This is really for OO gauge modellers only.
Whilst it is great that we are now getting models with superb detail, manufacturers seem to give little regard these days to making it easy to remove a loco body from the chassis. I suspect this is due to a very large proportion of locomotive sales being made to collectors who simply place the loco on a shelf for the loco to never to see any track action. The proportion of modellers who operate models relative to those who don't is therefore probably lower than it has been for a long time and because there is little evidence offered to manufacturers of customers having difficulties removing bodies then this aspect of design gets little attention. And this is a surprise considering the number of locomotives that are now DCC ready. I have suffered damage to several locomotives this year and I am one who normally takes care when removing and refitting a loco body.
With Hornby DCC just around the corner and Bachmann EZ-Command proving relatively popular, more and more loco bodies are being removed, or will be removed in the future, to fit decoder chips.
Now I personally find that the models of one of the top manufacturers are more difficult to separate than those of the other.
Please participate in the poll and send a message to the manufacturers that we would prefer loco bodies that are more easily removed from the loco chassis. We will forward the results of our poll to Hornby and Bachmann in due course.
An "I don't remove my loco bodies" option has been included so that all visitors are able to participate in the poll.
Happy modelling
Gary