Can't really advise on brush-painting with acrylics I'm afraid. Quite frankly, they aren't very good for large areas - anything bigger than, say, a 1/48th scale seat, whatever they're thinned with. The main reason is their make up, with the synthetic polymers. This not only causes heavy areas, or streaky areas, but of course dries too quickly to allow the paint to be 'laid off' correctly, thereby eliminating, or at least reducing, brush marks. I believe there are inhibitors available, to slow the drying process, but as I don't normally use acrylics, I don't really know much about them.
As for the canopy frames, there really is no substitute for masking. They can be painted free-hand, with a good quality, fine-pointed brush, but not so well with acrylics, and it needs a steady hand and good technique.
One of the reasons it's difficult, no matter how good you are, is the material the canopy is moulded from. The surface is 'harder' and 'glossier' than the polystyrene used for the 'solid' kit parts, and wants to repel paint, including enamels, especially around curves on the edges of the frame mouldings. By masking, the paint can be laid down easily, without fear of having to spread onto the clear areas, due to the requirement of getting the paint down relativel heavily on a relatively tiny area. It's best to mask, and then be prepared to give the framnes at leat two coats, allowing the first coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next coat(s).
It's not as difficult as it looks, but it is time consuming, sometimes tedious, and needs precise positioning, using good tape, such as Tamiya masking tape.
When it comes to painting, and masking, there are no short cuts (as with most areas of modelling). But then, as Wojtek would say, modelling is not a race! If you want an instant model, get a die cast !
Hope this helps a bit.