I bought an old, old B&O Akane Mikado with a Vanderbilt tender with the idea of rebuilding it, adding modern details and installing DCC. The problem is that I can’t figure any way to get into the tender. I’ve never seen a brass tender that didn’t have way to get inside it. It looks to be completely soldered up. Any thoughts about how to get get into this thing without wrecking it? - Nevin
Some brass Vandy tenders can be accessed by removing the trucks, then a few screws that hold the main beam of the underframe in place. This will give you a slot about 1/4 inch wide to access the inside of the tender. Usually its enough to add a rear light, but thats about it.
So that leaves you with the following couple of options , either cut out the coal load to gain access, or try to stuff everything in the boiler and cab. Or another option is to sub the Vandy for a regular tender (B&O mikes came both ways) . I just finished putting DCC in 2 PSC B&O Mikes, One with a regular tender got a Tsunami (with enough reverb to sound like 2) and the other with a Vandy tender got a regular NCE decoder in the boiler, I only had to open the tender for a reverse light. The guy I did them for did not want me to cut the coal load out of the Vandy. He keeps them double headed and is happy![:D]
If its a Q4b,(Im jealous) only 2 of them had square tenders.4485 and 4626.
Another alternative is to use a Bachmann tender, not brass, but much cheaper.
Another alternative is to use a Bachmann tender, not brass, but much cheaper.