Dear Friends - my Rivarassi 2-8-8-2 (cab forward) suddenly stopped running and I can hear the gear spinning inside. I need to open it up to have a look but can’t figure out how to get it open. I am afraid of breaking the plastic body. I have spread the sides and used a shive to hold it open as best I can but that’s as far as I can get. Is there a trick to it? Is the top somehow connected to the bottom at the front and back? Thanks for your help!
Yes its connected. Either infront or right behind the stack is i small plastic detail. If you look closely it has a horizontal parting line. Carefully seperate it at the line, there should be a screw under there…Mike
The shell is held on by two screws. One is under the cab, and the other one is in front of the smokestack underneath a small cover. If you need any more information, here’s a full diagram of the engine: http://hoseeker.net/AHMRivarossiassembly/ahmy6bmalletpg1.jpg
Fantastic - thank you to both Mike and Darth for helping me out. I had no idea that there two hidden screws on the top and then two more on the bottom at the front. I have it open now and have discovered that the drive shaft had come loose - so the motor was reving but the wheels were not being driven. I have fixed the problem. Thanks again!