Tint film for bubble canopy

dell30rb

dell30rb

Final Approach
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The swift has a sliding canopy which can get very hot.

There is tint film on the canopy already, however we decided it is not dark enough and would like to increase the tint to keep more of the sun out. Can standard automotive tint film and application methods be used? Just want to make sure there is no conflict with the acrylic canopy.

Thanks
 
This has been discussed on other boards. The consensus is that it's doable, but very difficult to get right on a bubble canopy due to the variable curvature.

We installed a retractable shade instead. It works great! (Ignore the goofy O2 - sniffing people. lol)

4e76fd540912d98690edbc55997e09c7.jpg
 
look for "west system PVA" it is a Polyvinyl Alcohol sprayed in coating that you can see thru. Its primary use is a mold release, for fiber glass lay ups. If you don't get it right, just wash it out. try again.

a very light mist, let it dry, if not dark enough spray in another coat.
 
Tom-D said:
look for "west system PVA" it is a Polyvinyl Alcohol sprayed in coating that you can see thru. Its primary use is a mold release, for fiber glass lay ups. If you don't get it right, just wash it out. try again.

a very light mist, let it dry, if not dark enough spray in another coat.
Click to expand...

I would think that would peel after being in the sun for a day or two.
 
Jay Honeck said:
This has been discussed on other boards. The consensus is that it's doable, but very difficult to get right on a bubble canopy due to the variable curvature.

We installed a retractable shade instead. It works great! (Ignore the goofy O2 - sniffing people. lol)

4e76fd540912d98690edbc55997e09c7.jpg
Click to expand...


I marshaled a couple in an RV at AirVenture this year with those nose canulas on when they landed. It looked pretty goofy.
 
The PVA is an interesting solution, however I am more interested in the film because most of them block 99.9% of UV rays. I don't like the idea of putting on sunscreen when flying. Can't always take a shower after flying, and don't want to show up to a meeting smelling like banana boat.

One day when I forgot a hat, I draped a t-shirt over my head. No one can see me at 8000 feet anyway.
 
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nddons said:
I marshaled a couple in an RV at AirVenture this year with those nose canulas on when they landed. It looked pretty goofy.
Click to expand...
Really? Man, we take them off as soon as we get below 10K'. They aren't terribly uncomfortable, but after a few hours they get itchy!
 
I've used products like Nite Shades (spray tint) to tint automotive plastic before, but I'm not sure I'd do it with an aircraft canopy. Besides, the problem with permanently-affixed tint is that it's great in the daytime, but terrible for night vision.

I'd be looking at the retractable shade option. Even the cling-wrap tint might be a decent option since it's easily removable. You could buy this and cut custom pieces to suit your needs:

http://www.amazon.com/Insta-Cling-Limo-Dark-Window-Film/dp/B000AMBNRC
 
dell30rb said:
The PVA is an interesting solution, however I am more interested in the film because most of them block 99.9% of UV rays. I don't like the idea of putting on sunscreen when flying. Can't always take a shower after flying, and don't want to show up to a meeting smelling like banana boat.

One day when I forgot a hat, I draped a t-shirt over my head. No one can see me at 8000 feet anyway.
Click to expand...

What is your canopy material? Does it already block UV?

media.nl

http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Plastics_Library/UV-Ultra-Violet-Filtering-Plexiglass
 
bnt83 said:
I would think that would peel after being in the sun for a day or two.
Click to expand...

So mist a little water on it. it will look like you just applied it.
 
I'd just get a shade for it.
 
nddons said:
I marshaled a couple in an RV at AirVenture this year with those nose canulas on when they landed. It looked pretty goofy.
Click to expand...

Did you think they won at a game of "Bobbing for Maxi-Pads"?!
 
SoonerAviator said:
Besides, the problem with permanently-affixed tint is that it's great in the daytime, but terrible for night vision.

I'd be looking at the retractable shade option. Even the cling-wrap tint might be a decent option since it's easily removable. You could buy this and cut custom pieces to suit your needs:

http://www.amazon.com/Insta-Cling-Limo-Dark-Window-Film/dp/B000AMBNRC
Click to expand...

Cling wrap might work.

Night vision is not an issue, i'm just tinting the canopy above my head.
 
Hot water and rit dye has been used to tint transparencies for a lot of things.

This looks kind interesting if you have something to experiment on

https://www.dipyourcar.com/Plasti-Dip-Smoke-can.html?gclid=COGCsLfcgMgCFQiOaQodvXcD0Q


Give LP Aeroplastics or Great Lakes Aeroplastics a call and ask about ways they might have seen used or have used.

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=120192&highlight=window+tint

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=34402&highlight=window+tint&page=2
 
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dell30rb said:
Cling wrap might work.

Night vision is not an issue, i'm just tinting the canopy above my head.
Click to expand...

Should work alright I'd think. You could cut a strip that runs overhead to deal with the sun on your head/shoulders, and maybe some separate strips for the sides to put up as needed when the sun is off to the side. They seem to adhere pretty well on the vehicles I've seen, so I don't imagine it being overhead would affect it too much.
 
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