I've never covered anything that big either.

For trapped gas pockets, just ***** them with a pin and then run your glove over the bubble. Working from the outside in. Gas will escape, then rub the spot down where the hole was. Never see the pin hole. Flat finish.

I try and run my hand over all the bubbles and "chase" them all into 1 big bubble. Smooth down the monokote as you work the bubbles towards the center. ***** it with a pin and let the hot gas escape.