RE: "Glassing" an airplane
Phil Granderson uses an interesting approach to cover/paint. He uses nitrate dope to cover the entire airframe (open areas and all) with .2 oz carbon fiber veil. He cuts the veil away at the open spots and covers over the rib bays with silkspan. He shoots a few coats of Brodak butyrate clear dope to seal everything. Then he sprays a coat of dope nixed with commercial talc from Tapp Plastics as a filler. Sand, and shoot with the auto color and clear coat. He says he adds about 8 ounces to a 700 sq inch plane for a front row finish.
The CF veil/dope matrix has most of the advantages of fiberglass and weighs less. PTG had an article in MA this year or late last. This is an excellent technique and easy to do, as an alternate to glass.