How do you guys take one of these apart? I already tried sliding an X-acto knife under the seams, but all it is doing is creating damage.
I want to maybe install interiors, and lighting in these.
Thanks.
What is the manufacturer? Are you talking about an Athearn Ready to Roll car?
Ha- I knew I left something out. Yes, it is made by Athearn. Sorry.
I have no personal experience with the Ready to Roll cars, but plenty with the Blue Box kits. The bodies just slide on to the underframe, and by getting a firm grip on the bodies with one hand, and another hand on the underframe, you should be able to “rock” the body off, unless Athearn has glued the body on for the RTR cars. They can be a bear to get off sometimes.
As far as interiors go, have you checked these out for your Athearn passenger cars…
I had initially wanted to go with blue box kits, but they were all on backorder at the time I made the purchase about six months ago, and no telling when they were going to produce more. Santa Fe RPO, Diner, and Coach.
I am going to check out palacecargo. Maybe it will keep me from making my interiors out of card stock.
I saw that Athearn was going to release some re-tooled passenger cars, so the old ones may very well be on the way out, as much of a shame as it would be.
The Palace interiors are great. The floors are scribed as a guide for the placement of the partitions and seats, so it makes it real easy. Once painted, they look really nice. Here is one for a Santa Fe hi level coach and a diner…
Thanks for sharing the pictures, Smitty.
I was wondering how they had the galley set up, now I know. Thanks.
I was able to get the cars apart by twisting with a great deal of force, then by sliding my thumnail along the seam, they came apart.
That is it!!! As I said before, they can be a bit difficult. Now that I think about it I had to use my thumbnail in the same manner on a few.
BTW, the galley was on the first level of the diner, and the “stainless” painted areas you see on the interior pic are serving stations that also had a dumbwaiter to the galley on the first level.
Palace Car Ineriors look to be made for Athearn BB. KITS. Not all RTR merchandise disassembles well. Depends on the glue used.
Good luck.