Help with PE problem

I am in the process of assembling the Italeri 1/35 M101 105mm towed howitzer, and I have the Eduard PE set for it. The other night I was gluing the PE hinges and mounting braces to the inner gun shields (all Eduard PE), and with any manipulation at all, the pieces would pop off! So, I removed, what I assume to be, the dark oxide coating with some sandpaper and reglued (using CA). Popped off again. Re-attached using 2-part epoxy. Popped off again. Reglued with CA again, and let dry for over 24 hours. Put hinges in PE bender to bend both at correct angle so I could attach the upper shield, and you guessed it, popped again . Got everything glued back together (CA), and for now it's holding, but I'm concerned it'll all pop again when I start drybrushing, and I still have a lot more stuff to glue on! (Sometimes I scuff pretty vigorously when weathering). The CA is a thin (not gel) Loctite product, and is brand new. The epoxy is Conap, and I use it to hold golf club components together. Short of stick welding, how do I get the PE to stick and stay stuck to itself Help!!

Please understand this is gluing PE to PE (metal to metal), not PE to plastic.

I'm going to throw this out on the techniques forum as well. Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Gip Winecoff