Kirk:

If you're an old hand at tail draggers, go ahead with the Duellist as a tail dragger. It's just that first twin and first tail dragger at the same time isn't a great idea.

Yours is the original (Mk I) if it matches my left illustration.

Prop clearance isn't the mains - it's the nose gear. Put the retract unit as low as you can in the front, make the wheel just touch the leading edge of the wing as it retracts. When you do the mains have the wheels spaced only far enough to keep from having to cut the root rib for clearance. These changes are all part of the Mk II, Pica never added them to the kit version.

You can glass the whole plane and paint it, paint it without glassing anything but the wing joint, or use a film covering. They've been done just about any way you can think of, done with care any finish is fine.

Bill.