RE: How to paint a cowl?
If the plane is powered by a glow engine, you need to use a fuel-proof paint. The hobby shops sell a line of fuel proof spay paint. if it is powered by electric or gasoline, then you can paint it with most any spray can (rustoleum, Krylon, etc). You don't have to remove the old paint, but you could save some weight if you sand off the old paint, re-prime, and paint the new.