Free Flight, Free Speech

One of the issues with using 3d models is their accuracy, they're not engineering quality they're game quality.

Also they're not solid models they're surface models and I'm not sure if a surface can be converted into a solid model, normally it's done the other way.

It can be converted to solid and converted solid is enough for getting rough aerodynamic coefficients, drag data etc. Detailed solid model is required for FEM or if you want to get bending effects. As we get rough data, it would be easier to tune with hand and get more accurate models.