I'm building a Lanier 40 and plan on finishing with silk and dope, mostly for practice. Do you also cover the plastic parts, which on this plane include the cowling, front cover, and turtle deck. thanks

I'm not familiar with the Lanier 40 but in general I only cover the open bay parts with fabric and paint the plastic (or solid surface balsa) parts. When I got back in the hobby about six years ago, I built a Berkley Brigadier and covered it with silk because thats what I used to do. I had forgotten what a real pain it was. Since then I have used Sig Koveral on airplanes down to .10, size and Polyspan on the 1/2A stuff. Both products are heat shrinkable and much easier to use (not to mention much cheaper) than silk.

I use polyester dress lining to cover my planes. $1 a yard at walmart. Goes on just like silk. Very easy to do. Easier than monocoat too. Faster ? not at all but easier. I use it over open areas only and paint the rest as LouW does.