There's a combination there....not enough paint/too much buffing.
I spray directly to bare plastic. You will not get that metalic sheen over a primer (I have not tried gloss primer though...so..??).
In the past, when I was using rattle can metalizer...I would "prime" a few select panels (color didn't seem to matter). Just as that was dry to the touch, I'd spray the metalizer. Those primed panels would have a different sheen, making them look another shade of metal.
For this one, you can see the difference on the wing. The darker looking panels were primed. The whole thing was sprayed with Aluminum Plate (buffing).
Nowadays, I keep several metalizers on hand, for airbrushing. Typically, I'll lay down a base of "Magnesium"....then tint panels with "Steel", Stainless Steel", Polished Alum", "Alum. Plate". (as needed)
My most recent NMF is a good example, with a lot of variety.