Dying Losi xx steering parts

[slapshot1979]

Ive always wondered why Losi made the few steering parts for the xx series white, maybe its the material they had to use? who knows. So I decided to try and Dye these parts in RIT fabric dye and I think they came out pretty good. I've included a few pictures of the final product one with a flash and the other not. Hard to explain how they look other than black chrome without the shine with a hint of gold. The picture with flash doesnt look as good as in person thats why included the other picture, In real person they fall somewhere in between the 2.

[FasterLouder]

I bought a bulk lot of Losi parts,a while ago and in it were three packs of XX steering gear,in black.
So,they do-or did-make 'em in black.

[Mad Racer]

I Think the first gen XX had black plastic steering parts & maybe the front bulk head.

The white steering arms are made with a stronger nylon & has adj ackerman. I did break a set on my XX. The updated set first came out on the CR. The white bulk head was a latter update again.

I

[jamin]

I've done this quite a few times with the losi parts. I've tried lots of different colours and they all come out quite well. Would like to get some fluo dye to try and get the same colour steering parts as the old jrx series cars....

[slapshot1979]

And here I thought I was doing something a little different. sheesh

[jamin]

And here I thought I was doing something a little different. sheesh

Hehehe! I got a set of XXT natural wheels dyed with what I hoped was 'hot orange' like the JRXT, but they didnt turn out too hot, so they are to be black now

[Caine]

They look good, always thought the orignal colour looks kinda nicoteine stained

Am i right in thinking that i read somewhere that the white bulkheads wont take dye?

[mytimac]

They look good, always thought the orignal colour looks kinda nicoteine stained

Am i right in thinking that i read somewhere that the white bulkheads wont take dye?

Oh no, I know for a fact that they will take dye.

[jamin]

They look good, always thought the orignal colour looks kinda nicoteine stained

Am i right in thinking that i read somewhere that the white bulkheads wont take dye?

Oh no, I know for a fact that they will take dye.

Yep, they definately will!

[LosiXXkid]

Guys,

On the subject of dyeing Losi XX parts such as the front bulkhead, steering arms and drive shaft yokes, how long are you leaving them in for?? I know that the longer you leave the parts on simmer in the dye, the more colour that the part will absorb but how long until saturation???

I'm also interested in having a go at dyeing some Pro-Line wheels black but I want them to be 'jet black' and not a dark grey. I've seen some RC10 parts that have been dyed but they look like they could have been left for longer.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

K

[jamin]

Probably about 20-30 mins I'd say, just keep inspecting them every 5 mins or so, if they are not taking very quickly, add some more dye and salt in, they will turn eventually.

[minreg]

Those dyed black parts look good considering they did not start off pure white.

[urpaldan]

I gave this a shot a few months back. I wanted to dye some white/natural parts pink. I used rit fuschia pink.

Even though i didnt find a pink i really liked it was fun playing around with the dye, messing with the timings etc. I think i read in Derbydans yoke thread that the pink colour can be sharpened with a pinch of rit tangerine? Ive ordered rpm purple rod ends for this particular build. Contrasting purple is easier than dye matching the springs!

The steering assembly seems quite a hard plastic and visibly took longer to 'soak' the dye up in comparison to the other parts i had. Worth noting.

[LosiXXkid]

I gave this a shot a few months back. I wanted to dye some white/natural parts pink. I used rit fuschia pink.

Even though i didnt find a pink i really liked it was fun playing around with the dye, messing with the timings etc. I think i read in Derbydans yoke thread that the pink colour can be sharpened with a pinch of rit tangerine? Ive ordered rpm purple rod ends for this particular build. Contrasting purple is easier than dye matching the springs!

The steering assembly seems quite a hard plastic and visibly took longer to 'soak' the dye up in comparison to the other parts i had. Worth noting.

Looks good - those parts seem to have taken the colour really well. A couple of questions:

How long did you leave them in for?
Did you use salt and if so, how much?

Thanks.

[urpaldan]

I didnt use salt from what i remember. The rod ends only need 3-4mins while the steering assembly needed around 10mins. If you keep checking them its easy enough to judge how long to leave them in the dye. I think it would have gone almost red if i had left it much longer.