Hi Triarius,
Many thanks for your reply!
Yes, the paint is brand new. The level in the tin was completely normal, and the consistency was smooth.
I use Model Master airbrush thinners for all my Testor and Humbrol enamels and there's usually no problem. The paint seemed to go on quite well, but even 18 hours later there's a 'tackiness' to the coat that says something is defnitely amiss.
Conditions of spraying were quite good, a mild afternoon with sunshine in the room, so I'd have thought conditions for drying were excellent.
I've heard red can be a problem at the best of times, due to synthetic pigments -- this is the first time I've ever sprayed red.
It's sounding more and more like a manufacture problem... I'll see if I can get in touch with Humbrol, though with the company going into receivership a couple of months ago the status of their operation might be in doubt.
Normally I'd just scrap the tin and start again, but the model is on a deadline for a UK magazine. GRRR. Something tells me I'll be stripping the paint...
Cheers,
TB379