Ajax #47988 Missile Set - Mint Green 2nd Stage

The second set #47988 that I have has a kind of minty green second stage (could it be a discolored blue or is it original?). As with the other rockets, the release lever is broken, however, that said, even if the lever was not broken, the rocket stages fit too tightly together to allow for a clean separation and flight. This is the result of the plastic actually shrinking over the years.

Ed