I'll echo what GAP-RCU said; the silver also prevents UV rays from deteriorating the fabric which, over time, causes the fabric to weaken. This is especially true when using silk or other natural fabrics. I also spray a base coat of white prior to my color coats. It provides a uniform base for the lighter and darker shades. When painting your colors, start with the light shades then go to the dark shades.

When preparing the airframe for covering, I apply a few very thin coats of Ceconite Super Seam adhesive which is designed for synthetic fabrics. When I lay out the fabric, I work out the wrinkles then activate the Super Seam with acetone.

Clean up your tools with acetone or other similar solvent. It's much cheaper than thinner!