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We’ve touched on the question of tacky paint several times, both here and on the old Forum and ended up with two theories:
- The paint had been softened as the result of absorbing plasticisers (phthalates) which had evaporated from the plastic used for carry cases. The finger was very firmly pointed at the Fred Bronner cases, although there was a suggestion that UK-manufactured ones could cause paint softening too.
- The paint had not been sufficiently baked at the factory resulting in it not fully hardening.

As you will know, I now have all of my collection together in the same place for the first time in very many years. I also have dedicated model storage and (after almost 50 years) a display cabinet, so I’m gradually sorting things out.
What i recently came across were two 53c Ford Zodiacs, one RW, and one SF, both with metallic paint. Neither has ever been in a carry case, the RW having sat in its box since the day it was packaged in the factory, and the SF example having sat on top of some blister packs in a large cardboard box for great many years. In both cases, the paint is now tacky.
I think this provides evidence of, at least some cases, tackiness being due to paint issues (i.e. poor curing or some kind of long-term instability), although the plasticiser theory may still serve to explain other examples.
Talking of plasticisers, I have a 23e filler flap VW Camper which came from the US and has dull, but not tacky, paint. Is this a known issue with longer-term storage in US-made carry cases?

I think you will find that dull paint is common on models that have been shelf stored anywhere in the world Idris, not just from the U.S. Given 20 years of dust and air exposure while on display, the paint becomes dull as if needing a good cleaning. I have lots of these, and I never worry about dull paint on 50 year old Lesney models.
A lot of specific Lesney models are known for tacky paint such as the #25 Cortina, so I believe even with storage problems also being a factor, colors or possibly brands of specific paints used in thr factory somehow matter. The tackiness could be inadequate oven curing, but why on so many Cortinas, versus no tacky red or blue non-metallic painted models that I have handled. The Cortina's paint is a bit metallic, could that be a factor as on your #53 Zodiacs, or perhaps a lot of Fords have poor paint quality from Lesney's 'Ford Factory'??? kwakers

I have a purple Pre Pro colour trial #10 Piston Popper with tacky paint and it was stored in a box in a loft for nearly 40 years.

I have an example of #66 Silver Spirit that from day one, had a soft tacky feel to the main body paint, it was so soft in fact you could dig your finger nail into it and peel the paint away, most strange.
Image used for illustrative purpose only.

GHOSTHUNTER.

kwakers wrote:The Cortina's paint is a bit metallic, could that be a factor as on your #53 Zodiacs, or perhaps a lot of Fords have poor paint quality from Lesney's 'Ford Factory'???

That is precisely the direction my thoughts are going in at the moment.

I received over a period of time some mint-boxed models with tacky paint.These include #31 Aqua Lincoln Conti,#33 Sf Gold lambo,#25 Sf Blue Cortina,#53 Sf light Blue & Green Zodiacs,#8 Orange-Red Mustang,#44 Refrigerator truck both Reg & Sf,#46 Sf Gold Merc,#62 Sf Green Cougar.There could be others out there.
numi

Tacky paint might put off some who may be concerned a model was a repaint.