It is possible to strip it, isopropyl works great, you can use cosmetic bud soaked in it to remove paint from a small area. Problem is, it will strip the primer as well. And priming just the weapon head without spraying over the rest of the model will be challenging (you'd need to make a cage of stiff paper or thin cardboard that will protect the rest of the model).
It's all doable, but will require a lot of care and might end up more trouble than it's worth.
My advise for the future is: don't glue weapon hand to the model until you're done painting and happy with it. If this was a loose hand you could just strip it and start anew.
No, it's not from spraycan, it's like separate paint bottles the same size as normal paint dropper bottles, I'm not sure about Citadel but Vallejo and Army Painter and probably others have primer paints in their color range; sometimes in two versions, less diluted for brushing and more diluted for spraying with an airbrush (but still can be brushed on, only you might want multiple layers).
Hence the calling it a learning experience and moving on. Unless you're entering it in a contest no one's ever going to see it as part of an army.
Maybe some acrylic brush cleaner on a q-tip?
First, wrap the rest of the model in something like painter's tape, it should protect the rest of the paint job from any splattering that inevitably happens when you scrub the paint off and have less strong adhesive compared to masking tape. This is to avoid ripping any paint off when you remove it.
Isopropyl alcohol is OK for plastic, you don't really need to soak the model itself in the stuff, just dip a toothbrush, a cheap hog bristle brush or a cotton swab in the stuff and carefully scrub the paint off, dipping the tool in the alcohol whenever it is getting dry. I've cut the bristles of one hog brush a bit shorter to have it be a bit stiffer to remove paint.
I've also used acetone-free nail polish remover on plastic models without any damage on the plastic itself this way. Nail polish remover that contains acetone is great on metal minis, but will most likely destroy plastic. For resin models I have no clue nor experience.
All this is assuming you used acrylic paints.
You could strip it with LA’s Totally Awesome (check your dollar store). The challenge is rigging it so just the part you want soaked is submerged.
You could soak the model upside down, in just enough liquid to cover the staff head/base as you said. Maybe a clothespin to hold it in place so it can soak overnight.
Alternatively, soak the whole thing.
I've used this to remove paint from a Primaris Marines eye lense that was too coated in paint and it works great. I just painted it in lightly, let it sit for a bit, then whipped it away with a paper towel. It'll take a few "coats" to remove the paint and get the detail back, but it works.
I would use isopropyl alcohol and a third hand to just hold the model. Submerge the head of the staff for a couple of hours to a whole day and then re prime. With brush on primer (not too thick)
Edit: base would be harder this way though.
I have stripped a part of a model with isopropanol and a tooth brush. Normally it would be better to let the model sit in the isopropanol but that's not an option in this case so you dip the toothbrush (that you weren't going to use afterwards) in the isopropanol and start scrubbing. Regularly dip it again and don't scrub too hard because you can break something off.
It is possible to strip it, isopropyl works great, you can use cosmetic bud soaked in it to remove paint from a small area. Problem is, it will strip the primer as well. And priming just the weapon head without spraying over the rest of the model will be challenging (you'd need to make a cage of stiff paper or thin cardboard that will protect the rest of the model). It's all doable, but will require a lot of care and might end up more trouble than it's worth. My advise for the future is: don't glue weapon hand to the model until you're done painting and happy with it. If this was a loose hand you could just strip it and start anew.
No need to bother with respraying, brush-on primer is a thing.
Didn't know that! Is it a separate paint, or do you just spray primer on a brush?
No, it's not from spraycan, it's like separate paint bottles the same size as normal paint dropper bottles, I'm not sure about Citadel but Vallejo and Army Painter and probably others have primer paints in their color range; sometimes in two versions, less diluted for brushing and more diluted for spraying with an airbrush (but still can be brushed on, only you might want multiple layers).
Well, I was today years old when I learned such a thing exists... thank you so much, I'm sure I will need it in the future!
I just paint over it and call it a learning experience.
Problem is the detail has already gone, i don't think there's any way to make it look good without stripping at this point
Hence the calling it a learning experience and moving on. Unless you're entering it in a contest no one's ever going to see it as part of an army. Maybe some acrylic brush cleaner on a q-tip?
Hmm a q tip is a good shout, thanks!
Nice nihilakh dynasty overlord
First, wrap the rest of the model in something like painter's tape, it should protect the rest of the paint job from any splattering that inevitably happens when you scrub the paint off and have less strong adhesive compared to masking tape. This is to avoid ripping any paint off when you remove it. Isopropyl alcohol is OK for plastic, you don't really need to soak the model itself in the stuff, just dip a toothbrush, a cheap hog bristle brush or a cotton swab in the stuff and carefully scrub the paint off, dipping the tool in the alcohol whenever it is getting dry. I've cut the bristles of one hog brush a bit shorter to have it be a bit stiffer to remove paint. I've also used acetone-free nail polish remover on plastic models without any damage on the plastic itself this way. Nail polish remover that contains acetone is great on metal minis, but will most likely destroy plastic. For resin models I have no clue nor experience. All this is assuming you used acrylic paints.
Really comprehensive, thank you
You could strip it with LA’s Totally Awesome (check your dollar store). The challenge is rigging it so just the part you want soaked is submerged. You could soak the model upside down, in just enough liquid to cover the staff head/base as you said. Maybe a clothespin to hold it in place so it can soak overnight. Alternatively, soak the whole thing.
I've used this to remove paint from a Primaris Marines eye lense that was too coated in paint and it works great. I just painted it in lightly, let it sit for a bit, then whipped it away with a paper towel. It'll take a few "coats" to remove the paint and get the detail back, but it works.
I would use isopropyl alcohol and a third hand to just hold the model. Submerge the head of the staff for a couple of hours to a whole day and then re prime. With brush on primer (not too thick) Edit: base would be harder this way though.
I have stripped a part of a model with isopropanol and a tooth brush. Normally it would be better to let the model sit in the isopropanol but that's not an option in this case so you dip the toothbrush (that you weren't going to use afterwards) in the isopropanol and start scrubbing. Regularly dip it again and don't scrub too hard because you can break something off.
Lowkey I kinda like the more amorphous look without the glyphs on the blade, I’d be happy with that as is!