alternative coverings to traditional methods
There have been some modelers who used a women's coat lining material that was, or maybe still is, available from fabric stores. It was a very light material that covered much like silk or Coverite and was fairly inexpensive in comparison to regular model covering. You might take a look at it and see if it will fill the bill for you. I haven't heard it mentioned for some time so it may no longer be available. If I remember right it had to be applied over a doped surface and then doped down. It was supposed to shrink just like other fabric covering and then had to be filled with primer before painting. The main reason for use was the lower cost.