RE: Painting tips of prop ...
I use florescent green Testors model paint for coloring the light end of my plastic props. I find adding paint to the light side is easier than trying to shave down the heavy side, and adding visibility to the prop at the same time is a bonus. The paint chips off after a short while, but most of it stays on for balance and visibility purposes so I don't sweat the cosmetic degredation of chipped paint.