Hi Joel,
Looking forward to seeing what you do with the engine detailing. I agree with you about the prices of some aftermarket parts - not cheap. That isn’t saying they’re necessarily too expensive, or somehow not “worth it”, instead, just not what I’m looking for, especially when considering like you and many others here - we build a lot of models!
I’ve found buying one go-to set of resin connectors (rather than several sets in all sizes etc) that I like and know how to use is helpful - (sometimes not exactly the right scale), to get the results I want.
If you run by your local art store, you can find beading wire (I think that’s what it is) that looks a lot like braided lines and is not expensive. It’s very shiny, so I add a wash of anthracite grey to tone it down. Various sizes of solder wire work too. There’s a fly fishing shop near me that sells all sorts of small diameter solder, tubing, and even little beads that look like connectors, that aren’t too pricey.
As for the anodized fittings, I’ve never bought a set. They look great, but not for me. Instead, I paint the part with a a bright aluminum or silver base, then paint over with my own “anodized” blue or red, made by blending blue or red with aluminum paint, which with some experimenting can look pretty good. I’ve also heard of people painting the part silver, then coloring with a red or blue sharpee - which I’m yet to try.
I’ve also concluded, that for the scale we’re working at (1/24 and 1/20) that if you can’t clearly see the part, I won’t go to great lengths to make it pop more. It can be a lot of work, that is nearly impossible to see once the model is done (of course, I still do it more often than not - just not the most visually rewarding task when you’re done).
I keep broken iPhone/elec device cables and strip them as needed - both for the thin wires inside, and for the outer tubing, which can work for brake ducts!
Thin lead sheet (the material used on wine bottle necks) and 1/16" dia aluminum tubing have many uses when making or “faking” 
tubing and lines!
And finally, as it’s a hobby, we can each do what we want! Unlike work, where predicted results are required, here, we can experiment and see how it goes. If not great, well, leave it alone, or try again!
Cheers and stay well -
Nick
