need some help with shell removal on atlas gp7,rs3 and a athearn gp35 in ho.
I’ve got a few old Blue Box(BB) Athearn locos and the body comes off by spreading it apart, just above the fuel tank.You might want to try to pry one side loose and lift slightlythen put a piece of paper (or thin plastic) over the mounting hole/lug to keep it from clipping back onto the frame while you carefully do the same (spread apart and lift) on the other side. I’m not sure if this will work on the new Athearn locos. The Atlas, I believe, is the same but opposite. That is, the body squeezes together at the front, middle, and rear (at the bottom, near the walkway) to disengage the locking tab. The walkway is separate from the body so you may have to remove the handrails from the cab before you can separate the shell from the frame. This too is for older models (I’ve had my RS-3 for 10 years or so). In both cases, be careful of wires connecting to the headlight (peek inside when it is just a crack open, and shine a light inside). Also, try to find an exploded view of the loco online or in the instructions, this will let you see what and where the locking tabs are. I’ve found a digital camera is useful to document your progress so you can put it all back together again, days later, after working on it as well as help you to remember how to do it again in the future. Hope this helps.
The Athearn GP35 has two visible holes on each side of the shell at the frame that engage two dimples on the frame. A straight bladed screw driver between the shell and the frame above the fuel tank will pop the shell out enough to disengage the two