ctshepard you are doing a great job, I have done a few rebuilds myself and I think you are not shy about hard work ! One thing I would have suggested if I had been there and seen what you are doing. I don't know if that airframe will need any nose weight? but I think I would have been tempted to cut two new front sides from lite ply, and not even drilled any lightening holes in them. I think you could have made it stronger , easier, and barely heavier. I guarantee it would still fly well. This is in NO WAY meant as a criticism, it is just another route that might have been easier with no bad effects.
Keep up the good work it is obvious you have a good hand on construction, I will be happy to see that bird in the air ! I am actually trying to repair an abandoned Nosen P51 at the moment. I have yet to pick a paint scheme, I like the one you are going with...