They definitely wouldn't be downgraded. When you build a profile scale ship it's understood the front view is going to be about dihedral, placement, and things such as that, but not thickness. I just re-read the rules and stores and drop tanks are not mentioned, so I would interpret that as anything on the airplane would be subject to the thickness rules that apply to the fuse' and nacelles. So I would agree with Paul's post on this point.
At least that's the way I would judge it. It is really neat to see droppable stores and tanks represented if the full scale ship used them, I think it's a great touch. Just my opinion.