Ok - as I'm getting acclimated to airbrushing, I've begun to experience a peculiar problem with Tamiya
and Gunze paints. So far I've finished 2 aircraft in Tamiya paint, one with Gunze, and two with two other types of paint (Akan and LifeColor). Here's my issue: the Tamiya and Gunze paints seems to dry to a more grainy and rough surface, and I'm having trouble with decal silvering as a result. I'm using Testors Gloss Coat from a rattle can (have been for decades, without problems). On my last project, I sprayed 3 coats of gloss coat - let it sit for 3 days to cure - but then was suspicious that it wasn't really smooth. So I decaled the drop tanks to see how it would go - and silvering ensued! I sprayed an additional 2 coats of gloss coat on the airframe itself, yet I still don't see the really glossy sheen I'm used to seeing prior to decaling.

Am I applying the Tamiya/Gunze paints incorrectly or something to get such a rough surface that the gloss coat doesn't smooth it out? I hate to spray so much gloss that I then can't get a good panel line wash (remember, I'm at 72 scale!). I'm using retarder with the Tamiya paint, and Mr. Color Leveling Thinner with the Gunze.

I didn't have this problem with the Akan and Life Color paints, and I've never had it in most of my years of brush painting either enamel flats (Model Master) or Vallejo Model Color paints.

May I also add the dilution ratio of thinner in the paint? I use Isopropyl alcohol for Tamiya acrylics ( I find this better than their own thinner label) and plain rubbing alcohol for Gunze acrylic. The ratio is always a 50-50 mix and usually the paint finish is gloss or semi gloss. Still I use a “Future-like” floor acrylic (also diluted in Isopropyl) airbrushed 8-10 hours before applying the decals

I do use a nicely thinned paint - more like 40% paint so as not to cover the black-basing too quickly (per a friend's recommendation).