Go Back  RCU Forums > RC Airplanes > Questions and Answers
Reload this Page >

Tinting a clear canopy

Community
Search
Notices
Questions and Answers If you have general RC questions or answers discuss it here.

Tinting a clear canopy

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-13-2005, 05:36 PM
  #1  
jkwynn
Member
Thread Starter
My Feedback: (1)
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: weston, FL
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Tinting a clear canopy

Does anyone know how to make a clear canopy "smoked"?

I tried "rit" dye, but the plastic apparently isn't porous enough to accept the dye.

Thanks, Jason
Old 06-13-2005, 05:56 PM
  #2  
Campy
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
 
Campy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Baltic, CT
Posts: 3,613
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default RE: Tinting a clear canopy

I believe Testor's has a semi transparent/translucent spray paint in a couple of colors.
Old 06-13-2005, 06:25 PM
  #3  
cap10b
Senior Member
 
cap10b's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Carrollton, TX
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: Tinting a clear canopy

yeah go to the car side of the hobby shop and get Pactra's car body paints in smoke or dark purple. Take a cardboard box and mount your canopy upside down in the box and tape the edges. Lightly spray on a coat and turn the box over and place it down on a table right side up because if you dont and you got a little heavy with the first coat it will puddle in the top of the canopy when its left upside down. Do that with each successive coating and you can get as dark or light as you want.


best of luck to you

JDS


Old 06-13-2005, 06:34 PM
  #4  
2slow2matter
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Springtown, TX
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: Tinting a clear canopy

Rit Dye will work, it's what I as well as many other users have used. The key is that the dye must be warm. Get the dye warm, and dip the canopy into it, keeping the dye moving all over the canopy so that it doesn't sit in any one place for a long time. Just kind of slosh it around for a few seconds, remove the canopy and rinse with cold water. Repeat until you get the darkness you desire. Use black liquid rit dye. Use most, if not all of the bottle in your pot of water.
Old 06-15-2005, 08:59 AM
  #5  
padoni
Senior Member
My Feedback: (2)
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: bend, OR
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: Tinting a clear canopy

Tried Rit dye. The directions I got Was to bring water with dye to 140degrees. then dip canopy. This did not work. the heat just curled the canopy beyond use. If Rit does work, please discribe the process fully. Tried a second used canopy with the same results.
Old 06-15-2005, 10:06 AM
  #6  
Lightfoot
My Feedback: (1)
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: MS
Posts: 3,785
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: Tinting a clear canopy

This thread should answer your questions.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_94.../tm.htm#948245

Old 06-15-2005, 11:47 AM
  #7  
JoeAirPort
My Feedback: (41)
 
JoeAirPort's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,259
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default RE: Tinting a clear canopy

The canopy can't be PVC or the dye will not take. It has to be poly carbonate plastic to accept dye.
Old 06-15-2005, 02:54 PM
  #8  
MerlinL14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: Tinting a clear canopy

Add a cup of vinegar to the water, this will act as a cleaning agent and as it is an acid it also 'etches' the canopy to allow the dye to penatrate. I extencively use the dye method and have not found a canopy that does not tint with this method. You water should only be about 80*f as well.
Old 06-17-2005, 04:00 PM
  #9  
pnmrr
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Kenosha, WI
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: Tinting a clear canopy

I am with cap 10b, use the tint from the car guys. I use the Pactra brand, racing finish, window tint. It can be a little runny so you have to watch it. Sounds like cap 10b has figured out a good way to apply it and it looks great too!
Old 06-18-2005, 08:32 AM
  #10  
rclement
Senior Member
My Feedback: (1)
 
rclement's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Auburn, WA
Posts: 2,690
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: Tinting a clear canopy

I am also with Cap10b. I tried several times to tint a canopy by following the info on one of the threads on here. By the third canopy I finally got one to work but the tint process more or less destroyed it too. (caused it to have spider cracks in the plastic) The problem is sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You have to get the solution warm enough to except the dye but not too warm to melt or distort it. It's a pain in the butt to me. I paint mine now.
Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version

Name:	Yw67477.jpg
Views:	12
Size:	110.7 KB
ID:	286585   Click image for larger version

Name:	Lg16862.jpg
Views:	7
Size:	46.7 KB
ID:	286586  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.