Models with real lights

yes yes and yes the lightbulb thing it called an LED or light emitting diode the come in different colours such as red, superbright red, superbright blue, green and yellow. the superbrights are about 3 dollars each and the standard ones are about 10 cents each and the diaamiter of the LEDs is your choice between 3mm or 5mm and they last for years and years but can only handle 3.5 volts max!
and if you would like i could send you a couple yellow 5mm ones in the mail or you could go down to radio shack and buy them

Thank you Duckman. That helped a lot. Since I can just get it at RadioShack, there's no need for you to mail me any. I appreciate the thought though.

The long lasting feature is especially important for me. You see, once I put the light in there and put the model together, it would be impossible to replace the bulbs once they burn out.

Another option for me is to surgically make the access panels around where the lights are "openable". So later when the lights burn out, I can just remove the access panel and do my fixings. At least this is more feasible than taking the whole model apart, that's impossible. I can open the access panel by thinning the plastic from the inside by sanding, then cut along the panel line.But I wonder if it's possible to get a smooth and snug fit when I put it back on again.

Something I've read about involves putting a light bulb (like an LED bulb) in one place, and then having fibre-optic cables go from the bulb to the area on the model you want to illuminate.

Regards,

-Drew

You guys are the best

There is also Light Sheet, a flat lighted strip. I believe it can be cut to shape.