Hi Joe!
Alex Newborn here, from EndorExpress.net! Sorry to see that the fuel tanker has been backburnered, but it's VERY exciting to see what you've identified on the SS3K, a ship I have long desired.
Just to add some nuggets of info into the mix... the original filming model was built by Ira Keeler. I interviewed him via telephone a few years back for my Star Tours retrospective in Star Wars Insider, and we talked about him building this model. He said it was made of wood and was about eighteen inches long. It was painted by Steve Gawley and Mike Fulmer.
Speaking of the fuel truck scene, Ira was the actual cameo ducking down under his desk at the end of the ride, not George Lucas as the persistent urban myth has it. And Steve was of course Red Leader in the original Star Tours. I talked to him too, and they were both just a delight to chat with.
[And speaking of the various ILM employees with cameos in the original Star Tours, I also interviewed Dennis Muren, Sel Eddy,and Claudia Mullaly, who were rear-projected into a building in the hangar that the SS3K nearly crashes into. You could barely see them ducking down behind the windows, just before the cameo by the Mighty Microscope.]
As for the various models of the ship, I've also spoken with a freelance artist named JR (Ron) Dickson who had to re-create the StarSpeeder 3000 in 1/20th miniature for the Tokyo version's architectural model.
He too used wood, specifically maple because he said it can be machined to a great finish, although added that today's urethane modeling boards would also work. He made the guns from brass wire with acrylic boxes, and other such "nernies".
You do know that Disney is FINALLY making a StarSpeeder toy, right? It will be the 1000 paint scheme (drat) instead of the blue and white 3000, but I've seen some prototype pics where the toy was molded in white, and drooled all over my keyboard wishing that was how it would be produced.
I forget the exact length, but it will be right around the 18" long size, and will be sold only at the Disney Parks, with a price tag of about $55 at last report. I expected it to be much higher, though, so for that price I will happily buy two and paint one white and blue.
I think they said it was pushed back until the fall, so it should hopefully start showing up fairly soon!
Alex