A method of manufacturing a rotor blade segment of a wind turbine, the rotor blade segment having a seamless leading edge surface, the method comprising: providing a generally flat fiber-reinforced outer skin, the generally flat fiber-reinforced outer skin defining a continuous outer surface comprising a pressure side surface extending between a pressure side aft edge and a pressure side forward edge, a suction side surface extending between a suction side forward edge and a suction side aft edge, and the seamless leading edge surface extending between the pressure side forward edge and the suction side forward edge; forming the fiber-reinforced outer skin into a desired shape corresponding to a contour of the outer surface of the rotor blade; and, folding the fiber-reinforced outer skin about the seamless leading edge surface, whereby the pressure side surface is positioned opposite the suction side surface and the pressure side aft edge is proximate the suction side aft edge; characterized in that the pressure side aft edge and the suction side aft edge are spaced apart such that a gap is defined between the pressure side aft edge and the suction side aft edge after folding the fiber-reinforced outer skin, and in that the method further comprising: moving the pressure side surface and the suction side surface farther apart such that the gap expands, mounting the fiber-reinforced outer skin over a structural element of the rotor blade while the gap is expanded, and joining the pressure side aft edge and the suction side aft edge after mounting the fiber-reinforced outer skin over the structural element. providing a generally flat fiber-reinforced outer skin, the generally flat fiber-reinforced outer skin defining a continuous outer surface comprising a pressure side surface extending between a pressure side aft edge and a pressure side forward edge, a suction side surface extending between a suction side forward edge and a suction side aft edge, and the seamless leading edge surface extending between the pressure side forward edge and the suction side forward edge; forming the fiber-reinforced outer skin into a desired shape corresponding to a contour of the outer surface of the rotor blade; and, folding the fiber-reinforced outer skin about the seamless leading edge surface, whereby the pressure side surface is positioned opposite the suction side surface and the pressure side aft edge is proximate the suction side aft edge; characterized in that the pressure side aft edge and the suction side aft edge are spaced apart such that a gap is defined between the pressure side aft edge and the suction side aft edge after folding the fiber-reinforced outer skin, and in that the method further comprising: moving the pressure side surface and the suction side surface farther apart such that the gap expands, mounting the fiber-reinforced outer skin over a structural element of the rotor blade while the gap is expanded, and joining the pressure side aft edge and the suction side aft edge after mounting the fiber-reinforced outer skin over the structural element. moving the pressure side surface and the suction side surface farther apart such that the gap expands, mounting the fiber-reinforced outer skin over a structural element of the rotor blade while the gap is expanded, and joining the pressure side aft edge and the suction side aft edge after mounting the fiber-reinforced outer skin over the structural element.