F-22 canopy question

If you want to try another way. Fill a small container with future and use food coloring to tint it the color you want or the color that would change the yellow to the shade you want. I then polish my canopies with a wet dry sanding patch kit. I then use regular, not gel, toothpaste and polish up the plastic with that. Once you are satisfied I use dental floss and attach it to the inside frame of the canopy with a drop of clear glue. I then dip the whole thing in the future, let it drip for a few seconds, then put it under a bowl, palstic container, or what have you, and let it dry for a few days. You get crystal clear, glass like canopies with this method.

I will say though, after watching film footage, and looking at pictures from the web, I believe that the canopy really is a smoke color but has a mirrored finish on the outside thus giving it the "look" of a gold canopy such as the f-16. You can view th ehigh res full size pic here

http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/photos/menace/images/24797/f-22-raptor-nellis-2008.jpg

Brent

I believe that the "smoke" is just a result of the tinting seen at an angle.  I work next to the Lockheed facility where these planes are built and the canopy does appear to have a gold tint to them.  I have occasionally seen one that didn't appear to be tinted but it has always been one that hasn't been painted yet.  Every one that I have seen delivered seened to have the gold tinted canopy.  Not exactly first hand information though, just a judgement from my calibrated MkI eyeball.

Check this photo....

Or these....

Some look gold tinted.....

But then there are these.....

My brain is begining to hurt...... 

I have heard the F-16s are going away from the tinted canopy.

I think the tint interferes with night vision goggle use. That probably won't be an issue with the F-22 considering the F-22s air to ground role was an afterthought to appease congress. 

Great pictures!! IMHO, I think that the conopies are mirrored on the outside, kinda like my aviator glasses. When I am flying, to look through them, they look smoke tint, but on the front of them, they are a mirrored finish and they look like polished aluminum. My dad and brother do allot of cantract work on planes for the military, I will see if they can give me a solid answer.

edit - I just emailed the US airforce at Langley Airforce base with a research question on weather the canopies are tinted smoke with mirrored finishes that look like they are gold, or if there are in fact both gold and smoke tinted canopies. I will keep you all informed if I get a response.

Brent

If you go to a fully loaded baking store you can find more than just your regular colors of food coloring. Thus, if you can find gold you would use that and tint it down with yellow. Other wise yellow and orange mixed in different amounts can give you what you want. As long as you use acrylic base, such as Future, you could also use Tamiya clear paints mixing the yellow and orange as well. Make sure you test the color first so that you are 100% sure it is what you want. You can either dip the conopy or airbrush VERY light coats until the color you want is achieved. Then just buff and polish. If it doesnt work out, use a rag soaked with isopropyl alcohol ( rubbing alcohol) to wipe it clean and then try again.

Hope this helps

 Brent