Sheet Metal Forming for Aircraft skins

[rivetdriver]

here are my 2 cents.
I was at a similar crossroads when I designed my Howard hughes inspired racer.

Try to clean up your lines of the tailcone as much as possible.
if you can ,slice your drawing up so you can make a simple buck ( plywood ,mdf etc.) to test your shape and you can also use it later to check your skins on it
Since it is not a stressed skin design ,you don`t have to use 2024t3.
I would recommend 6061 t6 or even t4.( its much easier to deal with when it comes to shaping.
I prefer using the E-wheel on all compound curves ( just my preference)
I accomplish a large radius bend with a 10 foot Pvc pipe screwed to sawhorses.
It also helps to divide your skins into multiple sections .Started out on 10 ft sections on mine but then realized they are way to hard to handle.

[rivetdriver]

oops .
Should have read your entire post.
You`ll have to stick to 2024T for the skins.