High solids coating composition of a low molecular weight acrylic polymer and an alkylated melamine cross-linking agent

A high solids coating composition comprising at least 50% by weight of a binder of film-forming constituents and up to 50% by weight of a liquid carrier;

• in which the film-forming constituents consist essentially of
• (A) about 50-95% by weight of an acrylic polymer having a number average molecular weight determined by gel permeation chromotography of about 500-4,500, a hydroxyl content of about 2-10% by weight, a glass transition temperature of about -20.degree. C. to +20.degree. C. and containing about 2-10% by weight of a chain transfer agent and consisting essentially of
• methyl methacrylate, an alkyl methacrylate or an alkyl acrylate each having 2-12 carbon atoms in the alkyl groups and a hydroxyl alkyl acrylate or a hydroxy alkyl methacrylate each having 2-4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and
• (B) about 5-50% by weight of an alkylated melamine formaldehyde cross-linking agent having 1-4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and in addition to the film-forming constituents 0.1-2% by weight of an acid catalyst.