RE: Club members aluminum covering
I am sure that it has been done, but it is just not practical, for the reasons that you already stated, its too heavy. I remember an article in MAN that showed a true 1/4 scale P-51, I mean even down to the rivets on the brake pedal. It was covered in aluminum, but I am not sure that it ever flew.
If all he wants to do is to fly cirlces in the sky with a P-51 more power to him.
Josh