Best way to cut off skirts on plastic HO scale passenger cars?

[Highball]

Hi guys,
I just realized today that out of the 3 Rivarossi coaches and 3 Rivarossi sleepers of my brand new Canadian train, 1 coach and 1 sleeper is skirtless while the others (as well as the diner) have skirts (look at the pic to see the difference). I don´t know why it is like that but obviously the previous owner did some cutting by himself. Since the prototype cars were also delivered without skirts, I would like to cut off the skirts of my remaining cars too in order to make them look more prototyoical. I´ve never done such a thing before, so does anybody of you have an advice how to do it in the best way and what tools to use?

 

[NH Mike]

I'd separate the body from the floor and carefully cut them off with a razor saw by slowly and repeatedly cutting along the groove ( flute ). Alternately with a steady hand and a new sharp Xacto blade repeatedly score along the groove. Whichever method, once the skirts are removed smooth the edge with a flat file or sanding block and then touch it up with some paint. Floquil Platinum mist or aluminum might match close enough not to be a problem since it will be on the underside edge if the removal was neat enough.

 

[Highball]

Thanks for the advice! Sounds good! I think that will take quite some time but should be a nice result then.