Need advice for repairing broken step on a new my new Lionel METCA PA Milk Reefer

I always use 5 minute epoxy, very sparingly, for such repairs.  It does take a steady hand to hold it in place for the 5 minutes or until the Epoxy sets.

Ron

It appears that the step is styrene plastic. I would use a drop of polystyrene cement (orange tube) at each point. This should make the joint as strong as if there had been no break. And you shouldn't have to hold it in position until the cement is fully dry...

MELGAR

Same exact thing happened to mine as delivered - and same car. Some paint had already flaked off of the hinges as well. I just set it aside and chalked it up as experience. I don't know if I will even repair it. I had bought an older Milk car to donate its trucks and couplers on top of that. I guess it will just be a project for another time but I was pretty disappointed.

Agree about polystyrene glue.

Melgar or BenLMaggi:

Can you please recommend a brand - I am looking on Amazon and not sure what to buy.

Thanks!

Stan

Whatever you do, don't use super glue. It will not hold, but it will seal the ends such that other glues/cements will not work.

Either polystyrene glue  (the gel stuff we built plastic models with in the 50's)  or epoxy will do, as others have said.

I am going to agree with the styrene glue fix and add that for extra strength you take thin strips of styrene and glue them over the joints on the backside of the stirrup.

Thanks to all!

Update: I received the polystyrene glue yesterday and got brave enough today to give it a try.

First attempt failed as I did not hold the parts together long enough. I cleaned the glue off and:

Second try - SUCCESS!

I managed to get in a comfortable position, holding the little step with a rubber coated tweezer and after a minute or so (seemed like much longer) I was able to release my hold on the step and it held and seems very strong!

The smell of the plastic cement brought back memories. Of course a well ventilated location is best to do this job.

Thanks to all for the expert advice!

I can hardly tell which (of the six) step was repaired!