RE: painting help needed

Stripping

Pine-Sol/Dettol - very good but a bit slow, can be used on
plastic but you must be careful on not over-doing it, needs 
a long soak. Get a brand with a high % of pine oil.

Acetone/nail varnish remover - fine for metal may
attack glue, needs a long soak.

Brake Fluid - good for metal & plastic - very good
at removing acrylic, needs a long soak.

MEK/Nitromors - powerful but hazardous will remove 
any amount of paint and disolves plastic and most
glues, no soaking required.

Caustic Soda/Drain Cleaner - powerful but hazardous
but can be used on plastic and removes most paint types
will attack some glues, light soaking required.

My favourite - brake fluid