Clear Plastic parts painting

If it's coming out streaky, I assume you are brush painting? If so then you would have to put a second coat of paint after the first dries.

Spray paint rather than brushing... You'll never get all the brush-marks out of a clear piece... Canopy frames are ok to brush though,,,

I'm familiar with that kit...   Photon Torpedo launcher: I shot it on the inside (only) with "Wal-Mart" red and painted the framework (outside) with Testor's Gunmetal.  The engine nozzle was shot red inside and out with Testor's Steel on the details..

Were I to do it again, I'd shoot the inside and out of the launcher with clear red and add a red LED inside to show it "armed", same-same with the exhaust nozzle..

Prime first.  That is one of the purposes of priming.  Mask off the window areas and use a spray primer.

Those pieces are pretty tough to mask, Don...  The results wouldn't be all that that different if he's brushing, and the frame-work around the Photon Torpedo launcher is full of framing, almost like the nose of a B-29... The engine nozzle is full of small areas too.. Best way to approach that kit's clear parts is to detail paint right over the base color..

The torp-launcher is easy to completely mask to keep the paint offa the outside if you just shoot the interior, but the exterior is a bear...

Hans von Hammer

Those pieces are pretty tough to mask, Don...  The results wouldn't be all that that different if he's brushing, and the frame-work around the Photon Torpedo launcher is full of framing, almost like the nose of a B-29... The engine nozzle is full of small areas too.. Best way to approach that kit's clear parts is to detail paint right over the base color..

The torp-launcher is easy to completely mask to keep the paint offa the outside if you just shoot the interior, but the exterior is a bear...

When masking fine canopy/windshield structure I find Tamiya tape or some other translucent tape works well.  Have a light behind it, not behind you.  You can see the structure better.  Be sure and use a brand-new X-acto blade for the cutting.  I burnish the tape down with a toothpick.