Hi!
I hope you don’t mind a “bug guy” joining the party. I wanted to applaud you guys for what you’re doing. You’ve got poor, garage-less Joes like me in three countries cheering!
Wow…an alternative to auto painting that doesn’t require hundreds or even thousands of dollars!

It seems like you’ve stumbled on a variation of the old art of “coach painting.”
Here’s a site that goes more into it:
http://www.stephen.hull.btinternet.co.uk/index.html

There are techniques in coach painting that we may be able to pick up on. The only problem is, the paint that’s used is only available in one country (gee that sounds familiar!) I do see similarities in coach paint to what all of you are working with. What intrigues me is that to get a gloss, coach painters use a certain type of varnish. That may be the key to our common quest. Like EXIT1965, I'm trying to find a clear paint that's brushable and compatible with Rustoleum. The research and experimentation goes on. Good luck amigos!