alpha centauri UFO

I would need more info before I could help. How big is the model and what is it made out of? Plus I remember of reading about a light emitting sheet that the star wars guys use for the Millennium Falcon engines that is cut to fit. that might be a better  option

It's actually caled lightsheet believe it or not.  Very similar to the luminescent stuff on a watch.  Apply power and it lights up, it is pricey, but you can get an experiemtners kit reasonably priced.  You get several small sheets of different coors.

I just built one; great kit!  Not sure how you would go about making the lower hull spin though. Maybe the mechanism from a music box? You'd have to wind it up but that might work.

Try seaching the lighting kit section on www.cultTVman.com.  They have many after market kits and someone may have produced one for your model.  Worth a try, anyhow.