I always paint the bodies first because I cannot get into building the rest if I don't get a nice paint job. I do test fit chassis and ride height and how the interior fits before I paint anything. Try Tamiya's Spray paints and if you use one of their metallics clear coat the paint with their clear within an hour of spraying the color coat(no need to sand color coat.) try some of Duplicolor's metallics too(make sure you prime bfore using these)and their clear. Stay away from Testor's. Dullcoat and the metallizer's are the only good stuff they make.