Grayle,

If black is your base color, use a contrasting color (like bright yellow) for your trim. Use contrasting shapes on top and bottom (stripes on top, roundels on bottom, or something like that) and make them large enough to see at a distance (3-4" or even more).

Colors like neon green or hot pink also work well for visuals.

Check out the next thread on "how we see our planes". It's got a lot of good info.

papermache