This is a beautiful kit that comes pre-painted. I didn't want to repaint it because then it wouldn't be any different than the plastic one. The finish on the diecast metal is really nice. I also couldn't fill the seams because they would ruin the finish too. The only bad thing about this kit is the tail that you have to attach, it kind of sags and ruins the streamline effect of the ship. Assembly is very good due to the accuracy of metal parts. There are a bunch of screws that hold everything together. The only things that needed painting were the cockpit, pilot and R2 unit. I made them a bit different from the norm for a little variety. I think the kit looks nice overall, the gloss finish just really adds a little extra. I got this kit off of Yahoo! Auctions for around $7.