Joe, on the original Coverite Gee Bee thestabilizer and finare build from 5mm balsa-sheets. I coveredthe surface with paper and did some coats ofclear nitro-paint(Nitro Hartgrund). After that the rips of the real airplane are simulatedwith strips from paper. Strips are 3mm in width and cut from paperabout 0.15mm thick. Strips are glued useing little white-glue. Once dry next clearcoat isbrushed onand edges of paper-strips are sanded smooth.More coats brushed on until you are happy with the surface. The final color is brushed on in several layers always sanded in between with fine grit. Today I would spray onthe final color,will make things easier.

Here ishow it will lookat the end(Gee Bee model D). Decals have discolored over the years ( Model built in the eighties)

Aldo