Welcome Steve,
Can't wait to see what you're doing with your project. You may want to stop by at
http://www.biplaneforum.com/, there's a great group of helpful people there, much like this forum, and very much focused on biplanes.
My own long-dormant project is an S-1S derived airplane and one goal is to built it with no composite materials. I'll be making wheel fairings,cowling, etc from aluminum.
Best of luck on your airplane!