Here’s the deal. I have two HO scale B40-8Ws (Dash 8-40BWs). One has working ditch lights; one doesn’t. I’d like to switch the shell of one to the body that has the ditch lights (this shell is BNSF H2 rather than Warbonnett). Is it easy to remove Atlas shells?
Unscrew the coupler box and then the shell comes right off. I have a Atlas GE DASH 8-40C and I assume yours will be the same way.
Actually, no the B40-8 and C40-8 are not the same. The Cs are much easier to get apart. For the Bs (applies to both wide and standard cab models): 1. Remove coupler boxes 2. Carefully remove the brake cylinder with chain. It will dangle from the shell so be careful with it. Sometimes I can tuck them up in the handrails to keep them out of the way. 3. Remove the fuel tank halves, pulling each off to the side 4. There are three sets of tabs that engage the frame. The front tabs are under the front truck (with the engine flipped upside down), the middle set is in the fuel tank area, and the rear tabs are under the rear truck. You need to work each of these with a small flat screwdriver or something similar to get them loose. I usually start at one end and carefully pry the shell up as I go. Once you do all that the shell should come off. Assembly is the reverse of disassembly.
Here’s what Atlas sent me when I asked them the same question:
Hi Jeff, take off the couplers is the first place to start and don’t for get the chain do not remove the chain from the shell or the brake cylinder. Remove the brake cylinder from the truck frame. Use a small screw driver under the brake cylinder and lift upward slowly. Just let the brake cylinder and the chain hang down from the still and be careful of the hook on the still it will break real easy. Remove the fuel tank, the fuel tank is two half’s they pull apart right down the middle be careful and you might have to remove one air reservoir tank up front, nearest the cab, the middle tabs are under there some times you can push the tabs inward without removing the air reservoir . There are tabs on the body, total of six, two in the front (one tab on each side), middle and rear. They have to go inward away from the frame tabs. Grab the bottom of the engine with one hand and with the other hand starting with the rear, use your pointer finger on one side and your thumb on the other side, push inward so the tab