I just got my second Core Set, and I'm thinking of adding some color variations to my second pair of Rebel ships. Do I need to wash off release agent residue like with the unpainted miniatures? Or is it assumed the release agent already were washed off when these capital ship minis were painted at the factory?

Also, the long neck on one of my Frigates is slightly bent. Can I do the same hot water treatment to bend it back into shape like I did with my TIE wings, or can that hurt the Frigate's paint job?

(I'm a complete newbie to miniatures painting.)

Mild wash to the pre-painted model probably wont hurt anything, but I imagine generally unnecessary. The fighters on the other hand, make sure to wash and prime those if you're really looking to "do it right."

I've heard people have had good success with FFG Support replacing the Neb-b ships with bent mid sections (I don't even think they needed to send the original Neb-b back). But I've heard equally as many reports that the hot water treatment works on the Neb-b as well.