Tinting a Clear Canopy ???? Any ideas???

rv969wf · #1 10-16-2006, 01:51 AM

Does anyone know how to tint / darken a clear non tinted Canopy???? Are there some good products out there that one can spray on that will stick and not peel off??? Everyone has to ask a dumb question so this is mine... I've looked and looked on the internet with not much luck. Please fire back with any kind of response. THANKS !!!!!

szicree · #2 10-16-2006, 09:41 AM

I found this site a while back and it looks real interesting. It looks like a person could even mask parts of the bubble off and create an opaque section directly overhead.

http://www.spraylat.co.uk/industry_detail.php?id=19

cjensen · #3 10-16-2006, 09:45 AM

I was just thinking this very same thing yesterday. I was looking through my OSH pics when I came across that green RV-8 with the playing cards on the wings, and I really like that tinted canopy. I don't think this is a dumb question by any means...

David Clifford · #4 10-16-2006, 11:25 AM

FWIW, while building my Cozy MKIV, I came up to the point of whether to order a tinted or non-tinted canopy. After much discussion with experianced pilots who do alot of flying at night, it was brought to my attention that you have better visability at night with a clear canopy, so thats what went in. I can always where sun glasses during the day flights.

praterdj · #5 10-16-2006, 11:34 AM

You would need to try it with a piece of scrap lexan that you removed but I tinted all of my canopies on RC planes by using Rit Dye purchased from Wal-Mart. You would obviously need more than one box due to the size but I mix it with water in a trash bag and drop the canopy in and let it soak until it is the color I want. Not sure but it might work with the RV canopy. Need a big tub or something to soak it in.

Once it's tinted you can wash the canopy and it doesn't come off.

jferraro17 · #6 10-16-2006, 12:21 PM

Donald--

That is an incredible tip if it actually works! Can somebody try it on their canopy and let us know?

I believe Todd's Canopy's sells a couple of different tints:

http://www.toddscanopies.com/tdmain.htm

You can subtract the one from Van's and buy one of Todd's, I think.

Also, I've heard some DARs don't like the tint if you intend to fly at night. Safety concerns you've mentioned, but if the DAR won't sign, then it's moot.

Joe

rv969wf · #7 10-16-2006, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by praterdj

You would need to try it with a piece of scrap lexan that you removed but I tinted all of my canopies on RC planes by using Rit Dye purchased from Wal-Mart. You would obviously need more than one box due to the size but I mix it with water in a trash bag and drop the canopy in and let it soak until it is the color I want. Not sure but it might work with the RV canopy. Need a big tub or something to soak it in.

Once it's tinted you can wash the canopy and it doesn't come off.

Thanks for the tip on "Rit Dye" can you tell me how it works?? I'm guessing it soaks into the acrylic and are there different tints / shades colors?? Or can it be sprayed on with paint gun only on one side of canopy????? Thanks Alan

praterdj · #8 10-16-2006, 02:45 PM

I'm actually not sure if it will work on the RV canopies as it does with the RC stuff. Might work great...might not work at all. The acrylic seems harder than the stuff they use for models but it's worth a try. The black is pretty concentrated so it works better than the other colors.

Please try it on scrap but I've had great results with models. You can set the level of darkness by varying the time you leave it in the dye.

praterdj · #9 10-16-2006, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rv969wf

Thanks for the tip on "Rit Dye" can you tell me how it works?? I'm guessing it soaks into the acrylic and are there different tints / shades colors?? Or can it be sprayed on with paint gun only on one side of canopy????? Thanks Alan

There are several different colors. I pour a couple of boxes into Hot water and just drop the parts in and let them soak. I check them periodically and when the color is the shade I want I rinse the part off and I'm done. You actually determine the shade!

Looks really nice when you are done. Seems to last forever but that's on models.

rv969wf · #10 10-16-2006, 04:03 PM

Thanks Don for the tips, I did find the website for the dye. www.ritdye.com I will probably experiment on some scrap pieces and see what happens. I'm not sure what color to try as the website shows tan, beige, black and many other colors. Problem with my RV-6 is the canopy is painted and plane is flying. Do you know if it effects paint or powder coated steel parts? I guess I'll have to experiment with the dye and see what it does to paint and other things..... Thanks for the help. AJ