How To Guide How to Disassmble the Main Parts of a Rattler

i've been asked this many times so i'm using the opportunity with my sons custom rattler to show how this is done.

this MUCH easier to do with the tiger force rattler vs. the blue rattler. the tiger force rattler plastic is softer and the glue bonds are not as difficult to get around.

just incase someone has not had a tiger force rattler, you can take the rear tail fins off by pulling down on the back end of them. pull toward the front and down and they snap out easily. you can see the small tab that lock them in place in this picture



nothing really special here

here is the crux of the problem. getting this main belly panel off.



here is one of the panel seems that you will be cutting



you can actually see the lousy glue application on the rear panel seem

here are the two tabs you will have to break the glue bond as well. they are on either side of the wing.

all you need are an xacto knife and a small flat head screw driver.

take the xacto knife and stick it in the panel gap and slide it down the panel seam. the glue should be easy to get through, just make sure you don't have fingers in the way.



when one side is done, do the same for the other side.

spin the plane around and work your magic on the front seams. these should be just as easy as the rear panel seams

next we work on the small tabs. wedge a jewlers flat head screw driver into gap between panels and push it down to the tab.



move to the other side and do the same



if your lucky, you will hear the glue bond snap. if not we have to dig in with the xacto knife. you may see stress marks on the plastic, i've done this several times without breaking anything.

you can check the work by popping the tabs out on the front and rear ends of the belly panel this should be very easy after snapping the glue bond with the xacto knife.



try the other side...





if the panel does not pop out (i've never had this happen) you will be able to tell where you will have to work harder to snap the glue bond.

here you can see where the glue oozed out of the snap hole



this one was particularly difficult for me so i had to wedge some tweezers into the joint and continue to cut into the glue

get the screwdriver back in there and pry it a bit and you should st some point hear the glue bond snap




this particular plane had generous amounts of glue. they are not all this difficult.

here you can see where they apply the glue and where you have to focus the leverage when prying the parts apart. it doesn't take too much effort and obviously don't over do it. take your time as i'm sure you would rather not break this part.

a trivial part but you can use needle nose pliers to pop the wheels off. squeeze the tabs and pull the wheel off.