My first ever attempt at a light restoration

[Niall]

Ah i see. If you look at the sockets from inside the engine bay, you will see there is a lock ring that holds them to the body on the same thread that the plug unscrewed from. There is notches in the lock ring so you just want to get a big flat head and tap the lock ring around with the palm of your hand. Don't use a hammer because if it needs that much force, you will break the ring (its only plastic) and then have to get another. then you can just pop the sockets through the body and tuck them out the way.

With regards to the painting, the finish doesn't have to be flawless so get some fairly harsh grit paper (160 ish) and sand it all back removing any loose material then treat it all with something like Krust to get rid of the rust. Let that do its thing, meticulously clean it then use some etch primer, then your colour coat them a good coat of lacquer.