Patience is a virtue.  And it sounds like you have the patience to do it right.  I dont.  I have made a few mistakes by blazing ahead.  I wish I had more patience, but oh well. 
I understand you are a long way from considering covering.  It just happens to be the stage I am at in my build.  The truth is you may have seen a fabric covered plane and didnt know it.  You can make the fabric show, as in the case of WWI warbirds were it is to scale.  Or you can make the finish a high gloss where the fabric doesnt show.  I prefer it to the plastic films.  And when you do settle on a scheme keep in mind how easy it will be to see from the ground.  Some colors do not show up well at all.  I cannot say for certain, but I think black may be one of those colors.