10-11-2009, 03:56 PM
Bernhard, I've done a "canvas" roof using facial tissue, although mine was applied over a styrene roof with moulded-in "board" detail. Unfortunately, I didn't apply enough layers, with the result that the board detail still shows through.
For your plain styrene roof, though, it should work well. Separate the tissue into single plies, and cut it into strips of a size suitable to the roof which you're trying to duplicate. I think that the canvas could be applied either as long pieces along the length of the roof, or as short ones running cross-wise, but I'm not absolutely sure.
Cut the pieces larger than needed, so that the excess can overhang at the eaves. Place the tissue wherever you wish to start, and hold it in place while you apply some lacquer thinner, using a fairly wide brush (1/2" or 3/4") to one end. Once you have some thinner applied, the tissue should stay in place by itself. Continue applying thinner to the entire sheet, brushing outwards from the areas already done. Add more tissue as required, overlapping the previously-done area by a few scale inches, until the entire roof is covered. You can add additional layers of tissue if you wish, either immediately after finishing the first layer or after the first layer has dried. When you are satisfied with the appearance (don't worry if you have a few small wrinkles, as the real ones weren't always perfect, but, if you don't want wrinkles, brush them out before everything hardens) set the roof aside until everything hardens - usually several hours, as multiple layers of tissue require multiple applications of thinner. When everything has set hard, use a sharp blade to trim away the excess hanging over the edges, then paint the roof as you normally would.
I don't have a photo of the car which I did, but if you need it, I'll try to add one later. By the way, if the roof which you're working with has already been painted, sand it sufficiently that the lacquer thinner can penetrate down to the plastic beneath.
Wayne
For your plain styrene roof, though, it should work well. Separate the tissue into single plies, and cut it into strips of a size suitable to the roof which you're trying to duplicate. I think that the canvas could be applied either as long pieces along the length of the roof, or as short ones running cross-wise, but I'm not absolutely sure.
Cut the pieces larger than needed, so that the excess can overhang at the eaves. Place the tissue wherever you wish to start, and hold it in place while you apply some lacquer thinner, using a fairly wide brush (1/2" or 3/4") to one end. Once you have some thinner applied, the tissue should stay in place by itself. Continue applying thinner to the entire sheet, brushing outwards from the areas already done. Add more tissue as required, overlapping the previously-done area by a few scale inches, until the entire roof is covered. You can add additional layers of tissue if you wish, either immediately after finishing the first layer or after the first layer has dried. When you are satisfied with the appearance (don't worry if you have a few small wrinkles, as the real ones weren't always perfect, but, if you don't want wrinkles, brush them out before everything hardens) set the roof aside until everything hardens - usually several hours, as multiple layers of tissue require multiple applications of thinner. When everything has set hard, use a sharp blade to trim away the excess hanging over the edges, then paint the roof as you normally would.
I don't have a photo of the car which I did, but if you need it, I'll try to add one later. By the way, if the roof which you're working with has already been painted, sand it sufficiently that the lacquer thinner can penetrate down to the plastic beneath.
Wayne