Thanks for all of the useful information here, (& the posts in my build thread)!
I bought the cleat you linked to, (I think that's going to work wonderfully!), & tried some of your paint choices too, (that Krylon Stainless Steel didn't work for me at all...I'm guessing they changed the formulation since you used it or I got several cans from a bad/expired batch...

).
At this point, I wound up using Rust-O-Leum Painter's Touch 2x Ultra Cover Flat Gray Primer for the frame/box, ("
12 oz. Flat gray Primer Spray Paint (6-Pack)-182686 at The Home Depot"), & using Rust-O-Leum Painter's Touch 2x Ultra Cover Metallic Aluminum for the body/center, ("
12 oz. Aluminum General Purpose Spray Paint-249128 at The Home Depot").
SO...on to a quick question for you...
Can you give a little run-down on your acrylic wash methodology? You know, 1 part powdered black acrylic paint to 9 parts water, applied with a brush/sponge/bucket, removed with different sponge/towel/kitty litter, etc...
I feel reasonably confident I could figure it out with trial & error, but I've reached the point - as I do toward the end of most of these projects - where I'm sick of the whole thing & just want to finish.

SO, any information would be greatly appreciated.
...& thanks - again.