I need to know if Athearn RTR cupola cabooses are glued together, I was wanting to do some detail work and need to take it apart without breaking it…
Does anybody know from past experience if the Athearn line of RTR cabooses are glued or just put together as the old old blue box line.
Thanks,
Mark
The RTR caboose, at least the one I have , the weight is glued to the floor, but other than that, it’s basically a BB.
Go for it, you shouldn’t have a problem.
Just make sure it tracks ok before you buy it. The weight in mine is warped so one of the trucks won’t stay on the tracks.
Gordon
My Chessie caboose appears to be glued which is fine by me because of the new scale end railings and ladder which is very fragile.
I was wondering the same thing. I want to put some caboose marker lights on a Athearn RTR caboose, and I can’t seem to see how to get it apart, without breaking it.
I have a RTR Chessie Baywindow from Athearn it appears to be glued together as a solid unit.
Just fine by me. The ones I care about are the Atlas NE units which I am adding markers and roadnames to soon.
They got to be glued together. I have one in my hand right now and they don’t go together like the BB kits. They are nice looking caboose’s, CP fans should check out the two that Athearn did for Trains Canada. They both as well as Athearn’s CN were nice additions to my caboose collection.
The cupola on my Athearn RTR C&O caboose, is just snapped in and comes off easily, but the rest of it does appear to be glued together. Bummer. I wanted to install marker lights, and there isn’t enough room to work through the cupola hole.
What you want is:
The Blue Box KIT,- not one that has been assembled.
Adding Marker lamps (and a lighting kit) really makes a Caboose come alive.
Update.
Ok, I have an RTR Athearn Cupola BN C&S caboose. On the Athearn website it said in includes window glazing, but it does not and I contacted Athearn and they sent me a set free.
So this past weekend I took a closer look and wiggled the shell and it seems it was loose. Next I looked underneath and it seems the ladders are glued, but if you push from the bottom with a small screwdriver the ladders will come off but still remain attached to the roof of the caboose. After that the body comes right of the bottom and it was east to install the window set after that. Then just put it back together and all was done.
I would think the wide vision and bay window would be the same. So anyone could add windows or marker lights.
Mark
Unfortunately I won’t be buying any of these as their Southern Railway Bay Window caboose is still a foobee. It’s not even close to what they really look like. I still haven’t finished my resin Southern caboose and having gotten lazy in my old age would appreciate a RTR Southern Caboose. And before someone mentions it I know about the Overland brass Southern caboose. I just don’t have a fat wallet.