I recently purchased an Atlas/Roco s2 on Ebay and I would like to know how to remove the shell for painting. The unit did not come with the instructions so I downloaded them from the Atlas site. The only problem is that the diagram is not exactly clear as to how to remove the shell. The screw on the underside appears to go into the frame and into the motor. My other Atlas units were made by Kato and the shells were quite easy to remove. The Athearn , Proto 1000 and 2000 units are also easy to remove. Can any one provide me with the secret answer as I would like to begin the process while I am on holidays.
The shell and the cab are separate castings. First, don’t touch the screws you mentioned. Instead, remove the handrails that connect to the rear cab wall. There are two hidden notches in the frame that engage tabs inside the cab side walls, so gently twist the cab and pull it straight up. You can assist this by placing a thin blade between the cab side walls and the frame and prying gently. The cab helps hold the hood casting in place. Once the cab is free, there is a tab that extends down from the “nose” of the hood into the frame. With a little gentle encouragement from underneath, this tab should release and let you remove the hood.
Hope this helps.
Tom
Thanks Tom, it worked perfectly once the cab was removed.