DYING TO BE COLORFUL -OR- USING RIT DYE TO BRIGHTEN UP SHEET BALSA MODELS
Written by: Andrew Tomasch (Revised and Updated 8/18/00)
Because they are quick, easy, and fun, I build a lot of models from sheet
balsa. This includes model aircraft (hand launched and catapult launched
gliders) and space models (boost gliders and rocket gliders). My one complaint
has always been that there is no really good way to add color to these models.
The standard spacemodeling practice of rubbing magic marker over the
surfaces produces too uneven a result for my taste, and covering with japanese
tissue adds too much work (and on small models, weight). Things came to
a head when I wanted to enter a profile scale event at an indoor aircraft
meet and only had time to build a sheet balsa profile Stinson form a Peck
Polymers kit.
The rules for "No Cal" scale clearly state that the model must
have a "reasonable imitation of the original color scheme and markings."
Everyone knows that Stinsons are green and balsa is not, so I clearly had
a problem.
I had heard vague rumors over the years that Rit dye can be used to color
models and I decided that I'd play with some and see what happened. I chose
the direct approach: Mix the dye in hot water, pour it into a disposable
foil pan and dunk the finish sanded parts into the dye. It worked! I was
afraid of warping the wood, but this was not a problem. If you get balsa
soaking wet and then allow it to dry evenly on both sides, it doesn't warp,
in fact, any warps present before wetting will still be there after the
wood dries. ...more
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