I like it Matt.
Sometimes we can be our harshest critics. Relax; it’s fine.
As modeller’s, I find we get a bit hung-up on the ‘chipped/flakiness’ of a surface, but if we stop to look closely, much of the distress we seek is represented by what’s left of the paint. Akin to weathering and erosion in general, paint also fades at different rates leaving the residue with a host a range of hues of the same colour - I know, I need to get out more; I find washes with different concentrations of the same colour ideal for the purpose.
I agree that the suck-it-and-see approach of using what is essentially the hairspray technique can prove more than a little frustrating at times because it is difficult to control the outcome, but I find that it is just this unpredictability that gives it the edge over say the use of Maskol, with which it is very difficult to avoid a contrived look. As humankind, we’re not very good at being random, hence the Random-Number generator on a calculator. If you’re not careful, you can end up with an unintentional camouflage look using Maskol, so use it only as last resort.
I repeat, it looks fine to my humble eye, Matt, but if you insist on starting again, use exactly the same method but just employ a couple of thin washes over the top before ‘chipping away’ with paint brush ‘n’ water. You can even just wash some thinned paint of the same shade and/or some watery thin white washed/blobbed on here and there, over the existing surface.
Still I like it the way it is.
Keep it coming.
Jonte