Bob,
you're right, brake fluid it is. You should get it at any automobile supply store. However, it is not exactly cheap
(at least here in Europe).
When I was (re-)modeling and superdetailing racing cars I used it to strip metal model cars (like BBurago models) from their paint. Do just like Tyson said - soak it overnight etc. etc. I submersed the model in a glass bowl which was big enough to completely cover the model with brake fluid.
However if you have a plastic model, a little bit of caution is in order. I would place a drop of brake fluid on an inconspicious part of the model (say on the inside of a tender shell) and let it react overnight. If the plastic doesn't dissolve or feel sticky, then you can go on with the model. Otherwise you have to look for another paint remover - or you have to sand down any raised printed-on markings, and then spray new paint over the old paint coat.
(On my first try I had a bad experience: I dunked a whole (!) Ferrari into brake fluid without prior testing - next morning the metal shell was practically clean, but almost all of the plastic parts had turned into a gooey mess!
)
Hope this helps - but don't ask me about the chemical composition of brake fluid. Sometimes I wonder why the brake pipes on my car still exist...
Ron