Wow! What a shame to see the scrap heaps. Imagine if they were still around now, there could be a whole squadron of Corsairs or P40's.
Yes, what are you going to cover ir with? One idea that could work, if there's a printer's place near you. Ask them if they have any used/scrap printing plates. These are made from annodised aluminium, and are fairly thin, depending on gauge. Even small A4 plates (actually bigger by about 2 inches all round) would work, although bigger would be better. They'd be easy to bend to follow the contours of the ribs, will cut very easily with tin snips or similar, and could be fastened by small nails to hold in place, then screwed down. Not only would it make life easier, they'd be durable, weather resistant, and realistic! Most printers, when finished with plates, weigh them in for scrap, or, if they're a smaller outfit, just bin them. They'll probably let you have some cheap, or for free. Worth a try.