Thanks so much everyone!
I hadn't planned on scratchbuilding it, as I said, it just became necessary due to such a poor kit. I think my Muromets will be just as much, if not more, of a challenge - the same poor quality kit to start with, but four engines needing resin casting and much bigger wings and tail surfaces to deal with. My trial and error process on the wing batons may help a lot though!
A few things I would do differently: the wing batons, definitely - I need to find something that works here.... I would also use a smaller size square section rod for the fuselage, and maybe a slightly differant approach to the fuselage rigging to make sure it all stays taught, but other than that I'm very pleased with my little creation!
My view is that I'm not going to get better if I stay within my comfort zone.....I have to try new things, and love figuring out ways to get around what at first seem impossible problems - all part of the fun of modelling, in my opinion!
Ian