Falcon,
From what I've seen here it seems some do, some don't. Like you I've invested over 50 years into this past time, and perhaps it's memories of past failures that drives me to a cautious approach on this...........I always cut the large ones into sections. As long as you are careful, and choose your cut locations to avoid large protuberances, etc. and along joints in the pattern it works, pardon the pun, seamlessly. For example, on a 1:32 D.VII Upper Wing I recently cut the three Lozenge panels supplied (not counting the wingtips) each in half and with careful alignment there are no seams apparent. Similarly the fuselage sides were cut into three more or less equal portions.
Cheers,
Lance