On Sun, 16 Jan 2011 21:33:00 +0000, D.M. Procida wrote:

It has one of those 1970s plastic item constructions, with the front and
back halves thoroughly affixed together, presumably with some kind of
cement that has welded them together.

In my experience of such things, trying to separate the halves
invariably seems to result in breaking something irreparably.

A sharp triming knife blade, patience and not forcing anything too
much can normally get most things open without excessive damage.
Close examination and probing may well find a weak spot in the join
into which you can work the trimming knife blade. After that working
the blade slowly along the join with twisting action to open the
joint, not cut through, should get it apart. You may have to work
from several weak spots.

The recent new retro-copies of these classic toys are never as well
made as the orginals.

--
Cheers
Dave.