Painting Plastic Canopies

I had always just bought canopies before. Now I am playing with painting the plain plastic white ones you can get. No, I am not doing air brushing (yet) but I thought this was a cheaper way to make the heli look good. Well, I have painted one and this is how I did it.

• I went over it with 240 grit (or finer) sandpaper. Go over the whole thing until it looks like it was painted matte white.
• Then clean the thing. I used a rag and some white-spirit. Just make sure you do not use soap. You want it very clean. What ever you might use to clean paint brushes is probably a good choice.
  
• Getting some pliable paint is going to help (Plastikote, hobby spray paint, Krylon. just ideas). I think the sanding is more important than the paint, but good paint will help.
• Spray on lightly. The first coat should not be shiny. Let that dry for at least an hour (depending on paint).
  
• I would go with two coats of any color you use. I went with two coats of white.
  
• Let that dry over night.
  
• Mask it with newspaper and low tack masking tape.
  
• Spray your next color, again two thin coats are better than one runny one.
  
• It is probably a good idea to take your masking off while the paint is still wet, but not runny. The new paint in the masked area won't peel this way.
• Repeat the steps the are necessary to get the style you want.

I have posted a picture of my partly completed canopy. I will try and get some (day glow) orange paint and finish it up for the weekend. -J