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Just some questions from someone about to start.

Which race usually has the lowest model count in an average game?

How many BFG models are plastic?

Is the rulebook worth purchasing?

Are the models difficult to paint?

Would you recommend magnetizing the flying bases?

What point level would be good to start with?

Welcome to BFG!!

For model count, because it depends on how you build your fleet, you could have a massive point fleet with just a few models...or you could load up and escorts and have dozens. So a number range for you could be something between 10-30.

Most models of BFG are metal. The only ones being plastic are the Imperial and Chaos cruisers.

I wouldn't purchase the rulebook. Because BFG is a Specialist Game, the entire set of rules are posted in PDF style on GW's website! So the only real cost of getting the rulebook should be printing materials.

The models are not difficult to paint, but they do have much more tiny details than other models. Search the Gallery for "Battlefleet" and you can see several examples.

On magnetizing flying bases, I'd say if you wanted to, only do it on the smaller ships: cruisers and escorts. The battleships of the game can be quite bulky and need to be pinned.

A good point value to get a fleet would be 750 points. Thats good enough to get a number of ships in, but small enough so you can learn the rules before bringing out the "big guns". Most normal games, and I believe tournament games use 1500 points as their limit.

Hope this helps!

Like he said. Not much to add.

Necrons can do a low count with Tombship-2 Scythes which is already over 1000pts.

Ya, pretty lowest as far as I can see.

Yeah, the Necrons would be my pick for the lowest model count army, too. Of course, there is also the SM 2-Battle Barge build, which at 1500 points also doesn't put a lot of ships on the table.

Most of the ships in the game get by with a base coat, followed by a dry brush, followed by detail painting. You can find a lot of examples of people who have gone way beyond that (Horizon's FW Tau spring immediately to mind), but in general that method will net you table-top quality results in a short amount of time.

It is true that the rule book is mostly available as a PDF, but there are some color sections in the dead tree version (hobby stuff and the like) that didn't make it online. Nothing that affects the game rules, mind you. In a way, it is a bit like how the miniature rule books for 40k/Fantasy drop some of the hobby and background stuff that is present in the hardback versions. So, if that stuff interests you, a copy of the rule book might be a good idea.

As for basing, I use the threaded fastner method:

http://www.star-ranger.com/BasingMinis.htm

This method works well for everything from frigates all the way up to battleships.

For basing, there is also: http://www.ninjamagic.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=19&