It is probably strong enough the way it is, but if you make fillets on all of the joints from microballons and finishing resin type epoxy it will be very strong.
If you paint it overall red and carefully apply all of the kit markings as the box shows, you will have a replica of one of the two G-17S's that flew in the 1970 Reno Air Races "Beechcraft Staggerwing" pylon race. It flew with white 77 race numbers on the fuselage sides in a rounded, flourished font.
Chris...