For the record, I NEVER understood the $500 world class rocket project, the agonizing over ever single minor insignificant little detail and laminar flow of every molecule of air flowing from nose cone to fin tip and hours upon hours of research and simulations, and then complaining about a $12 paint job.........
The paint I'm referring to are artist colors, usually used for comic illustration or graffiti type art. Available locally from art supply houses, or like
everything else rocket people buy.....ONLINE from a variety of vendors. Catch sales and it's as cheap as Rusto or Krylon bought locally (even with shipping) with NONE of the BS problems (even if you don't read the directions). Usually covers in 2 coats with nominal 400grit wet sanded primer of any brand to look amazing.
Use a good clear coat to top coat it, the clear gloss of each brand works well. I use Eastwood 2K or Spray Max 2K 2 part polyurethane rattle can. 2K can be buffed easily to an automotive shine, but alone is rock hard and super shiny. Look up some YouTube videos of the paint and the clear.
https://www.plutoniumpaint.com/
https://www.montana-cans.com/
https://www.spraymax.com/en/products/product/clear-coats-and-spot-blender/2k-clear-coat/
https://www.eastwood.com/paints/2k-aero-spray-paints.html
For the record, you can get into a spray rig and PPE for under $150 and have VERY nice results, just commit to the learning curve and the cleaning. Plenty of threads on it right here at TRF.