Hi Oliver,
I used the GRP hull made by ABCO many years ago( I think Dave Metcalfe took over these moulds? ) for a modified flower and to be honest the hull was quite poorly moulded with poor detail and soft edges on the plating in relation to the styrene original, although I'm sure this wasn't typical of the ABCO range i have never used one since.
My Bluebell is about 24 years old now and the hull has had it fair share of knocks and has never sprung a leak, the joint method Matchbox used was very neat and strong so i would use the hull provided with the kit if i were to build another....mind you i do have 4 already so another may cause some arguments, i think i might have exhausted the....every ones different !! line by now.
Ian