So the last model I made was the U.S.S. Enterprise Trek kit when I was 15. Now I'm 64 and guess what - I'm working on the same damned ship but the movie version! The huge 350 Polar Lights refit version! I have read dozens of articles, bookmarked over 100 site pages, saved over 100 Facebook posts, and so on, to do this the right way. That is, the way that makes sense to me - not necessarily canon.
This is where this wonderful website comes in. I have decided to go with a 2-color version of the kit - not the 5-color pearlescent version. And, I am going to use bare metal foil! I haven't seen this model done that way. I've read a lot about BMF on this site and have seen some incredible examples. And when I make an F-104 someday it'll be all over the plane. I still have to buy things to put a model together and I'll get them based on recommendations from this site.
Thanks for being there and stay safe!