This morning I have been busy replacing incandescent lights with LEDs in my streamlined cars. I have some frustrations and small finger cuts to show for it. It seems easy: remove 4 screws, take off one end cap, preferably the A (non-vestibule) end, and slide the floor out.
Worked fine on two MTH cars. The Williams cars are giving me fits. On the combine there is a brake cylinder on the trucks that hits the skirt and prevents easy removal. In fact, so far it has prevented ANY removal. I tried to carefully bend the skirt outward, but met lots of resistance and I was afraid to apply too much force. Taking the truck apart looks to be difficult, since the screws are on the top, and can't be reached unless the truck removed from the floor of the car, which I can't get out to get to the truck screws anyway.
So, I put it aside and have done the Lionel Santa Fe short dome, one of the newer ones. I'd like to remove the plastic insert and put some people in the seats, but again, not having an easy time. It looks as if I should be able to compress the plastic pieces which seem to be a catch and it would drop down, but no luck so far.
One thing about Trains, both model and real: "It is always something!"
B&OBill
