American Flyer passenger car inserts

[Mr. S.]

Hi,

I'm getting ready to restore some Flyer 900 series passenger cars.  I have to take the window inserts out so I can strip and paint the cars but they are REALLY glued in there, not like Lionel passenger cars.  I've tried everything I can think of to help release them but no luck.  I wonder if all the Flyer cars are like that, or perhaps someone before me opened these up and super-cemented them in place.  There is a hard, yellowish glue every few window spacings.

I do hate to destroy the originals or have to resort to cutting them out to save them.

Any tips on getting those out?  If not, any source for correct repro inserts as a last resort?  The chrome on the cars is in sad shape but all the shells themselves look good as do the window insert strips.

Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like those cars have had the inserts reglued at some point.  The original cars that I've had have  one spot of glue at each end of the insert.

I'd try carefully getting between the inserts and body with a thin screwdriver to pop the inserts loose.  Doug at Port Lines would be your best bet for replacements if they are available.