I used Black Rit dye on my GP Super Skybolt and it came out great. Be careful not to get the water so hot that it will disfigure the canopy. Be prepared to let it soak at least 4 hours at a minimum. If you let it soak over night and rinse it with cold water in the morning you should have a nicely tinted canopy. Be sure to trim and fit the canopy before you dye it.
Posts: 62
Joined: 7/8/2002 From: Meridian, ID, USA Status: offline
I used to tint plastic for visors and masks- easiest way is to purchase a can of Testors black (smoke) tint spray paint. Two coats usually worked very well for a transparent, but dark look. Always paint on the inside of the plastic as well... I'm not sure if they still make other colors...
Also -
Another technique from the plastic modeller world is to purchase a jar of Testors (again...) metallic colors - ruby, sapphire, emerald (I think there are other colors too). Let the paint jar settle for at least a week - two would be better. Use an eyedropper and suck out the top fluid and airbrush. Since the metallic pigment has settled, you can use the carrier as the tint-- works great!
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Joined: 7/18/2002 From: Evanston,
WY, USA Status: offline
I used the black liquid rit dye. First I got a pan deep enough to completly submerge the canopy. Fill it with water and add about one fourth of the bottle. Heat the water to 140 degres Ferenhiet. Then dip the canopy in for about one minute intervals rinsing under cold water imidiatly after you fish it out. Re-dip until you get the color you want. I achieved a nice dark smokey color with three cycles as described above. I installed a Volt watch in side my canopy and wanted to be able to see the lights it worked perfectly. I also waited to trim my canopy until after it was tinted so as not to get prints on the finished piece. It works great I will try to post pictures tommorrow. later Jim
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Joined: 7/20/2002 From: Auckland, NEW ZEALAND Status: offline
refer to "Covering Materials & Instructions" at http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/ . Easiest is to use the Polycarbonate spray paints e.g. Tamiya "Smoke" used by the card racing boys - clean inside of canopy and spray thin layers until darkness required is met Advantage is the paint is made for the job and stays flexible and does not chip or break away. Painting on inside also stops any scratches in the paint. Check your LHS. regards Alan T.
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Joined: 7/18/2002 From: Evanston,
WY, USA Status: offline
Hi Brett I spaced out taking the photo's but will try to remember but I will attach a picture of buz^'s plane. This is how I got the idea to use Rit dye. The weather has been the most mild winter that I ever seen and I have lived here for 30 years.
The flying is great I have flown at least every week all winter.
Later Jim
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Posts: 326
Joined: 11/29/2002 From: Salem, IN, USA Status: offline
I can't imagine not using the rit dye method. From what I've read on this forum everybody does it a little different, but everybody likes the results, I will have to agree. I
t's VERY forgiving as far as mixing rit dye. Just don't get the water so hot you can't touch it. The results were amazing, you get a tint that is perfectly even and is very easily made darker if you like. It doesn't hurt it at all to check every few minutes or less. If you want darker, put it back in.
btw.. if you want SMOKE, mix Black and Navy blue in equal parts, you'll get something like mine.
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Joined: 7/18/2002 From: Evanston,
WY, USA Status: offline
I love this method it is so simple and the out come is simply amaazing. I have heard in other threads that it dosen't work on all canopys. Does any one have an example of one that it don't work on?
Later Jim
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Canopy Tinting - 
(I used to live in Kemmerer.) 
