A silicone bond coat composition having a viscosity of less than 1,600 centistokes is applied to substantially all external surfaces of the article and then cured. A liquid silicone elastomer outer coat composition comprising a high viscosity first liquid silicone elastomer formulation and a low viscosity second liquid silicone elastomer formulation is then applied and cured to provide a protected article having a complex shape. Optimal coatings result from a careful balancing of component viscosities. In an embodiment, the first formulation has a viscosity greater than 300,000 centistokes, and the second formulation has a viscosity less than 6,000 centistokes, and the liquid silicone elastomer outer coat composition comprises from about 60 to about 40 percent by weight of the first formulation and from about 40 to about 60 percent by weight of the second liquid silicone elastomer formulation.