diff --git a/src/common/engine/sc_man.cpp b/src/common/engine/sc_man.cpp
index cc72273a18..e8423178d9 100644
--- a/src/common/engine/sc_man.cpp
+++ b/src/common/engine/sc_man.cpp
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ bool FScanner::OpenFile (const char *name)
 	auto filebuff = fr.Read();
 	if (filebuff.size() == 0 && filesize > 0) return false;
 
-	ScriptBuffer = FString((const char *)filebuff.data(), filesize);
+	ScriptBuffer = FString(filebuff.string(), filesize);
 	ScriptName = name;	// This is used for error messages so the full file name is preferable
 	LumpNum = -1;
 	PrepareScript ();
diff --git a/src/common/engine/sc_man.h b/src/common/engine/sc_man.h
index 307831dba7..980e67d7ac 100644
--- a/src/common/engine/sc_man.h
+++ b/src/common/engine/sc_man.h
@@ -71,12 +71,10 @@ public:
 	void Open(const char *lumpname);
 	bool OpenFile(const char *filename);
 	void OpenMem(const char *name, const char *buffer, int size);
-	void OpenMem(const char *name, const TArray<uint8_t> &buffer)
-	{
-		OpenMem(name, (const char*)buffer.Data(), buffer.Size());
-	}
-	void OpenMem(const char* name, const std::vector<uint8_t>& buffer)
+	template<class T>
+	void OpenMem(const char* name, const T& buffer)
 	{
+		static_assert(sizeof(T::value_type) == 1);
 		OpenMem(name, (const char*)buffer.data(), (int)buffer.size());
 	}
 	void OpenString(const char *name, FString buffer);
diff --git a/src/common/utility/tarray.h b/src/common/utility/tarray.h
index e607726882..b0ab192cc5 100644
--- a/src/common/utility/tarray.h
+++ b/src/common/utility/tarray.h
@@ -657,6 +657,44 @@ public:
 		std::swap(Most, other.Most);
 	}
 
+	// aliases with STL compliant names to allow using TArrays with templates designed for STL containers
+
+	size_t size() const
+	{
+		return Count;
+	}
+
+	T* data() const
+	{
+		return Data();
+	}
+
+	T& front() const
+	{
+		return *Data();
+	}
+
+	T& back() const
+	{
+		return Last();
+	}
+
+	void resize(size_t i)
+	{
+		Resize(i);
+	}
+
+	void push_back(T& elem)
+	{
+		Push(elem);
+	}
+
+	void clear()
+	{
+		Clear();
+	}
+
+
 private:
 	T *Array;
 	unsigned int Count;