Carey:

I have just finished a top flight .60 P-47 with flite metal. I believe it wieghs less than if I would have painted it. The reasoning behind this is you do not have to prime the surface. All you have to do is prepare the surface the same as if you were painting. So, you get the surface as smooth and perfect as you can, then you draw on the panel lines, and place the flite metal on according to the supplied instructions. The P-47 does not have the engine or radio equipment installed but it does have the retracts installed and it was glassed with 3/4 oz cloth and West Marine epoxy resin. In this configuration it wieghs 6.5 pounds. Here is a picture: