Update. I followed the procedure described by '68 as well as bumped my pressure a bit. I shot half of an extra hood as a test.

After 3 lighter coats moving a bit quicker than last time my coverage looked pretty good but still a little blotchy.

I then shot a drop coat. I've read pros and cons to doing this as it seems the consensus is that drop coats are to mask poor technique. Well, call me poor technique but the drop coat did the trick. Took the hood out in the sun this morning and I don't see any striping or blotchyness.


I'll try to improve my conistancy and control as I move forward but I'm going to shoot the car with the pearl now that I have a touch of confidence.

Thanks for all the assistance, 1

I should have mentioned that a slow reducer will also help greatly.
Jobbers will sell you the reducer for the temperature that day but really all I use is slow reducer now, even in the winter.

I also activate my base coat and clear coat using slow clear coat activator.