Brittle styrene

[jh63fan]

Just wondering if anyone else encountered this:
I opened an original sealed 1985 issue Monogram Petty Gran Prix. Several parts were off the trees and others were broken inside the bag. More broke when removing them from the trees. You can tell the styrene is brittle.
Has this happen to you and did you go ahead and build the kit or abandon it.   Thanks

[Razorback 46]

Most of the 80s Monogram kits are really brittle. Especially the colored plastic ones. They don't usually come in that bad of shape but occasionally you might have a broken part or two. The bast advice I can give is to get a pair of nippers with a flat edge as opposed to twisting the parts off of the trees.

[jh63fan]

This one is colored plastic. I was using snippers and some of the roll cage pieces broke at the tree attachment point. Even the front frame rail was broke in the box. I like using the original issue kits because I like the chassis plates better. No blob to put the seat on and not cut short and rounded at the back. Plus, the molding is better.

[Speedracer]

Yup, had the same problem with the same kit - 3 times! Understand that plastics are petroleum based and as the petroleum dissipates (evaporates) the plastic gets brittle. Happens to all plastic products. I used my kits for parts!

[Volzfan59]

It happened to me with a Monogram Lumina chassis molded in yellow. The chassis was warped and broke as I attempted to straighten it out.

[Razorback 46]

Hmm, you might could try putting a bit of glue where the bar is connected to the tree. That way, once it dries , you've got a little more holding the piece together when you go to cut it loose. Even if it's too late for this build, it might help in the future.

[jh63fan]

Just finished messing with it and some more parts broke, so like Speedracer said, parts kit. Guess I'll strip the chrome and see if it is any better. If it is, use it on a Salvino Gran Prix instead of their chrome that can't be removed.
Thanks for the responses everyone.