During my restorations, I remove as much of the playfield components as possible until I can lift out the playfield easily. There's no way a populated ST TNG can be removed without 2 people. Just make sure all the wiring is already out the game or loose wires can wrap around speakers etc.

thanks for the advice, unfortunately the tz pf was still fully populated. Mind you the metal buttons in my arms holding the tendons did their job 

What I couldn't work out is how to free the pf from the side sliding rails apart from supporting it and removing the slotted nuts that engage when you fully pull the pf forward. I'm guessing I should have only slid it half way or something and then tried to lift it out horizontally as opposed to vertically like I did.

The positive side to the story is I could feel muscles in my back that I never knew I had and I think they're still there........well maybe??