For those who enjoy chopping up Lima passenger cars for kitbashing projects, a word for the wise. Make sure you use a spacer block inside the body when cutting, especially with later production ones, as the plastic seems to be very brittle and suspect to cracking, as seen with the example below:
Hi Evan I note that you think that the later versions are more brittle I have had a similar experance with Bachman On30 products. Whilst cutting hasn't resulted in cracking I find the cut edge on later models ends up fury compared to earlier versions of the same model around a 10 year differance between production. Some times you can tell by flexing the sides some are certainly more flexible, may be a result of the more developed plastic compounds now used in the Manufacturing. So I always start with a new micro saw blade on the newer bodies now to minimise the effect at the cut edge. Plus I use a peice of melamine covered wood to brace similar to the steal weight that you used Good luck for further cutting Evan
Dapol use a far softer plastic on the old Airfix / Kitmaster than the originals used. Probably a combination of being easier on the moulds, better flow properties and availability. If this has been achieved by adding more plasticiser and neutral filler or additional quantities of recycled plastic, then the plasticiser will leach out over years and the structure will embrittle. Paul
Fortunately the damage doesn't affect my current project. Those sections were just going to be spare side sections anyway. I will also say, take extra care if you know an area of the car has cracking. This particular one had repaired cracks which, as the photo shows, didn't hold up despite using a spacer block. I never knew about the dapol kits, Paul. I will bear that in mind when buying 2nd hand Dapol stuff
