[sdiy] thermal coupling question

[Michael Schulze]

I have a question for the group on thermal coupling.

I am building a quad vco based on Jorgen Bergfor's design.  The expo
converter (in my circuit) contains of a tempco resistor and a MAT-02
transistor pair.  The MAT-02 is in a can enclosure - you know - like a TO-72
but with 6 leads.  The pcb has a space for an 8 pin dip on which Jorgen
assembled smt devices.  Not being an smt whiz I am just assembling my two
huge crude components on an 8 pin dip header.

So my question is how to achieve the best thermal contact.  Do the two
components need to be physically touching or can they just be next to each
other with a dollop of some magical heat conducting compound binding them
(...in the darkness...).  I'd hope to come up with something more elegant
than heat sink grease...

Thanks in advance