Yes, PVC can be painted. I've done it many times. Again, use a spray, but you can brush it on if no spray paint is available. Use Acrylic paint.

It won't chip? I've got some pretty decent acrylics, but I worry that handpainting a wooden grain might not work well on plastic.

Cruppetman: Thanks again for the tips, although we don't have Dawn detergent here in Sweden, do you think that other dishwashing detergents will do?

Also, I'm not used to paint through spray cans (though I'm willing to try if necessary), though, I've seen on tv and some other places that when you want to spray a particular part with a symbol, like say you want a lightning bolt on your carhood, you cover a sheet with a hole for the pattern you spray on, like in this case a lightning bolt. What kind of material do you think I should use as a sheet? I believe that paper would be too thin for that kind of thing (but I could be wrong).

Not knowing what is available in Australia and Sweden, I can give you the options I have used.

Paint in a spray can, Krylon in USA, works best. Acrylic paint, artist's quality or craft paint, can be brushed on. With either method you should spray on a "clear acrylic sealer" to help prevent chipping. Get this where ever you can buy artist's acrylic (Liquitex) paint.

Better than Dawn is...Polly S Plastic Prep, a pre-painting cleansing agent for plastic surfaces. This is a product that is sold in hobby shops. I do a lot of miniature wargaming and paint many of my miniature figures. I always cover the finished figure with a light coat of sealer. Any product that was injected in a mold gets soaked in either Dawn or the Polly S before painting. You still can get some chipping, so you really have to experiment to see what works for you.

On spraying the symbol, use masking tape on the car hood, draw the design then cut it out with an ex-acto or craft knife pulling off the part you want painted and leaving the rest on the hood. Spray the cut out area , leave it dry a little and then pull the rest of the tape off. Saw this used many times back in the '50s when flames on cars were all the rage.

Hope all this helps and I didn't ramble too much.

Cruppetman

After spray painting pvc I spray a clear coat over the object. This seals the paint and I've never had chipping occur. I made florescent light sabers out of painted pvc in this manner and they never chipped even after contact with each other.

Thanks guys; I'll probably have to hunt around for some paint sealers, but I'm sure I'll find something!