Thanks for the suggestions,
Luckily this is a genuine Horizon kit and not some dodgy remould, so I have both the box and the instructions.
Unfortunately the instructons are written with the younger modeller in mind and don't say what the composition of the model is beyond describing it as 'poly vinyl', but they do say to use a cyanoacrylate for the adhesive (listed in the tools as 'Krazy Glue').
Thinking about it, I may have violated one of my strict preparation rules by not washing the parts prior to assembly, do you think mould-release residue may have interfered with the bond? I intended to wash the completed model before priming for that reason.
There is one piece of good news, after I had originally glued the model together I discovered it wasn't very stable and wished I had filled the legs with clay or plaster to balance it better, I will do this now as it would have bugged me if I had left it.
As regards the amount of load I put on it, I assure you it was very slight, if I had broken the model I wouldn't have posted about it, I would have just re-glued it, it was the ease of the break that alarmed me. I realise I will have to be extra careful with this, my only vinyl model.
Neil.