Wynn,
I've tried a bunch of stuff over time. I've tried half the stuff in the Klingspor catalog. Without a doubt, the Norton Sandblaster paper is the easiest. It's takes less pressure, cuts more easily and gives a decent surface. Usually, I sand it down close with 320 then finish up with 400 or 600. Shoot a coat of very thinned clear and use 0000 steel wool to finish. Then clean real well with PrepSol or equivalent (some steel wools have oil in them) and start shooting color coats.