Removing Passenger Car Body Shell

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Wanting to install people figures in Broadway Limited P70 passenger cars.

Anyone know how to safely remove the body shell? BLI says “just spread the body sides a little bit & it should pop off”

Yeah, right. There always seems to be some little trick that makes it easier

2

Get some toothpicks. Start spreading the shell apart from the frame, but insert toothpicks as you go. Don’t force things, but after a few toothpicks, the two major assemblies should separate cleanly.

3

Thnx Mike.

Ah, yes, the old toothpick thing. I seem to remember having to do that with a ConCor Electro-Liner.

Now if only the so-called “HO scale” people would fit. The figurines from China seem to be a tad too large. I did some on an O scale Aerotrain last week - same deal -heads against the ceiling.

4

The figures from China that are 1:100 work, but you still have to cut off the legs. [:O]

I had the same problem.

Mike.

5

Hi,

Here’s some photos I made back when I first got the cars:

IMG_7041_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

It may help you find the tabs to unlatch.

IMG_7053_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

IMG_7041_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

I seem to recall that I used an orange tinted Sharpie pen to give the LED a little better color rendering.

IMG_7048_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

This is a mix of various figures I had on hand… nothing fancy. Amputations are necessary due to the raised floor.

IMG_7075_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

I found that on some of the cars I had to shave a little off the truck bolsters in order to allow the trucks to rock a little more. The clip-in tabs were too tight.

Hope that helps, Ed