Con-Cor Rivarossi Nscale Big Boy

[1956Porsche]

I have a n scale Con-Cor Rivarossi Big Boy that I am planning on installing an ESU Lok Sound 5 Micro decoder.  Can someone please tell me how to remove the tender shell without breaking it.  Also, if anyone has Con-Cor Rivarossi Big Boy decoder installations I love to see them?

[ncbqguy]

The tenders were glued together pretty well.  Rather than goofing around trying to remove the back or front of the tank I would be inclined to cut out the floor in the area between the pedestal frames. There is enough clearance there to rebuild a new access floor panel for future maintenance.
I haven’t looked at one since I worked at JMC Con-Cor and did repairs in the 1990s since I never had the need for Challengers or Big Boys on my railroad!
Charlie Vlk

[DiggerDownUnder]

The tenders were glued together pretty well.  Rather than goofing around trying to remove the back or front of the tank I would be inclined to cut out the floor in the area between the pedestal frames. There is enough clearance there to rebuild a new access floor panel for future maintenance.
I haven’t looked at one since I worked at JMC Con-Cor and did repairs in the 1990s since I never had the need for Challengers or Big Boys on my railroad!
Charlie Vlk

I have found the same situation with the Y6b Mallet.

[peteski]

Yes, like Charlie mentioned, these tenders have tubular 1-piece body, with the front and back walls glued in.  There is no "floor" to remove.  Sometimes you can get lucky and pry the back wall out, but they are usually glued in very well, and you could end up causing damage.

[gkoproske]

This is not a direct answer to your technical problem,  but . . .
I've had the CC Big Boy for many years.  I ran it again recently to say farewell.
When I heard that Kato is making a Big Boy, I pulled the plug and sold my Con-Cor Big Boy.  No regrets.  I'd rather have the Kato, and I'll wait for however long it takes.

[peteski]

Athearn Big Boy has been available for many years now. It has details rivaling (or exceeding) many of the Brass Big Boys, and it is a decent runner (with either factory installed DCC/sound, or DCC ready).  Greatly superior to the Con-Cor/Riarossi Big Boy, which is now many decades old.  I'm also curiously await the Kato version.

But I supposed some modelers will continue to trun the Con-Cor one. They might do that for nostalgic or financial reasons.

EDIT: I should mention that the original run of Athearn Big Boy uses MRC sound decoder which has wery poor reputation). But later runs used different (more reliable) decoders.

[propmeup1]

I have three Rivorossi and Concor Big Boys. Thought about unloading them because i have two Athearn that i'm happy with and really don't want to deal with none DCC ready engines. Have two Challengers as well i'm getting the urge to let go.