Coach body removal (to fit lights and passengers etc.)

[AlasdairM]

I am hoping someone can help please.

I have managed to remove coach bodies on other rakes successfully, but am stumped by:

(a) Hornby Grand Central (black), and

(b) Hornby Midland Mainline (teal green).

Examples of Hornby product codes: (a) R4330 and (b) R4590.

Any advice/help much appreciated!

Thanks, Alasdair

[m_duck]

Hi,

I'd certainly be interested in the Grand Central. I looked a while ago and admitted defeat on the basis that they cost a small fortune on eBay and I didn't want to damage mine.

Thanks.

[pete007]

From the model numbers you have provided these are the hornby mk3s so are easy to take apart. Just run your nail down the side between the body and chassis and pull down the chassis will come away from the body.  If you are trying to take the Grand Central buffet old Lima tooling one apart then it is totally different.

Hope this helps

Peter

[96RAF]

I have installed lights in several Hornby and B'Mann coaches and generally access is either:

1. by prising a tab out of a slot at either end of the coach and rotating the body up and away.

2. releasing clear plastic hook tabs at each corner and midway along the sides and lifting the body off.

3. just easing the sides off the chassis detents using plastic card shims and lifting the body away.

 

These three methods cover most coach body attach methods...

 

You can see details of some of these using my signature link below - then go to the Articles tab and look at installing coach lights.

[GWJ]

I've struggled recently trying to get lights into the FGW Mark 3 coaches.  I've done it before on the slightly older ones without tinted glass, but on the latest ones with tinted windows it's a really tight job trying to get the roof and side moulding over the glazing part.  I've managed with one, but not the other 2.  Gave up in the end as I thought I'd cause damage.

[Chrissaf]

Don't know about Hornby, but just for completeness of information and relating to Bachmann. All the Bachmann passenger coaches I have ever taken apart required the following steps:

.

• Unclip the pipe details at each end of the coach from the chassis leaving them attached to the roof panel.
• Remove centre screw and a hidden screw under each of the bogies (can be done with bogie in situ but easier if bogie is removed - single retaining screw holds the bogie on).
• Unclip the roof panel and remove (optional, but makes next step easier).
• Unclip the side panels from the chassis and lift away (If roof still in situ, slide in a very thin blade between side panel and chassis and prise away along whole length of coach down both sides. Keep side panel from springing back on with thin packing pieces).

.

They go back together, far easier than they come apart.

[AlasdairM]

 Very many thanks to all who replied - as m_duck says, I do not want to go breaking any of them due to the cost.

I will however try carefully on one of my Grand Central coaches (where I have two of them). As I can't see any catches/lugs or anything else, will go v. gently and use guitar picks (0.5mm) to ease them off.

Once I have plucked up the courage I will endeavour to report back - imagine I am probably making the proverbial mountain out of a molehill as usual.........

Regards to all, Alasdair

[nigel_hingston]

I’m in a similar position as GWJ with my FGW Mk3 exit door window popped inside and try as much as I could stripping this coach has proved difficult.  Usually a plastic credit card slipped between the body and chassis works.

The end panels detach, the bogies pull off (no hidden retaining screws BTW) and the roof panel lifts slightly at each end, but all resists my best efforts.

Without wishing to break this valuable coach any help would be appreciated.

[96RAF]

I asked Hornby Customer Care if they had service sheets for the particular R numbered coaches I have and they said no but kindly sent photographs of the various securing methods, that I described earlier.

[choralc]

Sounds like a thread to post the photos on might be a good idea?

[96RAF]

Unfortunately the pictures are on my pc in cyprus and i am in uk for a wee while, but you can look in the articles pages on my linked website for installing coach lighting where you will see a couple of variants.

[pd91223]

I've read your articles, but I'm stumped on trying to fit lights to a B-mann Mk1 coach. I've removed the bogies and all the necessary screws, levered both sides and it seems ready to come apart, except for the pipes that are connected to the ends of the coaches and to the roof. I'm desperately trying not to damage anything, but the pipes just don't seem to want to come away from the ends. If I use too much more force (using an old credit card for leverage) I'm sure they're going to snap.

 

Should they just "ping" out from a socket and fit back easily again later? Or is there some other technique that I need to apply?

[Chrissaf]

The Bachmann factory do use a dab of glue on these pipes to fix them. It depends upon the individual factory worker as to how much glue they have used. I found that if I slid a wide blade (say a dinner knife or a pen knife) behind the pipe and close (touching) to the 90 degree bend in the pipe where it enters the body end panel (at the lower end near the coupling, not on the roof). Then gentle levering (twisting the blade) breaks the glue seal and the pipe pops out. The pipe goes into the body panel about 2mm. I found that I didn't need to use any glue to re-fix the pipe afterwards, it just slipped into the body panel hole and stayed there under friction.

.

PS - My Bachmann coach pipes were metal not plastic.

[pd91223]

Thanks, Chris

 

Here's hoping!! Paul

[pd91223]

Phew!  Must've been an over-zealous gluer at B-mann! Finally managed to remove all four pipes without damage - I hope. Before I put it back together again I think I might add some passengers. Now to the rest of the coaches that need lights!

 

Thanks again, Chris.