The color I used here was Ferrari Red from Revell sprayed with an airbrush, first and last time I ever used an airbrush... Now into Spray cans.
As for the wire, just get 1 meter ,or something like that, that is strong enough and will stay the way how you bend it underneath the body. As long as you can bend it back to fit another model it should be fine. be sure to make a good standard for it, from wire or from a box so it will stay and not fall.
Good Luck
Stefan