The author, Tiger McKee (Shootrite.org), did the paint job. He used a reverse masking technique -- 1. mask off the black, shape with exacto knife, paint remainder dark gray. 2. mask off dark gray, shape with exacto, paint remainder lighter gray., etc. The good thing about this is that whatever color gets scuffed or worn the next darkest color is underneath.
He used automotive primers for the three grays.
It's fairly durable. Immediately after it was finished, a group of friends went with me to the Thunder Ranch H.I.T. class, so it got scuffed and dirtied some, but the paint didn't come off.
If I had it to do over, I would cover it with Testors DullCote before heading off for three days diving in the gravel.
For those that are interested, the weapon is as follows:
PWA preban lower
Bushie A2 upper and 16" pencil barrel
Smith Vortex FH
Used M16 (A1) buttstock
Duckbill grip
Standard FC group with A_FreeMan mod