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RailPro => RailPro Specific Help & Discussion => Topic started by: William Brillinger on March 22, 2017, 09:33:25 PM

Title: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: William Brillinger on March 22, 2017, 09:33:25 PM
**WARNING** This might void your warranty.

One thing the physical HC design is missing is a spot to attach a lanyard.

Thanks to a recent suggestion by fellow RailPro user Lee Nicholas, I added a lanyard to my HC’s!

RailPro Lanyard (1).jpg

Tools Required:

Parts List:

I mounted the eye bolt on the bottom housing piece so it would sit closer to my body.
Mounting it on the bottom of the front plate would have been easier, but I think it would tend to hang funny then.

Assembly was easy, here’s how I did it:

Cheers!
- Bill
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: William Brillinger on March 22, 2017, 09:50:24 PM
For anyone interested, I have 6 sets of parts for this that I would be happy to sell for $4 US per set including shipping.
Email me at billy@pdc.ca if you are interested.

RailPro Lanyard Kit.jpg
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: G8B4Life on March 22, 2017, 11:48:15 PM
As the HC is rather large and bulky I had always thought a flaw in the design was the lack of a place to attach a wrist strap (in the same place as you've done Bill) but a lanyard is pretty cool to. The only thing I can see with a lanyard is the HC being a plumbob if you need to reach into an area with both hands but you could always get a lanyard with a quick release clip (if you trust it) that'll allow one to take the HC off without having to take if off your neck.

- Tim
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: KPack on March 23, 2017, 09:11:03 PM
This is a great idea Bill.  Nice mounting location and easy to do.  I'm not sure if I'd like a lanyard around my neck though.  I'd be afraid the HC would swing out whenever I leaned over, potentially knocking over scenery and models.

For my own use I'd consider something like this: https://www.amazon.com/KEY-BAK-SECURIT-Retractable-Holder-Retraction/dp/B0039YY2QM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490321228&sr=8-2&keywords=belt+key+ring+retractor (https://www.amazon.com/KEY-BAK-SECURIT-Retractable-Holder-Retraction/dp/B0039YY2QM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490321228&sr=8-2&keywords=belt+key+ring+retractor).  This would keep the HC tied to my waist where it is easily reachable by my hands, and with the retractor I can pull the HC to where I want it for better viewing.  It would retract up tight to my belt, allowing me to move freely and lean over without fear of it damaging anything.

-Kevin
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: nodcc4me on March 24, 2017, 08:52:58 AM
You two have come up with a great solution to a nagging problem. I like the eye bolt modification but would not like the controller hanging from my neck. The retractable holder is the answer to that part of it. If anyone orders one, make sure you get the 13oz. capacity version for a few bucks more, as the HC weighs 10.2 oz. The 8 oz. version will not be able to stay retracted.
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: William Brillinger on March 24, 2017, 09:01:49 AM
Thanks Guys,  All the credit for this idea goes to Lee Nicholas.

As a side note, I have a longer wider strap that when placed over only 1 shoulder and
under the arm, allows the HC to sit nicely on my hip too.
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: Lee Nicholas on March 25, 2017, 07:39:50 PM
Bill
Thanks for sharing the eye-bolt lanyard hardware. I bought a few commercial lanyards but they are to short  at 36" so my son (a saddle maker) cut one out of chap leather for me at 40" much better. I like the retractable idea and just ordered a 13 oz  I'll let the group no how it works out.

Lee Nicholas
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: BruceRogers on March 27, 2017, 08:09:03 AM
I remember speaking to Ring about this sometime back, he can add them if you wish. My Rail-Lynx throttles had them and I really liked it.
I don't know what the cost would be but Tim did mention something regarding the touchscreen requiring re-calibration after it had been out of the housing.
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: William Brillinger on March 27, 2017, 08:22:04 AM
Quote
Tim did mention something regarding the touchscreen requiring re-calibration after it had been out of the housing.

I wouldn't know why. It has a nice little bezel to lock in the position.
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: nodcc4me on March 27, 2017, 09:07:59 AM
Bill, I take it you haven't experienced any problems so far like touching the buttons and getting the wrong response.
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: William Brillinger on March 27, 2017, 09:13:04 AM
Quote
Bill, I take it you haven't experienced any problems so far like touching the buttons and getting the wrong response.

No, I have not noticed this issue.
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: G8B4Life on March 29, 2017, 07:01:21 AM
Quote
Tim did mention something regarding the touchscreen requiring re-calibration after it had been out of the housing.

