Doug,

nice to see that you are at it again. I have to concur with Matt's suggestions for paint. If you are going to go with water borne paints and don't want to invest in a gun or air brush (and associated gear), try the auto application designed paint. These paints come in very small containers so that you don't have to make a big investment in volume. From what I've heard, Nelsons' is ok but sourcing the paint is another story. It doesn't always arrive... if you know what I mean. I know some people have also had issues when applying it.

Another brand of water borne paint is Auto Air although it might actually be the same stuff as Createx. Auto Air is just a brand not an actual manufacturer. I have seen the results with this stuff and they are very good. I would recommend that for the protective clear coat, you use a two part urethane that should be sprayed for good smooth and glossy results. You can either shoot this with a gun if you decide to use one or you can actually get a great German catalyzed product in a spray can. The company is called SprayMax. I used it recently and it's great. The can action is very much like a gun rather than a rattle can - special cap. SprayMax is actually a pretty neat system all around. You might want to check out their website.

David.