Original page created on 31/10/2014.
Reminder: there is a difference of half a millimetre between the two ends. But where does this difference come from? Let’s disassemble the bogies (just pull). They are identical (apart from the dynamo). Let’s measure the height h between pivots and roof. They are equal! Now let’s look under the chassis: on one side, the pivot is alone, while on the other, there are two supports. Well yes, it’s for three-point suspension, that’s fine, isn’t it?
Sure, but, in order for the supports to do their job, they must raise the chassis a little, don’t they? This is where the problem lies: the body is lifted by 0.5 mm by these supports! So, the opposite side pivot should be 0.5 mm longer! One must not have a high level of education in mechanics to understand it. But at LSM, obviously, they did not understand it. And we find this defect, more or less accentuated, on many productions of the brand (and others too)!
The actual height of the coach is exactly 4 m, or 46.0 mm to scale (I round to three digits). The higher side of the LSM coaches being around 46 mm (sometimes 45.8, sometimes 46.1), I consider that this height is correct. It is therefore necessary to raise the other end of 0.5 mm and not to lower the first as I read on the Loco-Revue forum. A simple 7 × 7 mm polystyrene spacer, with a ⌀ 4 centred hole, and placed on the bogie pivot, does the job.
If we want to install a few figurines, or lighting, or to tweak the decoration, we have to disassemble, and if possible without breakage.
It’s easy and safe, and fortunately, given the number of times I had to do the manipulation. Simply start the chink at a door, then slide a finger nail or a not too hard card along the junction.
That’s a bit more tricky. If possible, remove the buffers whose pin hinders the lifting of the chassis. But some are very well glued, while others are not at all …
Start by lifting the chassis at one end. Do not try to slip cards like credit card or other along the sides: high risk of breaking fixing clips. Once one end is disengaged, the rest comes by delicately and gradually spreading the skirts on both sides. If accessories try falling down, set them aside by locating their position, as there are many possible locations!
The interior fittings are extracted from the chassis by gently removing the small holding clips. You may be surprised to see the corridor partition as well as those of the ends escaping. They are also held by small clips that are sometimes twisted and no longer do their job. You will also find that some windows of the partitions are dirty: dust, traces of glue, even fingerprints — not yours! There, I think it would have been better to have no window panes at all!
At this point, it will be a good idea to set aside the drawbars with their return spring. Indeed, they are no longer maintained and may escape at any time.