Update 3-13-10
I added filler to the sides and bottom of the trench. I don't really like using the secondary plating trick too much, but it fills up space quickly and with less poly counts piling up than modeling in dozens of greeble filler. Good enough for now... time to move on to the side coves and finish up the front hull plating. Then it's on to the neck and mid-section!
Whew.. finally. Get's boring and tedious working for months on a single area and takes a lot of discipline to keep on track.