AllThumbs

Used to read about adding a tint to canopies and thought I'd try it.
Followed the how to from an old article in Flying Models.

Used Royal Blue Ritt dye.
Hot water, used the whole package.
The canopy got a light spotty tint.
After a few motor runs, most of it has wiped off.

Any success stories out there for this technique?

Kraut

My Feedback: (1)

I've used the Rit dye tinting technique before with good results. I just stuck the entire canopy in a bucket with full strength black Rit dye and left it there overnight. The canopy was completely darkened with a nice, smooth tint all over. I then attached the canopy with RC-56 and it lasted for quite a while....maybe because the plastic was of the "right" material, or maybe because the tint was on both the inside and the outside? I never did get any raw fuel on it - so I can't say if it would have affected it. I can say that there are several different types of plastics that get used to make canopies - and some won't take the dye process very well - if at all. I tried in vain to get some side windows on a Cherokee I was building to tint - and they simply wouldn't take the dye.

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

I have one that I did that to and it has been 15 years at least. Still nice and tinted, no spotting. Used hot water, but not too hot, and left it in for a few hours.

ParticleMan

My Feedback: (24)

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My Extra is done with Rit Dye.

5 gallon bucket, tap water hot as it comes out of the tap, few cups of salt, blue and black rit dye (whole packages). Clean the canopy very well, no finger prints. Submerged mine for 20 minutes, I lifted it out with a stick every few minutes to check for the right tint.

The results were awesome, the tint is perfectly even and has stayed on fine.

SST

My Feedback: (2)

Testors transparent spray paints. Paint the inside of the canopy and RTV to fuse...Bring on the nitro.

bentgear

ParticleMan hit on a big part of it to prevent spotting, the part to be dyed must be very clean. I use dishwashing detergent then follow with a good rinse, then straight into the dye pot.
Ed M.

AllThumbs

...to remove any release agent from the vacuformed plastic parts.
That's probably good advice.

I noticed that the part of the canopy that I polished out with various grades of polishing cloth (to remove scratches) took the dye more evenly than the part I didn't polish out.

I didn't throw in any salt to the dye pot...maybe I'll try that next time.

According to other posts on the subject, two or three dye packets may be necessary.
And black did better than other colors.


The canopy I tried too tint was a Goldberg Eagle 2
(I'll try the Goldberg Eaglet 50 next).
Also - different makes of plastic or acetate had different results.

SST

My Feedback: (2)

I can't believe the B.S. you guys are willing to go through to tint a canopy some simple color, like gray, when there's spray paint that will do it in SECONDS!! Dye...salt...just right temp...keep checking...gotta be the right kind of plastic...pixie dust and dance in the light of a full moon...


Jeez!

grahamd1

My Feedback: (1)

I just tried the Rit meathod and I'm hooked, heres my penny's worth.

I ran the hot water tap till the water was at its hottest.
Filled a plastic container that was large enough to submerge the canopy with the hot water. (approx 6 pints).
Added half a cup of salt
Added the contents of one Rit dye packet of crystals.

Stirred for a few seconds.

Wearing gloves !!!, I dunked the canopy into the solution, and left it for about 4 minutes. After this time I get lifting the canopy out to check its progress. when I was happy with the result I fished the canopy out and washed it under cold water.
About 12 minutes in total, faster than I could have painted it (carefully)....

This is my Great Planes Super Skybolt canopy, from a packet of Royal Blue.

WYDAH

Here's my Skybolt canopy after the Rite Dye bath. I used hot water (about 130F). Not too hot or you might deform the plastic. I used 2 packets of black, and 1 packet of blue in about 2 gallons of water. Submerged for a total of 40mins. I did a thorough cleaning with dish soap prior to soaking it. I'm very happy with how it turned out.

-Fitz.

WYDAH

Here it is on the plane....

More pics on my site if your interested.