Regarding your question about the series connections, here is an example that is a bit similar: DIY 14S7P battery build in a Pelican case
I would build a pack in more of a grid and rows style, like @DutchFoiler posted. It should fit in the Fliteboard, but don’t go over 80mm in height! But you could also do an approach that mixes Options 1 and 2 where you run maybe two wires from the middle of one nickel plate to the middle of the next.