my netfoo is week but in 1901 (current malifaux time frame) love craft would have been the right age even look like the dreamer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Howard_Phillips_Lovecraft_-_circa_1900.jpg
for metal i am huge fan of acetone (concentrated nail polish) the paint just brushes off, for plastics i use brake fluid.
Resin i am hesitant to weigh in on cause i have worked with resin until i got snowstorm.