Orange Peel with Spray Varnish??? Please Help!

I used to get orange peel from time to time. It can be a number of reasons it happens. In my experience, I find two causes - spraying too thick and close or too cold outdoors (if spraying from rattle can outside). Most times for me is rushing by spraying too thick and too close to the model while spraying.

Oramge peel is usually caused by putting down too dry a coating, either moving too fast or from too far away.  Sometimes painting a dusty surface can look like orange peel until you look carefully.  Orange peel is most apparent on gloss finishes, flat finishes are more tolerant of dry coats.  If you are doing a gloss finish, sand out orange peel with 600 sandpaper and coat again, this time a bit wetter.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of paint did you paint the model with before doing the clear coat?  How long did you wait after painting before putting the clear coat on, and what temperature was it kept at while the paint dried/cured?

I use Testors flat. 1.75oz bottle, thinned 50/50 for airbrushing.

Never had any issue's with it. It is going down over a good gloss lacquer coat, though. Lacquer on lacquer.

I used to get problems when I used rattlecans...but I didn't do gloss coats. The issue is the difference in paint. Lacquer going on top of and "attacking" enamel paint.

Interesting, thank you. What Matt varnish do you use?

I've only had this problem if I sprayed to thick (lacquer gloss, over enamel paint). The lacquer "attacks" the paint below, and it's basically screwed(for lack of a better term!).

I only ever had small areas, that were easy enough to sand down, re-paint and re-gloss.

Some years ago, I bought a quart of Minwax Gloss lacquer, thin it about 45/55 (gloss/thinner) and run it through the airbrush. I use a cleaned out 1oz. paint bottle to mix and store small batches. Key is...do a couple light coats, then you can get a bit heavier with em.

For what it's worth...that quart of gloss was about $10...and it has done over 100 models...most were 1/72...but still a heck of a lot cheaper than buying "special" model clear gloss lacquer!