fly boy3 Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Its the cost of covering material that upsets me here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly P Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Ouch! That does seem a little pricey... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W-O Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Is ripmax the best price< I doubt it somehow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 They are 10 metre rolls, however not even a metre wide I was going to cover the B52 in soalrtex, but the cost was horrendous, especially as the cam scheme would need painting on after too. prices seem to be from £64 to £66 per roll, so not much savings around Im afraid. Edited By Tim Mackey on 27/01/2012 15:14:15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 £6.60 a metre isn't that unreasonable for a textured covering is it? Seems roughly in line with standard Profilm/Oracover - and don't even bother checking their "special" varieties if you're of a nervous disposition! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 That's why ARTF's are so popular. You can have the covering for £65, and have the model underneath it for free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W-O Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Posted by Martin Harris on 27/01/2012 15:16:44:£6.60 a metre isn't that unreasonable for a textured covering is it? Seems roughly in line with standard Profilm/Oracover - and don't even bother checking their "special" varieties if you're of a nervous disposition! Maybe not bad if you compare it with other similar products, but just because one is expensive, it doesn't mean that price is OK for all.Even ordinary solarfilm has become very expensive now, | won't use it, rather use the eastern equivalent. High prices may not mean higher profits as less and less buy as alternatives are found. 24gsm woven fibreglass cloth and floor sealer seems attractive on foam, stronger and I don't think heavier (I have everything ready to do a test piece when I have time) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Solarfilm used to be £2.30 for a large roll, now it is £7.50! Haven't bought any covering for a while, but look around swop-meets, for much less. Also keep some in stock, even if not required now for rainy days. Actually comparing prices. Solarfilm is £7.50 for a 660x1270mm roll, where Profilm is £17 for a 620x2000mm roll, making solarfilm not as good value. (almost 1:1 comparison) Profilm: 1.2 sq/m roll Solafilm: 0.83 sq/m roll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 I wonder what the GC profilm alternative is like to use. Bit pointless using cheaper stuff if it is not up to the job. Anyone with some experience of this covering ?Edited By fly boy3 on 27/01/2012 16:14:13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 I think that now we have to add round £20 min for covering a 40 sized model in what ever we use. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Not personally, but a fellow B52 builder used it to cover his and was very pleased with the results ( 2 x 5 mtr rolls - all silver ).Edited By Tim Mackey on 27/01/2012 16:25:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 £17.00 for a roll of profilm up here......cheaper to cover models in £10.00 notes.... ken anderson ne..1 ... covering dept.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete H Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I use it. Its quite good and the price is right plus it comes in 5m rolls. I buy a few rolls at a time from HK but for the odd roll GC works out cheaper because of the postage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I've used a roll of red covering from Giant Cod. I was impressed. It's thicker than solarfilm, and easier to use than solarfilm. Especially when shrinking with a heat gun I've found it's so easy to put a hole in solarfilm with no warning. This stuff never holed once, and you can see when it is getting a bit hot and back off. It has a white adhesive backing and that is really the only draw back as overlaps are sometimes visible as white hairlines. All in all very good value and I would buy it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Sorry double post - not sure why!Edited By GrahamC on 27/01/2012 16:36:35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 Hi Pete, how does it cover open areas such as a built up wings, not too concerned about its ability for curves etc. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I found open areas fine - double curves hard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 Thanks Graham. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braddock, VC Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I always buy the cheapest, as no matter how I try my covering attempts resemble Nora Batty's stockings I've used the gc stuff which was better than the steve webbs stuff but prefer profilm for ease of use and longevity. There is a solarfilm polyester which is meant to be the dog's nuts but although I have 4 or 5 rolls I've yet to try it. (It's in a really sick colour that I got cheap, may recover one of my vintage jobs in it). Edited By John Gibbs on 27/01/2012 16:50:04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete H Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Same here, open areas are fine although it can be a bit strong when it shrinks and can cause warping. I found just using the iron gave better control of the shrinking process. The white glue lines that can appear on the edges are removable with acetone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 Checked out GC's web site (should have done it sooner) and the reviews of this product are posit ive. Wonder if they print the negative ones. Will give it a try if colours are available. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Cantwell Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 all coverings, be it film, or tex, are manufactured from various ingredients, the reason for the huge price increase is because one of the main ingredients, anyone know what that is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim A Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Since coming back to RC have been surprised how dear stuff is in the UK compared here in NZ. Thirty plus years ago used to buy a lot from the UK usually VAT free. But I just compared pricing of covering here at 3 LHS (By local I mean within a THOUSAND miles!) who do mail order. It all looks comparable with UK prices; Solarfilm 2m $25 to $30 = 12.50 to 15.00 pounds Solartex 2m $40 = 20.00 pounds Solartex 10m$170 = 65.00 pounds This includes 15% GST (VAT). However where we have it good is that there is no Duty or GST on personal imports of Toys & Hobbies up to $399, so as long as we keep overseas shipments below that we are sweet. You in the UK sure get whipped by the Taxman. Also you seem to get stung with high Freight/Postage costs, stuff I have brought from China or the US has been resonable in that way. As an example I brought in a box of balsa from Tower Hobbies mid last year, (Balsa was almost unobtainable here at the time & still is thanks to the Boat Building Industry here and in Aus.) And saved a bundle as well!! Freight on that by USPS priorty was roughly $45 the box measured 40x12x12 inches, and weighed about 8 - 10 pounds. You have to be careful if you have a choice of shipper espc. from China, Registered mail or Standard parcel post is the best - cheapest & quickest. DHL no faster, EMS is not even recommended by a couple of Chinese Suppliers!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I have recently bought some solarfilm from Glider Distribusion they charge £3.99 per meter for most of the colours which i think is quite reasonably priced. Although the flourescent green i also bought was £6.99 a meter!!!!!!!! Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mowerman Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 I used GC film on my Yorkshireman biplane and am quite happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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