Clearcoat over flat

You're using a flat clearcoat, You should be using a GLOSS clearcoat to get a shine.

He said he was using gloss black sheep. Um......I'm assuming u thoroughly stirred the clear coat before u began? Usually in clear coats, there is very little solids. Stirring regularly is paramount. 

How far are you shooting to the surface? If you're too far away, the gloss will partially dry before it hits the surface and appear dull.

I did not stir the container of clearcoat.

I've tried spraying as close as an inch and no success.

lacquers (real, old fashioned lacquer, not acrylic lacquer) do not dry as glossy as enamels.  They need to be rubbed out and polished.  This was the old routine for painting full size cars with lacquer- put on final coat- let dry thoroughly, rub out with rubbing compound, then a polish.  Clear coats are now eliminating a lot of that old manual labor.