I am building a Top-Flite P-39 and I was planning on using coverlite fabric for the elevator and rubber to give it a more scale look. However I would like to cover the entire plane with the material and paint it the colors that I want it to be. Is this possible and if so, should I put some sort of primer on it to prepare the surface? I am looking for as much information as I can get on doing something like this. If anyone can help me it would be greatly appreicated!!

Prep it first with Balsaright. Don

Don't use Coverite on sheeted areas. No matter how meticulous I've been applying it, including balsarite prep, it ends up bubbling up after exposure to the sun and different temperatures. Try Sig Koverall. You paint down the edges, heat shrink, and then paint all of it down. It won't bubble or wrinkle later. Coverite and Solartex are OK for open structures but not sheeted areas in my opinion.

JimS

is that a fabric or am plastic??

Schjssj,

Your subject line indicated Coverite, your text indicates Coverlite. I'm not familiar with coverlite, but I have used Super Coverite over sheeted surfaces. I did NOT prep with balsarite but if you must, I'd probably use it in the areas where raw fuel might get to.
I painted over it with a sandable primer to mostly fill the weave, and then a few top coats of color. With heat and/or time, some spots have lifted, but I was able to flatten/re-adhere them by simply applying heat with an iron (not so hot that the paint softens mind you).

If it were me, I'd use Coverite (if I had any left- it's now discontinued or hard to get) or Solartex on any surfaces that were suposed to be fabric covered on the full size, and use 3/4 oz glass cloth/epoxy laminating resin on the fuse and the wing, stab and fin if they are fully sheeted parts.

-E