1/4 scale sopwith pup kit covering problem
I was looking at a set of 1 1/2 Strutter plans by Reeves just tonight, and thinking the same thing.
I would also use brush-on glue, but trying to make a seam at the back on the wire I think would be almost impossible, especially once you tried to shrink the fabric. I'd tack the fabric on the leading edge, go 'round the trailing edge and only have one seam back at the leading edge. Since all those Sopwith and most WW I wings are constant-chord, that should not be a problem.