I have two Bachmann Doodlebugs (UP and Great Northern). How do you remove the car bodies? The drawing and instructions that came with the models gives no details. I don’t want to force the car body off and run the risk of breaking it. I need to remove the car body in order to replace the lights and install a DCC chip. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks,
Marksteam.
I have taken the roof off the body, I believe by gently seperating the roof from the body with a thin screwdriver. If I remember correctly this will give you access to the interior and the electrical components. I remeber them coming apart much like the spectrum passenger car. I’m sorry I cannot confirm further at this time as my trains are in storage for awhile. Good Luck hope this helps.
A friend of mine had one and getting it apart was a pain. I think we actually broke part of it trying to get the shell or whatever off. I remember something about the roof coming off. I think I have mentally blocked the whole incident out to avoid flashbacks!
There are eight latches that hold it to the frame; four on each side. I take a small flat-blade, gently pry the latches off the tabs, and repeat the process for each side while holding the other side open. Once I can lift the back of the frame, I keep lifting until all the latches come loose. Once it’s off, you can file some of the tabs off, because it really only needs 3 or 4 to hold the shell on.
Four of the tabs are visible near the bottom of the frame in this picture. Two under the passenger seats, one near the flywheel and one near the front.