I'm also in the same boat!
I went out and bout 2 sheets of 2.5m x 1.25m x2mm aluminium chequer plate, for a grand total of £62 each trade :dance:
I'll be making my door plates, rear door card, auxillary gauge panels, bonnet plate (although that will be special ;))
I'll also be boarding my roof rack and plating that.
Don't forget to use aluminium pop rivets!
Andi