How do you open a N-Scale Con-Cor Superliner

[Anonymous]

It a shame that these cars have nice details on the outside and nothing on the inside but that's not the half, the top is glued shut. Now for someone like myself who likes to go the extra yards in detailing my models this is a slap on the wrist.
My questions are, has anyone out there ever opened one of these Superliner car before?
Is anyone familiar with opening a car that has been glued shut, by the manufacturer, without damaging the finish?

[jrbernier]

Mine were not glued shut, but might as well have been! The 'secret' is those little marker lights on the ends. Press then in with a sharp object and you can pull up the roof...

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

jrbernier, are u sure? Just how much pressure do I have to apply? I really wouldn't to break anything.
Can anybody testify to this?

[Anonymous]

If the cars are anything like mine, turn them over and look on the bottom near the middle on each side. There should be two little clear plastic claws. Take a pair of sharp pointed tweezers or needle nose pliers and squeeze those together while pulling the top out with your fingernails at the same time. I've had to remove a number of mine for various reasons, and it takes a little work but can be done. You might break the claws off, and if so that's okay because the top will still fit back on like it did originally.

trainluver1

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering about my set because there're no claws on mine and I tried pushing a sharp object into the marker lights and to no avail. I guess there wont be any internal modification on this set of superliner cars. Thanks anyway people.
verse2damax

[Wdlgln005]

Use your fingernail to see if there is s seam on the roofline corner? How about a joint between the sideframe & the bottom of the shell? If the superliners are like tir other models, the roof and window assembly is a one-piece unit. Another idea is to see if the trucks screw into the bottom of the cars. THat may be another way to open them.

[Anonymous]

verse2damax

Upon closer inspection, I found that my Con cor superliner cars don't have the claws after all... I was instructing you according to my smooth sides, which are totally different.
I don' know what to tell you except be careful and good luck... Sorry I'm not any help.

trainluver1

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much for the assistance everyone. I'm going put a hold on detailing these con-cor cars for now.
Since I posted this topic I've added four additional Kato sets, Ph III Set A, Ph III Set B and two Ph IV Set B, to my collection. I'm currently searching for another Ph III P42 set.
I got all these on ebay at some pretty good prices, well except for one set, one of the Ph IV Set B, I had to pay $178.00 for. The funny thing is I got the second Ph IV B set two days later for $100.00.
Keep a sharp eye out for a future post of these locos and cars in action on my N scale layout.