I wouldn't know why. It has a nice little bezel to lock in the position.

I too didn't have any problems the times I had my HC-2 apart.

Believe it or not there is actually a screen in the HC software for touch screen calibration. Whether it's actually been implemented or not or how to access if it has I don't know but it's there. There are a few other interesting screens as well that I don't know if they can be reached in any way. One I know hasn't been implemented yet; it's part of that big news that Bill couldn't tell us about from ages ago.

- Tim
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: Lee Nicholas on March 31, 2017, 04:22:44 PM
Kevin... suggested using a Key-bak retractable lanyard and I bought one to try. It definitely has the strength to do the job but not to comfortable to use. The device is over 4" long and when attached to your belt loop the HC hangs about mid thigh which is a little low. When the HC is extended there is to much pull back and is hard to handle.
I think I'll stick with the neck lanyards.
Lee

     
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: KPack on March 31, 2017, 05:11:43 PM
Lee, thanks for the report.  I wondered about the length as it looked a little long to me.  Ideally for me it'd be nice if there was something that allowed the HC to hang right at the belt loop, while still being retractable.  I'm not sure what other options there are though.

-Kevin
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: nodcc4me on March 31, 2017, 07:26:12 PM
I appreciate that report too. I'll be looking for something to hang from the belt. If I find something I'll post it.
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: nodcc4me on April 01, 2017, 02:30:51 PM
I found this one by KeyBak on Amazon. It's pricey, but got mostly very good reviews.


https://www.amazon.com/KEY-BAK-SUPER48-Retractable-Holder-Ball-Joint/dp/B01DLMK82S


The 13 oz. version should work well with the HC.
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: William Brillinger on April 01, 2017, 03:37:33 PM
I have a wider strap that works well when worn as shown here.
The HC sits just below my hip and does not swing around.

RailPro Strap (1).jpg  RailPro Strap (2).jpg  RailPro Strap (3).jpg

Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: ThurmanHol on August 14, 2017, 01:29:49 AM
I found this Gynectrol review (https://www.villagevoice.com/2021/06/25/gynectrol-review/) by KeyBak on Amazon. It's pricey, but got mostly very good reviews.

The 13 oz. version should work well with the HC.

Cool lanyard, I might have to make one of these as I'm always misplacing my RailPro.
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: TwinStar on October 16, 2018, 10:48:13 PM
Zoro G3472585 is not a good part number anymore and Amazon is no luck either. Any other leads for something the same or similar?
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: William Brillinger on October 17, 2018, 06:17:10 AM
Zoro G3472585 is not a good part number anymore and Amazon is no luck either. Any other leads for something the same or similar?

I still have some sets of parts for this that I would be happy to sell for $4 US per set including shipping.
Email me at billy@pdc.ca if you are interested.
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: William Brillinger on October 17, 2018, 09:35:37 AM
For anyone interested, I have 3 sets left. Includes hardware and lanyard, $4 US per set.
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: Tom on October 23, 2018, 07:40:30 PM
I had not run across this post before, but am very interested.  When using the HC-2 I feel comfortable holding in my hand, when not wanting to do that it is easy with a small layout to just lay it on the table and even manipulate the HC2 there.  I see the problem as what to do with it for a few minutes when one does not want to hold it. I am betwixt and between on the lanyard vs. the belt/key chain.

So what is the “standard” method used by the DCC crowd for their hand held controllers which are sometimes cell phones?  And, BTW, what about some kind of a holster?

Tom
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: gcarter1945 on October 25, 2018, 06:42:32 PM
It's been a while since I've operated on Lee Nicholas' railroad, but what I remember the lanyards were a boon, and most of the railroad you didn't have to reach far enough in to uncouple cars that the swinging controller presented any danger to the scenery or rolling stock.  The only exception was in the yard, but there he had a place to put the controller when you needed both hands and had to reach into the deepest track. 

I miss working on the Utah Colorado Western.

Geoff
Title: Re: Making a Lanyard for your RailPro HC
Post by: Nut 07 on September 27, 2022, 04:45:58 PM
I miss that too.

It's been a while since I've operated on Lee Nicholas' railroad, but what I remember the lanyards were a boon, and most of the railroad you didn't have to reach far enough in to uncouple cars that the swinging controller presented any danger to the scenery or rolling stock.  The only exception was in the yard, but there he had a place to put the controller when you needed both hands and had to reach into the deepest track. 

I miss working on the Utah Colorado Western.

Geoff