Need to remove a shell from an early 1990's twin tower Weaver GP-7/9 chain drive that I had off many years ago but now forget how I did it. No obvious screw heads, hand rails go down and attach to second step, kadees mount on built up pad. Can the bottom of the hand rail attachment be popped out of the second step mounting hole?
Thank you.
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to my knowledge, Weaver never did a GP7/9. Could this possibly be a Red Caboose GP9 (they never did a GP7) with a P&D Drive added? P&D bought the same parts as weaver or bought them Weaver and supplied upgraded replacement drives for the Red Caboose GP9s.
If that is the case, I think first remove the couplers. then yes the hand rails on the ends should/will pop out of the holes in the pilot step sides. Next and final stop I think, the body shell and platform can be lifted off. On the Red Caboose units, the hoods are glued to the frame platform. the frame platform is slightly narrower than the hood. There are slots on the bottom of the motor mount. the frame platform locks into these slots. To remove, widen the frame platform slightly about over the fuel tank and slide the assembly up off the inner frame. The handrails are engineering plastic and very flexible, but also pretty strong.
this applies if the unit has the original inner frame. There are/were metal replacement frames from separate suppliers available. If it has a metal frame, the mounting will be different I think. I am pretty sure if it is the machined brass frame from Des Plaines hobbies, the couplers are the only things holding the shell.
Bingo! 
You nailed it. I had completely forgot about the first time I saw this project. This has been sitting in a box for eons. I remember that when I got this years ago there was a piece-o-junk flimsy extra frame in the box which made me think at the time it was a P&D upgrade.
There was also a removable blister roof portion undecorated extra shell in the box which I now wish I would have kept.
In adding R/C battery control, having a discreet switch and jack port for charging on the rails is very desirable.
(Love those flip up Lionel tender water tank lids.)
There are two transverse plastic tanks behind the fuel tank, I think I will modify the end of one tank to hide a charging jack.
Just removed the couplers and the shell lifted right off. Just like my 1950's HO GP's. Now I remember working on this piece back in the day. It has a .100" thick solid brass deck and a firm metal motor mount. I remember seeing a similar shaped plastic motor mount in the box of parts long gone.
Sorry for the focus or lack there of.
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