Payola

I'm super new to this, but i really would prefer to do it as a little project and have it how i want. Do you have any advice about painting it? Do i need to sand off the paint thats on there now first? Just any and all advice would really help me.

So I bought this helmet online for $120 and love the bucket, but there are a lot of painting problems and little things that just arent up to the standard i hoped for. You guys think it would be better to just repaint it myself and fix the visor or return it and find something better for the price?