According to most sources I've read, ILM used Pactra and Floquil paints - almost none of which are available anymore. In the end, (as is almost always the case) - whatever paints you're comfortable with, and suits your taste will be fine. There's a couple of different DeAgostini web sites that have lots of information - but are a little clunky in their design. Right now, there's someone in Europe that has some custom mixes (kinda pricey in my opinion) - but I have seen them on eBay. They also are supposed to be making available some paints as well. There's been some issue with the DeAgostini web site releasing reference pictures (something legal) - but supposedly - they will be releasing something - at some point. The red's, yellow's, gray's are custom mix to my taste for the reference pictures I've got. The plastic is ABS - so not all cements / solvents will work. They recommend using super glue on the parts - but I've been using Tamiya green cap 'Extra Thin' cement without any issue. I didn't use any primer - but I'd recommend washing the plastic (I've had a few 'fish eyes'). I've used Tamiya AS-20 (USN Insignia White) (which is more of a light tan / cream color) as the base coat. While I (personal opinion) am not crazy about his execution of it - he's got some really good points and tips. On YouTube, Steve Dymso has four video's about this model including a lot of paint advice. At around issue 50, they do a very nice job of explaining painting it - and their recommended Tamiya paints. The bottom really isn't going to be seen all that much once we're done - so it's a great way to get started on it.

The pictures I've posted show it to be much more stark / bold than it really is in normal lighting. Thank you for the compliments Kelly - I've painted the entire ship, still have a lot to go with oil wash, Tamiya pastels, hash marks and other misc. I'm open to all ideas - I just don't want to have multiple power sources - or to have to re-do anything if something better comes along. I'm hoping to hold off interior lighting until 'a more elegant solution for a more civilized time' comes along. He's got a prototype interior set (but to me - it's too many 'blinky' LED's). As I mentioned - the guy in England has the P'nP exterior light set that plugs into the onboard circuit. I have very little model lighting experience - just a few VooDooFx kit installs, and don't want to piecemeal the interior lighting. I agree with you Bill - something like that would work nicely. It covers up some molding sink marks - and gives it more credibility / functionality (in my mind) - really simple to add - painted them to match the other side colors - looks great to me. Also - I'm the only one (to my knowledge - of all that I've seen online) that's added 'thrust vector plates to the inside of the plates. The positioning on the kit is good - it just needs to look more like the studio model in this area. I've redone every bit of external damage with a dremel and other tools. In the photo below - the basic panel work and some streaks have been done (more has been done since) - still have oil wash / weathering powders to go yet.

As with any project - it's just a matter of personal preference. From what I've seen online - the majority of guys seem to be going pretty heavy on the weathering. The studio model (to my eye is overdone - and rightly so for it to show up on film. My basic overall thought is to keep it mostly inline with the 32' model from Episode V - but a 'cleaner / tighter' finish. I'm further along than this - and it's tough to get the subtle shading to show up. I've really enjoyed it so far Here's a picture of the bottom from around 3 weeks ago. We're both a bit hesitant to go too far into it - without knowing how all of it is going to tie together in the end. A friend of mine has already had to undo some fiber optic work he did in the cockpit - because of later additions. Since I want lights in the cockpit / corridors / cargo hold - I'd really like to have a centralized system - not multiple different set-ups. He's looking into interior lighting as well. There's a guy in England who's doing a really nice 'plug 'n play' light set for the underside lights (Episode V) for around $100 - but it's all pre-done - and best of all (to me anyway) is that it plugs into the onboard provided lighting circuit panel. I'm kind of holding off on the interior lighting - to see what's going to be offered. Here's a picture of the backlighting (before I added the greeblies).

Millennium falcon cockpit vector image