How did they get from clay model to steel panels?

[Mark Norris]

As an engineer there is something often I've wondered about regarding car body manufacture ...how did they go from hand carved clay model to the heavy sheet stamping dies for the body panels. This is a very big step that seems to get completely overlooked. Obviously these days its done with 3D scanners and digital machine tools etc. but how was it done in the 1950s?

I've often wondered if its got some to do with this picture of the Mkii in development (which I think Barry W. originally posted);

102576-6.JPG 8_13_53.jpg

It looks like a massive plaster cast is being made of ...what ...the clay body model? Is it the first step in moving from the full size clay to something that can be cut up to make make individual "dies" from and then used to make molds for die copies in steel within a foundry?

If its not then what on earth are the modeling department upto in the photo?

Having said all that here are the front fenders mocked up in wood by a pattern maker and being measured on the surface table;

Eds 1693.jpg

Does anyone know how it was done ..if so please educate us.