Britannia tender top won't come off

[Mikey1707822023]

Hi all,

I have a Brittania that is part of the Diamond Jubilee Royal Train set. It has the white cab top. It's DCC ready, so I bought a sound chip, checked the intructions and they state remove just two screws but the tender top won't come off. It won't budge. The instructions say pull the chassis down then remove the front but it absolutely wont budge, even with the screws out. It feels as if it is fixed right at the back between the buffers. Any ideas please? It is really annoying.

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[DarkRedCape]

I had similar trouble with the tender on my own Britannia.

There is a very small lip at the front end of the upper portion of the tender that locks into the lower. I had to arch the top section up at the front only to dislodge this connection. Then continue to arch it up and backwards and it eventually pops apart.

I was absolutely sure I was going to break mine trying to get it apart, but it did eventually come apart with nothing broken.

[ColinB]

I have had lots of issues getting tender tops off to fit DCC. I have posted before I think during the printing/painting process the paint is soft, so when you try and get the top off the paint acts like glue. I know it is not much help, but on my new Evening Star the top came off easily, so Hornby have obviously recognised the issue. The other thing to check is the screws are fully out and then try to wobble the tender up and down and hopefully it will release itself. Oh I forgot, check there aren't any levers at the front connecting tender top to bottom.

[atom3624]

Take care of the ladder, and also the coal bunker has a habit of coming loose - be careful with it.

Al.

[atom3624]

Take care of the ladder, and also the coal bunker has a habit of coming loose - be careful with it.

Al.

[Mikey1707822023]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I will give it another go. Every other tender top I have removed has come off very easily.

[ColinB]

I have just taken the tender top off my Clan loco and it definitely lifts from the back with an engagement slot at the front. I was surprised it came away easily but I can't remember if I have done it before.

[ModelerXYZ]

Mine comes off easily once the 2 screws are out. Incidently, I converted mine to DCC a long time ago, and much more recently converted it back, because I prefer to run anolouge.

XYZ

[VESPA]

Some tops on the Brit tenders are very awkward to get off and others a doddle. It must be factory differences, Margate (early ones) then 2x China versions. Also the moulings will make quite a few at a time.

[Mikey1707822023]

Thanks for your help everyone. It was stuck right at the back between the buffers and top. I used a very small flat screwdriver and it came off slowly. The sound decoder was a tight fit too. I filmed the final result and with some coaches I had filmed earlier:

[DarkRedCape]

Well done mate. Glad there was no drama. I’ve not run into another tender that was like this and such a pain to remove.

[atom3624]

I always have to treat mine with kid gloves ... again, glad it went smoothly.

Mine are super-detailed Britannia and Oliver Cromwell.

Al.