Ah I think I've found the perfect way to do it! I've heard about splines before for detailing geometry:
https://cg.tutsplus.com/tutorials/aut...el-in-3ds-max/

Hopefully the techniques used here will apply to Maya too, I only have 4 more days for this project and still a lot to go...

EDIT: Just realized that's was one of your proposition ctbram for reversing normals, my bad didn't understand it that way the first time. I guess i'll model the numbers then...