Oh Man! I love the biplane! I've tried my hand at a few but I just can't do them justice. Until then, all I can do is admire them from afar. Plastic, I'm definitely interested to see how yours turns out.
Matt, I wish I had seen your post sooner because I have the perfect solution for all the gaps. Back when I was a kid of 15 back in '85, I built the Monogram F-105 (the two-seater). I wanted to build it with its gear up. I noticed all the gaps as well so I did what any kid would do: I used Scotch tape in lieu of the landing gear doors! LOL! But that was okay. Several thick, heavy coats of Testors silver applied with a fat brush covered up pretty much everything. I'm ashamed to admit to this but they say confession is good for the soul, right?
Steve, I'm loving your F-104. Can't wait to see how it turns out. Are you modeling it with the speed brakes open or closed? If closed, how well did they fit? I thought I had read somewhere that they didn't fit the best in the closed position. I normally build them closed up but I took the lazy way out and had them in the open position.
Keep up the great work!
Eric