I have used monokote for years with good success.I found that ultracote is even better and recently used polycover over foam and it is better than monokote only because it adheres with lower temp sparing the foam.In my scale project I am using fabric bought at a local fabric store covering it with sig nitrate and use butrate as the final.love the results.I guess its the project and application that matters most.none of this stuff is garbage in my opinion..