Panzer tank hull being quenched

[Frank S]

These cutaway displays are not cut in half as one might think. First whatever the model to be cut open happens to be the first step is a complete disassembly
then they are cut by which ever happens to be the favored method. For the unusually thick Steel this is often done much like the breakers at scrap yards do by using a huge cutting torch some things are cut with demolition saws like my Sthil AS510 Av mine has a 12" blade guard but up to a 16" can be used



other methods could include the diamond cable saw like those sometimes used to cleave granite slabs
or a band saw on anything that could be fit through one.
Once the sections are cut apart the model is cleaned and painted then re assembled sometimes even the smaller assemblies are cut open as well
A guy told me one time that it can very easily cost double or triple to make a cutaway model as it did to manufacture it as a whole machine.
Some manufactures will actually cast or build a cut away model at the time of the machines original production run.