I didn't used any connection stripes at all, except for this part:
Also thing to add - the scoring was very simple and at the same time necessary to glue this build correctly - the skeleton circles were not round but had multiple sides. And scoring made forming the parts very pleasant - it was much, much simpler than rolling the usual oval shapes.
And about leaving the modelling altogether because someone does it magnificently... Lets just say that for me it's an incentive to make it even better so that the person who's work I admire will comment that it's superbly done :D