Files. At this point my plan is to assemble each part, sand, file, putty, sand, prime, paint every single piece. This will take time to build. We'll see how long my patience lasts.

Primer: I have to paint the interior hull white, so I have to prime the hull and part #1: the rudder; but the first part you assemble doesn't get installed until the last step. So I have some leeway to decide when/how I prime. The parts are still drying from their bath so I've got time. There's no use rushing with something like this.

UPDATE: I didn't bother priming all the parts while they were on the sprue. I'm shaving each piece with an xacto blade and shaping them with fine files before gluing. Luckily I charted out my colors so I can build up pieces that will be the same color. Then fill with putty if need be and then prime.

In metro-Detroit I go to Dave's Hobby and TV (in Westland on Warren ave). They have old paints cheap, lots of old model kits, lots of train stuff, really expensive z scale trains (like $500 little engine cars) and no high tech stuff, no rc stuff, they don't even have a sign on the outside of a parking lot! Very nice staff and really great prices on paints, etc.

For more industrial items like Krylon Primer and other hardware items I recommend Duke's Hardware (Dearborn Heights, Ford Road). A *real* hardware store with tons of items and a very knowledgeable staff.