I've been hearing that Monokote was junk for 30 years. I like it. Having said that, I have started to use dope and Koverall and paint. I build scale and I need the patina of paint for a realistic finish. What I have found is that dope and fabric is a great way to finish models. I really enjoy it. ITs easy and faster than you might think. So, for anyone that thinks the heat-shrink mylars are a pain, give the old-school method a try. You might like it.