not to criticize, as I love the end product, but wouldn't it have been easier/better to have just taken the crown and stanchions out? finished product looks great though, so obviously this worked.

hi mate, glad you like how it turned out!
with regards to taking the sanctions out... i would have liked too, but having just spend rather a lot on the forks, and never taken a pair of forks apart before, i thought i'd just put my years of experience with masking tape to good use (not that painting boats is not good use...) and after a few attempts i got the tape spot off around the seals and sanctions...
maybe next time i'll have a go at taking them appart (as i want to spray my travis' white to match the dh bikes colour scheme...)
aled.