Help with clear flat coat on my 1/9 scale bust

Thanks Don, much appreciated 

I find on many vinyls, even some water based paint is a problem.

However, I have used Testors Dullcoat lacquer works on many acrylics when they are completely dry.  I know this shouldn't work, but it does.  I wonder if that stuff dries so fast the paint doesn't have enough time to be bothered.  Try a test by painting a piece of scrap with the paint, letting it thoroughly dry for a day or two, and then try the spray can Dullcoat on it.  Again, a quick, dry coat.

ok last question:  working on an old screamin vinyl kit (Boba Fett) - I learned the hard way years ago to not use anything but water based paints! So my question is to flatten him down what is a safe flat clear to use?  I gave the base of the figure a solid water based coat and thought I would be safe to paint oils over it ( i was wrong)- fortunately I was able to fix it, but don't want to risk the rest of the model with the wrong paint - any suggestions? 

I got to thinking later maybe you laid down the dullcoat too heavy, from too close just as Don mentioned.

Put on flat paints very thin (not the  paint/thinner ratio, but how thin the coating is.  It should go on dry, very little paint each coat, use several coats. Keep brush pretty dry. Also, dullcoat must be applied in thin, dry coats, or it will look semi-gloss.

In fact, gloss coat put on too thin looks semi-gloss as well.

If Mike Brindos doesn't see this, you might PM him. He's a figure expert and I'll bet he'll have sound advice.

I'm baffled that the Dullcoat didn't work. I haven't used it for years, but back when I was using it is was totally reliable.

Ever tried Alclad flat clear?

Yep, stirred the original flat paint to mix it thoroughly - and shook the rattle can for full 5 minutes before spraying - it is unfortunately not a tank where I can strip it of paint, it took me months to add layers of paint to do different textures and colors in the face and helmet - if I keep going will I finally get the paint to lay on it flat?

Hmm... did you stir the bottom of the paint bottle before you painted the figures? A lot of time sediments sits on the bottom and settles. Without stirring it up to loosen it and shaking it thoroughly will give your paint a glossy look. This sounds like a classic case of not stirring and shaking the paint first before painting.

Best bet is strip the paint off and start over.