How to dissassemble a TYCO Caboose

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CNWman

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Jan 3, 2007
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Hi all:wave:

My latest project after fixing up a defective coupler plate on an old Athearn kit custom-painted, my new project is trying to improve an old TYCO caboose I got free from a junk box in a San Francissco hobby shop along with the hustler and two other cars. I have succesfully removes the end-laders and trucks, but that's as far as I got, because I cannot take this thing apart! the body seems to be latched on the base, which is preventing it's removal, and the view cab also is attached in some way that seems impossible to undo! Can someone help me, or will this thing have to stay together forever? Here are some pics:
Picture_0325.JPG

Picture_0324.JPG

Picture_0323.JPG

This caboose seems to have been in a set, for one of the cars I got along with it seems to have been from the same package, but that's all I know.
 
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eightyeightfan1

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Jun 18, 2002
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I don't think its latched, but glued together.
I had a couple of Tyco cars I wanted to fix, but trying to part the underframe from the body, ended up in a couple of cracked shells.
 
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Kevinkrey

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Jul 27, 2006
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What do you want to do by taking it apart, cant you detail it (if that is what you are doing) while it is together? What do you mean by "fix it up"?​
 
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doctorwayne

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In your first photo, those two dark slots in the top edge of the lower orange stripe should be where tabs on the edge of the floor engage to hold the floor in place. Working from the underside of the floor, you should be able to insert the tip of a small screwdriver between the edge of the floor and the inside face of the side wall. If it inserts easily, then it's unlikely that anything is glued together, so you should be able to give the screwdriver a bit of a twist to spread the body, then pry up a little to lift the tab away from the slot.
For the cupola, using your thumb and forefinger, grasp the ends of it down close to the top of the main roof, and squeeze. This should disengage the tabs that hold it in place. Then simply lift it off.

If the floor is glued into the body, you should be able to slip the blade of your X-Acto knife into the joint, then carefully work it around the perimeter of the floor. Then remove it as described above.

Wayne
 
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CNWman

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Kevinkrey said:
What do you want to do by taking it apart, cant you detail it (if that is what you are doing) while it is together? What do you mean by "fix it up"?​
Click to expand...

Well, weathering some parts of the model would be ALOT easier, and there's the problem of the caboose's quite noticeable lack of windows, which makes it lok even more toy like.
 
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MasonJar

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Oct 31, 2002
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If all you want to do it repaint/weather it and glaze the windows, you do not need to take it apart.

Painting from the outside is kinda obvious... ;).

"Microclear" is a liquid window glaze that you can add with a toothpick... I have not tried it, but have seen results that look good. I intend to use it on a CN caboose project where the windows were flush mounted.

One reason you might want to disassemble it is to add weight. Those Tycos are notoriously light...

Andrew
 
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CNWman

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MasonJar said:
If all you want to do it repaint/weather it and glaze the windows, you do not need to take it apart.

Painting from the outside is kinda obvious... ;).

"Microclear" is a liquid window glaze that you can add with a toothpick... I have not tried it, but have seen results that look good. I intend to use it on a CN caboose project where the windows were flush mounted.

One reason you might want to disassemble it is to add weight. Those Tycos are notoriously light...

Andrew
Click to expand...
It was primarly the windows behind the reason to dissasemble this car, because it has none, just empty space. I could fix that with clear plastic at the least, but the car's design prevents me from doing that to the main body, let alone the view cab. Also, you're right about the weight problem. The other TYCO I got along with this one has a weight about twice the size of a peice of chewing gum, and can't take curves at high speeds. Then again, TYCO was aimed towards the young kids, not the modler.
 
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Glen Haasdyk

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"Microclear" is a liquid window glaze that you can add with a toothpick... I have not tried it, but have seen results that look good. I intend to use it on a CN caboose project where the windows were flush mounted
Click to expand...

I have used it with success in small building windows and some vehicles that didn't come with windows (alloy Forms).
 
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MasonJar

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Thanks for the confirmation Glen!

The other TYCO I got along with this one has a weight about twice the size of a peice of chewing gum, and can't take curves at high speeds. Then again, TYCO was aimed towards the young kids, not the modler.
Click to expand...

But it's the kids that want to take the curves at high speed right...?! ;) :D So those Tycos should weigh a ton!

Andrew
 
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CNWman

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MasonJar said:
Thanks for the confirmation Glen!



But it's the kids that want to take the curves at high speed right...?! ;) :D So those Tycos should weigh a ton!

Andrew
Click to expand...

Well, in all logical sense, it SHOULD by all means. However, TYCO's train line was aparently low quality through and through:cry:. At least my caboose can be saved, unlike the TYCO GG1:eek:
 
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