Hi: We just received two Rapido Cabooses, Great Northern and CP Rail, and would like to put some crew onboard but can’t figure out how to get roof off or cupola off either. And the details are so delicate we don’t want to damage anything so would appreciate advice. We love the little sliding windows in the cupola.
TIA Larry and Sadie.
It’s been my experience with other Rapido cars that there are tabs on the underside, that when released allow the body to be pulled straight up off of an inner shell made of the clear plastic you see in the windows. This is common for passenger cars. Your cabooses may be that way also.
Don’t you mean the Rivarossi cars? Rapidos have a roof that works similar to the Walthers, but is a friction fit, not a snap fit like the Walthers’ tabs
Is there a parts diagram that came with the Caboose? If so you can usually tell what holds the top and/or body on.
perhaps they were born there.
grizlump
You can pry the bottom of the cupola sides apart and it will lift off. Getting into the lower level is more of a pain… I suggest you call Dan at the office and have him walk you through it. The number is 1-877-738-6445.
Our original plan was to have the lower level roofs snap in place, but they had a tendency to lift, so we had to glue them.
Best regards,
Jason
I didn’t put a crew in mine, but I did remove the floor in order to install window blinds. While I had it apart, I painted the end platforms, railings, and ladders, too.
Wayne
Thanks Jason:
Your advice was taken. I gently pried the sides of the cupola up about 1/16 of an inch. Then I squeezed the front and back of the cupola together and the cupola lifted past the tabs allowing it to lift the rest of the way off. I found an appropriate figure and glued him to the forward facing seat and put the cupola back on. Simple when you know how. I love the little sliding windows, and all the detailed hoses etc on the chassis. Great job, Jason!
Sadie Hawkins- does your puppy ride cabooses? How does your puppy get inside? How about the conductor letting the puppy inside, if the puppy is a regular member of the crew?
On the Johnston and East Texas, the puppy is the conductor’s assistant.
(MTL N scale SP caboose painted in East Texas woods shortline freelance scene, based on use of ex-SP caboose by shortline Texas South-Eastern.)
DoctorWayne, I believe you are referring to the TLT caboose, as opposed to the Rapido caboose mentionned in the original post.
Hah! You’re absolutely correct (and I wasn’t). [banghead] I have to admit, I was wondering about the reference to sliding windows, but figured it was simply a more modern style caboose with which I wasn’t familiar. However, had I owned one of the cabooses referred to, I would have opened it up to add window shades, too. [swg]
This is the most modern caboose on my layout, with a BLT. date of May, 1936. It has window shades and open windows, too. [;)]
Wayne