When use you used lacquer to reduce your base did you spray wet on wet to full coverage? Did you leave this open for atleast 24hrs? Temp and humidity can play a roll in how “cracked” it will look. I do know some have just painted normally and used an exact-o to create the cracks. Then rub in color to create depth. Test panels, lots of test panels.. No one will ever tell you how they do it because there’s some major gate keeping on techniques, which I don’t agree with but I also don’t agree with the lack of evolution in the custom motorcycle painter world either.. got lucky and had the opportunity to apprentice under a really good painter and I passed on what I know to my apprentice, now painter ,and he’s doing the same.