I want to tint a canopy and was told to use Rit dye. I tried with water N/G. I tried using de-natured alcohal N/G. I heated the water to 120+ degrees N/G. Anyone have any suggestions. If i have to paint/tint what paint, What's the process of painting a canopy so it doesn't run or look uneven.

Thanks
Bob Motta

Some of the plastics wont accept a dye.

A good alternative is the model car spray transparent colors - spray the canopy on the inside.

Bill.

What Bill said.

You did clean the plastic with dish detergent and/or alcohol before the attempt to dye it, right?
Dennis-

When tiniting a canopy, the canoppy should be fyully emerced in teh die solution, which should already be up to tempurature. The solution should fully cover the canopy, so a large enought pot is required.. Also, depending on the colour you want, you might have to combine a few different dies. Some colours don't come out as intended. and lastly, some die jobs can take over 20 minutes! always do a few tests befopre hand. and as stated, the canoly must be free of dirt, oil, etc.. a dnt eh die solution shoul dbe mixed a thoroughly as possible.

I have used the Rit die on many occassion's with great success. I usually use warm tap water in a disposable pan and keep checking it for the right tint. You do need to clean the canopy with dish soap and rinse it good when you are done, but I have always had success. I have used the liguid Rit as well as the dry powder. Both work great. Good Luck, Dave

If painting with model paint clean inside well and spray in several light coats allowing to dry over night between coats this should give you a drip free paint job

Hi Dave, I'm new to R/C Universe so I hope that this message is getting back to you.

I washed canopy and tried the water & dye method. I also tried desolved the rit dye in alcohal putting the canopy in a large baggie putting the baggie in a large pot of just under boiling water worked the solution around the canopy for more than twenty minuts. When I took the canopy out of the solution it was almost perfectly clear. Is it possible that the type of plastic is just too hard and wouln't absorb the dye???

Thanks
Bob Motta

RCRube:

The spray paints for tinting a canopy that have given me the best results are the Testor's transparent sprays. They are not fuel proof, you have to spray them inside the canopy.

Use 400 or 600 paper to dull the inside before spraying the paint, and use thin coats when you spray. Adding more coats to get the final density desired.

And don't worry about the dulling inside, the paint will make it shiny again.

Bill.