Remember When All It Took...

Ain't "modern technology" a wonderful thing?!?!?   

That's like performing surgery.

Yeap! Fun. Loved working on those tiny details. I say that because they fall off when you're prying away....

 then get it all back together and find out that one of the tiny lights you installed with you decoder is now not working. So you take it apart again and break something else in the process. Get it all back together for the third or fourth time and think you're good!

 Then about a week or two later that decoder goes up in smoke. So either you begin again or it becomes a static display.....

or if you're like me, you then go to G scale!

Ouch.  I haven't been into HO in any serious way since I got involved in O, but that's a lot more involved than taking off a "blue box" Athearn shell!

"Paint touch ups might be necessary" (If I heard that properly).  In my mind if it can't be taken apart easily enough without risking paint damage, it really wasn't meant to be taken apart.

I find it ironic that he kiddingly brought out all the heavy tools, like a crowbar, but then when he shows the tools really needed, the 2 screwdrivers he suggested were only used as smaller crowbars!   (I just re-watched to make sure I didn't miss it, but yep, not a single screw involved in the process)

-Dave

That is a perfect example of why I stick with O-gauge work!  Get outta' town, that's a royal PITA!

Not for me. I’d buy another brand.

It's the price one has to pay as the markets demand more and more prototypical details on their models.  You'd never get the road specific and fine detailing that Rapido Trains, Athearn Genesis, Scale Trains, etc. apply to their models on "Blue Box" type of models.

That said, as I get older I'm preferring simplicity over detail more and more.

Rusty

Hmmm, I must be the odd man out.  Yes, it takes some patience to get the shell of on this particular model.  This is about on par with taking apart a brass steam locomotive for painting, which I've been doing since 1975!  I have a friend that purchased four of these undecorated RS-18 models to paint for his home road, and I didn't hear any complaining from him about taking them apart.  Both him and I have ham hocks for hands. 

Rapido is a wonderful manufacturer, supports their product well, and the amount of time you would need to perform this surgery is very limited.  I have four Rapido FA-2 locomotives equipped with ESU LokSound decoders.  I have NEVER had to perform a shell disassembly.  I have one of their D-10 CP 4-6-0s coming, and I'm sure I will be equally happy and impressed with it as I have been with other Rapido product.

Regards, 

Jerry    

Three screws takes most brass locomotives apart, not quite the same thing!

Eh... Its about the same as trying to take apart an MTH S-2. I did that once and that was enough.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Three screws takes most brass locomotives apart, not quite the same thing!

Not when you are painting an unpainted brass model.  If you do it right, the whole darn thing comes apart. 

But what is to be gained by debating this between an HO and O gauge modeler?  I'm comfortable with Rapido product, and to me, that is all that matters as an HO modeler.   You are happy and comfortable with O gauge product, and that is fine too.

At least Rapido provides this tutorial as factory information, with a dose of humor to boot.  When is the last time you ever got a tutorial from the factory on how to take apart an equivalent O gauge late model, electronics laden MTH or Lionel product?  

Regards,

Jerry