Okay everyone, I worked on it more before taking the pics because I only had limited time, but I finally got it!
These are the 3 things that ended up helping me.
1) Although there is often debate on whether or not Rub n Buff dries, one thing that I think was a big factor was the time between the coats of Rub n Buff. Yesterday, it was looking crappy and uneven. When I say uneven, I mean flat in some areas, shiney in others. I went to bed mad. Tick tock tick tock. Then, tonight about 24 hours later, I did another coat (thanks Mirax!) and although it would not even out last night, it DID tonight.
2) (Mirax! again
) Use a tiny amount at a time. I thought I was using a little before, but realized that I was using too much tonight. I squeezed the tube JUST to the point that it started coming out of the tube...barely....then put that on my index finger and blended it as wide as possible. Very thin. Then, when it was fully spread, I used soft tissue to buff it out. That coat from yesterday now seemed like an important base, and these thin layers went on well. If you use your finger and it clumps up at all, you are using too much. Huge thanks to Mirax for the help and to SEEKER for posting his helmet (that helped too).
3) The base....surface prep sanded with 220 grit, primered (Krylon grey) and wet sanded with 320 grit, then top layer with the Krylon Dull Aluminum #1403. I had to order the Dull aluminum online because I couldn't find it anywhere (well worth it). I used three other types of paints before this base, and this was the best for sure. Any of the other metallics or silvers gave me problems for one reason of another.
This first picture is of the second paint I tried and the first picture I posted here. Looks cool as #$%@, but it ended up being too thick, too shiney, and NEVER dried.
I ended up striping it all the way down again and did the primer with dull aluminum. Here it is with the Rub n Buff. A few things to say...the colors are slightly less saturated in these pictures then they actually are. Also, the Rub n Buff is NOT as even as it looks in these pictures, but it looks very good now and like SEEKER said it shouldn't be perfect. Also, yes SEEKER, I know it needs weathering. I'll make you proud in that
, just wanted to get some pictures up. Okay blah blah here are the pictures!
More to come! Thanks again to all of you for being on my side.