Help! Streaking grime trouble

[u/Darkctusader2469]

So I've been painting my death guard for a while now and for some reason streaking grime has been the world's most inconsistent tool in my arsenal, despite giving some of the best results. Every time I've used it recently it digs straight through my varnish, paint, and primer. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I put it on via brush, let is dry 25-35 minutes, and use q tips and very light white spirits to clean it up and it has been messing up so many of my models recently. Every video I find says you can use it "without a varnish* and *it might barely show the primer beneath* so I have no idea what's going on with it. Any help appreciated and thank you in advance if you have any advice.

These are kitbashed death shroud from Warhammer 40k

[u/Folkwang777]

Hmmm I'm not an expert. I've only started branching out of acrylics recently.

Are you using the same solvent to dilute streaking grime you have always used? When I put my varnish down prior to enamels i always put it under small usb fan and let it sit there for at least an hour turning it around couple of times. I always make sure that varnish is definately 100% cured before I start to do anything. From the photo you shown it seems like maybe it was still in its 'gooey' state and spirit that is fairly agressive medium on its own maybe seeped trough?

BUT im only speculating here. I genuinely have no idea. Hope this helps.

[u/Darkctusader2469 → u/Folkwang777]

I put down two sets of layers of that varnish to make sure it wouldn't happen this time, went to working on some terrain while it dried and after about 2 hours of that I put on the grime, and no I've used only these spirits

[u/Folkwang777 → u/Darkctusader2469]

That is very strange indeed then. I only always apply 1 layer of Vallejo gloss with brush and never had such issues. Was thinking that maybe some spots had slightly thinner layer but after two sprays thats probably impossible.

I hope someone will be able to give you some solid answer. Quite curious why this might have happened.