Improving the
Roco TEE RGP DMU (2)

Original page created on 24/10/2015.

Mechanical works

Correcting the bodies’ deformation

It will be necessary to carry out a selective “counter-deformation”, because, as already seen, the deformation is greater at clips location than on the rest of the body. On the other hand, I prefer to avoid hot proceeding (hair dryer or very hot water), because it is almost impossible to control the behaviour of the plastic material under these conditions, and the remedy may be worse than the evil.

So, I make a 10 mm plywood template (the same will fit for both vehicles). I install it at the bottom of the body.

The slots visible in the middle of the template allow the body lugs to take place. The template corners should be rounded.

I apply pressure to the clips’ location with plastic clamps to avoid degrading the painting.

I let it simmer at least three days per body (one week is better), to get a result not perfect, but enough for the body to hold on its chassis. But, of course, there is no reason to suppose that the deformation will not be back some day…

Extension of body lugs

There is also a small outgrowth of the windows, acting as a spring, which is to cut.

Reconstruction of the trailer end side skirt

On the trailer driving cab end, Roco has provided the possibility of coupling another trailer, hence the presence of an opening in the skirt to allow the drawbar to pass. But it is really not aesthetic when the DMU is alone. Too bad that Roco did not provide a complementary piece, as they did for their unified railcar trailers. Happily, as often, craftsmen are ready to help!

This is part of my intentions, but I hesitate to start, especially because of the difficulty to reconstitute the paint shades to apply.