aztec pattern on the enterprise

The previous replies have most of the info you need.  I have just one thing to add.

 When I've looked at the movies ( prepering to work on my own 1701-A ) I thought there were a few odd rectangles outside the aztec pattern.  These are most noticeable on the really close-up shots that start at the front of the ship and move down its length, like just after it leaves drydock and before the final "warp-away"in the first movie. 

I think they added these to break the regularity of the aztec and make the plating look more random.  It also adds detail to areas the usual aztec doesn't cover, like the area between the deflector grid and the rim of the saucer.

 I'm glad someone else mentioned a pearlescent finish.  I was planning on using something like that for the more subtle details and hoped it wouldn't look wrong.

I have found a great page over, at Starship Modeler, for those building the Polar Lights kit. It includes PDF templates for printing onto Frisket masking film and full instructions on how to use them.

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/tech/cz_mask.htm

1. the movie pics of the ship the hull look matallic or bare metal while other seem to have a gray tone to it?  what are the correct colors?

The Enterprise's base coat is WHITE.  Not metallic. If your buildig the refit, there are various different tones of green thruout the ship.  If your building the refit-A, then these greens are blue.

http://www.cloudster.com/Sets&Vehicles/STMPEnterprise/ColorPhotos/STMPEnterpriseColor.htm

2. what is the easiest way to apply the aztec pattern on this thing?

You can either cut your own Aztec patterns using Arthur Pendraggons fantastic templates (http://www.starshipmodeler.com/tech/cz_mask.htm), or you can purchase AzteK Dummy's templates.  I personally used AD templates.  Can't say enough good things about them.

3. how many diffent colors make up the aztec pattern? I have gotten 3 (movie) , 2 painting instructions on a star trek web site, and some other guy had 5 any help you can give to straighten me out would be great

The Aztec's were created using pearlescent colors.  There is one main Aztec pattern and then at least a 4 pattern secondary Aztec.  It is the secondary pattern that gives the ship that metalic sheen.  However, the secondary aztec is made up of pearl blues, greens, reds, and golds.

 You can see my write up involving the Aztec patterns here:

http://www.enterprisecreations.com/currentbuild.html

And my build up here:

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/Raist3001/ 

Hopr this helps.