Bruce - Could you please elaborate on the need for a plank! type airfoil. I have seen a plane at this web site
http://users.adelphia.net/~pjburke1011/ that has a horizontal stab that drops off in mid flight by action of a servo. The plane is then flown as a scimitar type with elevons.
Ragwing - The covering is just money-cote, I think its copper and pearl white. I am not really pleased with the pearl white, as it is not totally opaque and allows my building errors, pen marks, and the underlying covering to show trough.