Hey,

First let me say that this site is really a goldmine when it comes to info and pics on customs and figs, it really is something else.

My question:
I have a clear canopy for a vehicle custom I'm doing. I need it to have a orange, reddish tint but still be transparent. I've tried glass stain but that didn't look good at all. Any ideas? suggestions?

Thanks

Okay, I admit to never having tried this, but I've read about a way that doll collectors/customizers sometimes use Rit brand dye when they want/need a different skin color. I don't remember much about the technique but it had something to do with boiling the part in the dye (but not so hot to cause it to warp) and it seems that softer PVC pieces (limbs/heads) will dye darker/faster than the hard ABS parts (torsos). You might want to try a google search and see if you can find detailed instructions...

If you consider trying this I would suggest testing it on a similar part and not the one you're actually planning to use.

This may be what you've already tried, but there is a translucent glass paint that I've used before that worked fairly nicely. I don't know the exact brand off hand, but I can get it for you when I go home. I bought it at Michaels. The paint was a little streaky when I painted it on, but I'm sure there are ways to make it look better.

Bill Burns did a custom Hal Jordan JLU fig a while back, using a Waverider figure, and managed to paint his translucent accessory green and it stayed translucent. If I remember correctly, he also posted how he did it. Unfortunately I don't have time right now to hunt down the thread, but it was on the custom board here...somewhere.

Yeah TPTBeyond that was the stuff I used. It really was looking good, but then I noticed it was darker and lighter and some areas. Then it also had little empty circles in spaces I had dabbed. Once I saw it wasn't going to work I cleaned it and got out the GooGone because I only have one canopy to work with.

They have "clear" / transparent paints you can find at the more well supplied craft/hobby shops. Tamiya in particual has a pretty great variety that works well in my experience.

I use RIT dye for all of my staining needs. It works quite well and doesn't rub off.

The only thing I've ever used it on was a clear Marvel Legend's flying stand, for my Legends style Sinestro. You can see that here: http://www.bizarroinc.com/figuresind/sinestroleg.html

I also hope to use it in the near future on another custom I'm planning. We'll see how that goes. But, like I said, it worked okay for the one time I used it, but my piece is probably smaller and hides flaws better than yours.

I've used the clear red Tamiya paint on a few customs (like on this Captain Atom, where I wanted the silver metallic to shine through) and it does work really well. I don't know where to find it easily, though, and my bottle is very old and almost dried out. Bummer .

The dye suggestion is one I'd be interested in trying some day.

Davy

You're in luck, I know exactly what you need. Head to the Testors.com web site and snag some of the Clear Orange or Clear Red. It's easier to paint in my opinion, than Tamyia clears and can be thinned down and put through an airbrush. Goes on with a perfect clear tint. I have the red, blue, and green too and that green can definatly be used for GL items. Weird thing is Testors doesn't make a clear yellow yet, so I still have to use Tamyia clear yellow over Argent Silver to get the good gold color.