Gisbod: Don’t be embarrassed about building kits. Your kit is only a three-dimensional canvas; what you do with it is up to you. As we all know, there are some amazing modellers out there sharing their artistic talents with us all.
Albatros1234: I have also seen references to using tooth picks for wing struts and didn’t pay much attention until I saw this again in Des’ Caudron scratch build. Tooth picks are very strong once varnished or painted, this comes from the cellulose fibres absorbing the paint and varnish. Choose a good quality tooth pick and look for a very tight grain. I understand that most tooth picks are now made from bamboo. Bamboo is frequently used in ASIA for scafolding on multi-story building sites; I agree with Des, tooth picks are very strong.
My own view is that tooth pick (bamboo) wing struts are stronger than kit styrene.
Cheers
Steven Robson