RE: Is dope & fabric covering dead?
One more thought. I recently built a twelve foot Telemaster on contract for a fellow. I used the 21st Century Fabric. Expensive stuff, but the easiest covering job I ever did. Irons on great, goes around curves super good, shrinks as much as you need it to and when done looks like a professional job that is also professionally painted. If you try it, use a little clear dope on the seams and edges...otherwise, it is the best fabric covering I ever used. (We are not talking silk and tissue and silkspan here) Too heavy for small planes, but super for 60 size and up...the best. And I have tried regular Coverite and it can't hold a candle to the 21st Century Fabric...at least in my opinion.
I am going to re-cover a Quadra powered plane I have been flying for some years. Monokote just doesn't look right..am going to strip it and use the 21st century fabric.