Stripping paint from metal models was part of the hobby’s culture — a way to restore forgotten figures, rescue bring-and-buy bargains, and give them new life. But does anyone still strip models these days?
In this video, I look back at the once-universal ritual of paint stripping and ask whether it’s a dying art in today’s fast-paced, plastic-and-resin world. We’ll explore why the practice has faded, what’s replaced it, and whether it’s worth reviving for the sheer joy of restoration. From nostalgia to practicality, it’s a conversation about how the wargaming hobby has changed — and what we’ve gained (and maybe lost) along the way.
*** Why the Frost Giant on the Thumbnail? That was the last model I stripped and repainted. I got it second-hand and it was in a real mess, with thick, enamelled paint and horribly chipped. Hopefully, my restoration has improved it, and it has now seen action in several RPGs since then.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UC-OyOZpU-R7PNBOFwP4mu3g/join
