In article ,
Wallace Berry wrote:

I've got a pair of wings that are finished up through a silver coating
on the fabric. The wings are beautifully made, never been outside, never
even mounted on a fuselage, no rust on the metal parts, no deterioration
of the wood. Glue joints look like new. Rib stitching looks like it was
done yesterday. However, I don't have the original builder's logs or any
other indication as to what fabric was used or what covering process.
There was an old can of butyrate dope in the pile of parts that came
with the wings. What can I do to figure out how these wings were
covered?

Thanks,

Wallace

If lacquer thinner softens the material, it is dope. Ceconite (Dacron)
uses a blue-tinged nitrate dope as a binder for butyrate dope.

IIRC, Stits process uses a rust-colored primer, giving a mottled,
rust/white back to the fabric.