There are what appears to be a million tiny black screws on my PCM Reading T-1 Class 4-8-4 HO Scale model.
The instructions were ok, exploded drawings ok and everything was wonderful until a test run revealed problems.
PCM is working on the engine and will probably have the engine back in service or replaced within a few weeks.
While pondering the situation with all those screws on the bottom of the locomotive I had a mind image of a idea.
1- Find the screws that hold the boiler to the rest of the engine. If you removed these screws the boiler WILL come off.
1a- Factory paint the screw Red in Color. I think looking at the model on the rails should be discreet anyways. That way even the newest hobby person can understand that those specific screws will allow the boiler to come off.
1b- Factory paint the BOILER screw HOLES RED. That way there is no confusion as to which screw goes where, saves stripped threads or other problems that cause issues.
2- Find the screws that holds the cover onto the RUNNING GEAR… Axles, Gears, suspension etc. IF these specific screws come off then the inner power train will be exposed.
2a- PAINT those screws that secure the RUNNING GEAR between the motor to the drive wheels YELLOW at the Factory.
2b- PAINT the holes that hold these screws for the Running Gear YELLOW.
3- Occasionally there are screws for BOTH the Boiler AND the Running Gear mechanism I guess we can paint those white. But suspect that is pretty rare.
All other screws can be left black or model base color because they hold parts or other items onto the model.
Expense? Should not be that much, I forsee holes that might be actually “Implanted” with a nylon cover that will recieve a screw that is the same color. No need to paint very much or spend much time painting during assembly.
Problem might be paint coming off after several disassemblies… perhaps the m