Hey guys. Just got my first Atlas engine this weekend at a train show. It’s HO scale Alco RS-3 Atlas CLASSIC if that makes a differance. Unfortunately, it’s not my road name so I need to repaint it. Now either I’m just a total moron or may be illitarite, these are all possibilities and I can’t spell either, but I can’t figure how to get the shell off this thing. I’m not forcing anything 'cause I don’t want to break something. I’ve looked at the little scamatic, I just can’t figure it out. I did start by takung off the coupler boxes. I’m lost from there. HELP !!! …Jamie
Thisis what I have picked up from the Atlas Forum but have not any reason to try them.
1)Remove couplers
2)Look under the frame
3)Locate the shell attaching tabs that snap over the
frame lugs.
4)With a tiny jewerler’s screwdriver, very
carefully pry each one away from it’s mated
position and insert a flat toothpick between
the tab and frame so they don’t re-latch.
5)Very carefully wiggle the shell up and off the
frame
6)BIG NOTE!!!You MUST remove the entire
walkway/step assembly at the same time you
remove the shell. They MUST rise together or
you’ll break your handrails.
The above is from experienced modelers however
ATLAS recommends, is to slide your fingers between
the shell and the handrails, getting down as close
to the walkway as possible.
Then squeeze the sides of the shell just above the
the mounting tabs and wiggle the shell back and forth sideways while pulling gently upward and forward .
It’s not the easiest thing to do, and the shell
doesn’t always release the first time, but with
continued working it will.
Once the back end has released,repeat in the center over the gas tanks, then do the front end.
BE CAREFUL & PATIENT, so as not to break the tabs,
or to distort or break the handrail mounting point.
Thanks Chuck, I’ll try beeing careful. The railing does come off very easily, so I’ll take that off first and go from there…Jamie