Tinting canopies

You could try a thinned yellow or gold, like the consistancy of ink. They are tough, I can tell you that for nothing. Testors has released a tint for smoke colored screens, but I haven't tried it yet, and it won't do you much good... Maybe they'll release others in the future.
Vallejo has also released tints. Check online for details and retailers.

demono69

Tamiya acrylic gold, add a few drops to some Future floor finish and dip it. Or you could even use yellow food coloring with the Future. Try it out on some scrap plastic to get the feel for it and the correct mixture. This will probably give you the best looking results. The gold is my recommendation.

I'd go with yellow Food coloring. I have used it int he past and it works wonders.
I think the gold would leave flecks of color on the glass, but as Swanny says, try it first to see if it will work.

Don

Has anyone evertried the gel material used in theater lighting? It might take a little work, but would be a good replacement for glass canopies (same thickness or thinner than vac-formed.) Just a thought.
The food coloring with Future would probable work best.

demono69

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to try the food color first.

I had good results on my USCG HH-65 model with future and acrylic paint. I needed to put a grey tint on the overhead windows. I simply mixed a little bit of black paint into the future, and then applied it to the part with a brush. The gret thing about using Future as a base is that if you screw up, you can strip it off with some ammonia-based window cleaner (i.e. Windex).

HTH,
-Bill

Has anyone tried using Alclad II lacquers on their canopies? I have used their multi-color "Prismatic Sapphire for the blueish hue on my F-14 camera pod and it worked well, but I wanted to see if anyone has tried their gold colored paints on clear parts.

I have found that window staining inks work quite well and you can get them in a wide variety of colours. I use mine for tinting canopies and painting formation lights.

I got them from a hobby superstore, one of places for artists/craft supplies etc.

When in a quandary over what method to use, I suggest the K.I.S.S. rule. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) Get an assortment of food colors at your neighborhood supermarket (or rip off your wife's supply in the kitchen). Mix w/ good old Future, about half & half, and dip or paint. Don't forget to let it drip dry for at least 24 hrs. Results are a beautiful transparent to translucent canopy (depending on mixture %ages) If you mess up,wash off & try again. It doesn't get much more foolproof than that!
Tony Ryan