Yep, back in the 50s and early 60 this is how all the free flights were build. Back then I used Ambroids glue. I used my mothers sewing pins too, I don't recall ever seeing Tee Pins back in those days. I still use a soft pine building board these days so the pins will go in and hold. Last night as soon as my wife started watching the football game I went out and glued in the top formers. I had one fall forward while setting up so I have to go out and remove it then re-glue the little sucker!!
Back in 1963 my father came home from work with a couple ounces of what turned out to be CA glue. I never once gave any thought to using it to build models with. My dad was an engineer in Aerospace at the time and came home with all kinds of cool stuff before the general public ever saw it. Then they came out with Super glue or Crazy glue and the commercials were on TV constantly but still I never gave it a thought to building my planes? Once I tried it I was kicking myself for being that stupid. This build is making me nuts waiting for the epoxy to dry. I think balsa shims will be OK, the fuse is now very strong and doesn't twist. Lot more sticks to be added still then I will have LG blocks and a number of interior items to epoxy in. It's a lot of work but a very cool plane when finished, my friend wanted an old school plane and this one fits the bill.