Dona, try using half a silver leaf sheet and wrap it so the long edge of the sheet is going down the stringer. You should have about 2.5-3" of silver on the stringer when you're done. If there wasn't a lot of silver in between the scales, it's because of the missing Ivory - Ivory spreads very well! As the "scales" form, the glass spreads the silver out to the edges of the scales.
Oh, I should also say I came up with this stringer technique as a cheaper way to get that Michael Barley window-effect so I wouldn't have to use a whole sheet of leaf per bead.
More economical.
It just so happens i tried it on opaques one day and got the scales.