Yes, when buying it, at least one store employee had no idea what I was talking about. Anyway, I found some spray lacquer in Robert Dyas but maybe I went too cheap …
So that’s proof that I was using it properly (at the start, lol). That is, 30cm distance and horizontal can but …
The problem was fundamentally trying to spray on top of a varnish/silicone oil mix. I’m assuming its just not stable enough to support the lacquer polymerising on top. This is the horrible mess that resulted from trying to do that to one of (sadly) my favourites, Oceania:
Unfortunately it stayed crunchy and had holes that appeared in the surface. Also too many layers made it opaque. Probaby fewer layers that I let dry more might have helped? I think just fundamentally this just doesn’t work.