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• Here's an item or two from the latest catalogues, magazine advertising or websites  - not  necessarily all new products on the market, but items large and small that will be of interest. 
• If you contact any supplier as a result of reading this page, please be sure to mention ModelFlight.

In his letter on post box, Terry Pollock is talking about his current projects and says,

"I am using an Australian covering material on the models. This is an opaque heat shrink material especially developed for modelling. When you apply it and heat shrink it then it goes clear. You can then paint it any colour you like."

I thought that sounded quite interesting and asked Terry for some more information. He tells me it is called OzCover and it comes from Tony Cincotta at Saturn Hobbies in Melbourne.

Terry goes on to say:

"I have used the OzCover product on a couple of models and can vouch that it is almost indestructible.

"You apply it in similar manner to normal coverings such as Solarfilm, however it tolerates much higher temperatures. It is almost impossible to burn a hole in it. It also requires higher temperatures from the heat gun or covering iron to shrink it. It starts out opaque and when finished it comes up clear. It looks fantastic on old-timer type models where you often use transparent or clear covering on large parts of the wing or fuselage.

"In use it does not sag in the sun. Some modellers have left models inside their car in direct sunlight, which can reach over 50 degrees Celsius here in summer, with no sagging. Also tends to reduce those minor "hangar rash" marks that often spoil our beautiful models. Painting is very easy with minimal preparation required. Just a wipe down with acetone to get rid of any residue. Mask it any way you like. I use standard (real cheap) household enamel paints.

"I will see if I have a photo of one of the models I used it on and send it to you. I destroyed my stick model a couple of months ago when I did the old "pull up when flying inverted" trick. Was too low to complete the half loop. The covering material stayed together better than the balsa did in some areas."

OzCover is available in 3 grades. OzLite weighs 39gsm and is suitable for everything from light weight rubber to small R/C models, Ozcover which weighs 80gsm for the larger models, and almost bullet proof OzTuff at 133gsm for those extra large models.

You can read more about this material, together with practical guidance on its application, at

http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~saturn/ 

Richard Smart, Sales Director of Flair Products, tells me that their new Stearman (featured on ModelFlight #36) is about to go out. This picture of the final packaging of the Stearman kits suggests that the response has been good!