The options are not always so clear cut and there are some rather complex structures that will not allow precovering of the fin or stab and the order of hinging is not always the same, The order of assembly and covering must be thought out for each airplane. Granted the majority of aircraft can be precovered, and in some cases partially pre hinged or completly prehinged.

Given the opportunity I will pre cover all surfaces on the bench where the best covering job and the best surface tensioning can be done and then assemble and that includes covering before hingeing.

On many especially if it a simple restoration or refurbishment I may even go so far as to remove the tail feathers for recover as well as cut off the hinges for the recover, hingeing later. Yes more work but the results in most cases make it worthwhile for me.

Now here is an example of a design that does not lend itself to precovering of any of the tail feathers because of the structure and the covering order stab assembly order and hingeing order must be carefully thought out.

John