I just received an HO scale Atlas Classic RS-1 in the Santa Fe zebra stripe scheme. The detail and paint are excellent. However, when I removed the shell to install a plug and play decoder, the factory installed circuit board was super glued to the frame where the mounting clips fit through the c/b. I was at a loss as to how I was going to get the c/b removed. I was upset to say the least. I decided to e-mail Atlas and of course their customer support site was down. After I had cooled off a bit, I decide to try to pry the c/b loose. After almost an hour of prying on it and working it back and forth, I managed to pop one end loose. The other end popped loose by twisting the c/b. I still intend to contact Atlas and let them know the situation, but I felt that I should let all of you know, because the next person may not be as lucky as I was in getting the c/b loose. Also, after I got the decoder installed and programed, the loco runs like all Atlas locos. It runs great. Excellent slow speed control.
Is this locomotive new or used. I recall it being easy to remove the circuit board from my Atlas Classis RS3.
Mountain…mole hill…
Cut the board off and tape the decoder on (use double sided foam tape). Done.
David B
This is one of there new releases. My older RS-3 had the circuit board attached with two clips and you could just pop it off. This has the same setup, but someone at the factory decided to super glue the board to the clips.
Well, did you buy this directly from Atlas? If not, there is no gaurentee that the unit wasnt tampered with. As a professional installer I have never come across this situation.
David B
Um, didya know that Atlas has their own forum?
http://forum.atlasrr.com/default.asp
If you start this thread up there, you might get an official response more quickly.
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
I bought this loco from a reputable dealer, but I guess it could have been tampered with. I doubt it though because I had the thing back ordered for six months and it was shipped as soon as they received them. Also, I was aware of the Atlas forum and it was the first place I went, but the site was down at the time. Hopefully this is an isolated incedent and no one else runs into this.
Did you remove the handrails before taking off the shell? Were the handrails easy to remove?
I just received my two RS-1’s (SF and C&WI) and need to install decoders. I read that the handrails have to be removed to avoid breaking them when the shell comes off.
For the Atlas HO RS-1, you just need to pull the ends of the handrails loose from the holes where they plug into on the cab. They’re flexible, so as long as you’re gentle, it works fine. I used a pair of tweezers to help. I just did two from a fairly recent run (last year?). Do be cautious about handling the chassis when installing the decoder, because that could damage the handrails if you grab them wrong.
As for the original problem in this thread…
I think that the two clips that stick up to hold the circuit board are part of the plastic ends of the motor. It’s possible that one of these could have been broken in manufacturing or, more likely because of a reboxxed customer return. Then the ACC could have helped secure the board, as it would be with one broken clip.
This doesn’t sound like something that Atlas would deliberatly do. Did it look like the box was ever opened before you got it?
Mike, you are correct about the hand rails and about the clips that hold the c/b being the plastic ends of the motor support. The box did not seem to have been opened, but, who knows. I agree that this does not sound like something that Atlas would do. Also, there was no reason for the super glue to be on the clips because once I had the original board removed, the decoder snapped into place like it should. There was no damage the the clips, other than what I inflicted trying to pry the original board loose. Maybe this was a return that got a new run body shell installed and sold as a new locomotive. The one thing that is different about the c/b is that it has LED lights instead of the incandescent bulbs. I don’t know how well they work though because I can’t get the lights to work on this loco or the older RS-3 that I installed a decoder in at the same time. I haven’t had time to troubleshoot the problem yet. I have been busy ranting about the super glue problem to you guys.[soapbox]
I remember a few years ago buying a bunch of the Red Caboose coil cars at a good price. Got them home, and discovered that the lid of the coupler boxes were glued shut, and in removing them, I lost some extra detail. It took me awhile before I would buy Red Caboose again.