RE: FIBERGLASS CLOTH SUBSTITUTE
I fly a lot of combat and we use ripstop nylon to cover our foam planes. The ripstop fabric is much tougher than fiberglass in tensile strength and impact energy is distributed along the nylon. I have yet to see a plane explode like a 'glass one on impact. Every 1/4" or so there is a larger thread of nylon so if a rip develops it is stopped by it. We generally put it on with waterbased polyurathane which is understand is becoming popular in the fiberglassing community as well.
If you guys need I'll do a photo tutorial showing how easy it is to do.
Here's a link I found on georgiacombat.com [link=http://www.georgiacombat.com/RSNApplication.html]How to apply Ripstop Nylon[/link]
Hopefully a new door has opened for some.
NAES