Great start with using West. I love that stuff.
Next you might want to get a spray gun. I use the ones from Harbor Freight with decent success.
I too have experienced paint woes till I bit the bullet and got the good paint. Forget rattle cans and cheap primer. Go to a decent auto parts paint store and get 2K primer preferably white but buff will work ok too.
They will help you with a good basecoat clearcoat system and you will get much better results.

In the mean time get a foamy and practice your spray technique with water based acrylics before messing up the good stuff.