High solids curable film-forming compositions and
coating kits are provided, comprising: (a) a polyisocyanate curing agent; and (b) a film-forming component comprising at least one of (i) a secondary-hydroxyl functional (
meth)acrylic
polyol having pendant ester functional groups and a weight average molecular weight of 4000 to 8000; and (ii) a reactive constituent comprising: (1) a polymeric
polyol comprising a
polyester polyol and / or an
addition polymer that is different from (i); and (2) an organic medium comprising a hydrophobic and / or sterically hindered
reactive diluent having hydroxyl functional groups. Alternatively, the film-forming component (b) comprises the secondary-hydroxyl functional (
meth)acrylic polyol (i) and optionally at least one of (1) and (2) above. The (
meth)acrylic polyol comprises 20 to 35 percent by weight residues of an
epoxy functional ethylenically
unsaturated monomer. Methods of improving appearance of an effect
pigment-containing
coating layer on a substrate are also provided.