Post by: William Brillinger on March 22, 2017, 09:33:25 PM
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!
Tools Required:
- Small Phillips Screwdriver
- Soldering Iron
- 9/64” Drill Bit & Drill
- 5/16” Wrench
Parts List:
- 2x - #6 Black Oxide Flat Washer (Zoro No. G3412227)
- 1x - 1.25” Black Oxide Eyebolt & 6-32 Nut (Zoro No. G3472585)
- 1x - 6-32 Silver Nut (purchased from local hardware store)
- 1x – Lanyard of your choice (I got mine on eBay)
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:
- Use the Phillips screwdriver to remove the 4 screws on the back of HC.
- Set the HC on its back and lift the front off. Gently pressing on the screen will get it to release from the plastic bezel. This will leave the HC innards intact with the back plate of the body. Set the front plate aside for reassembly later.
- I used a hot soldering iron to make a pilot dimple in the bottom of the HC.
- Use the 9/64” drill bit to make the hole for the eye bolt.
- Thread the black nut onto the eye bolt as far as it will go until it locks at the end of the thread.
- Place a washer on the eye bolt over the nut.
- Insert the eyebolt into the hole in the HC.
- Place the next washer onto the eye bolt.
- Thread the silver nut onto the eye bolt.
- Tighten up the silver nut with the wrench, making sure to keep the eye bold aligned.
- Replace the front plate being careful to align the screen and power button as you go.
- Pick up the HC, turn it over, and replace the 4 screws on the back.
- Attach your lanyard and Highball!
Cheers!
- Bill
Post by: William Brillinger on March 22, 2017, 09:50:24 PM
Email me at billy@pdc.ca if you are interested.
Post by: G8B4Life on March 22, 2017, 11:48:15 PM
- Tim
Post by: KPack on March 23, 2017, 09:11:03 PM
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
Post by: nodcc4me on March 24, 2017, 08:52:58 AM
Post by: William Brillinger on March 24, 2017, 09:01:49 AM
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.
Post by: Lee Nicholas on March 25, 2017, 07:39:50 PM
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
Post by: BruceRogers on March 27, 2017, 08:09:03 AM
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.
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.
Post by: nodcc4me on March 27, 2017, 09:07:59 AM
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.
Post by: G8B4Life on March 29, 2017, 07:01:21 AM
QuoteTim 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
Post by: Lee Nicholas on March 31, 2017, 04:22:44 PM
I think I'll stick with the neck lanyards.
Lee
Post by: KPack on March 31, 2017, 05:11:43 PM
-Kevin
Post by: nodcc4me on March 31, 2017, 07:26:12 PM
Post by: nodcc4me on April 01, 2017, 02:30:51 PM
https://www.amazon.com/KEY-BAK-SUPER48-Retractable-Holder-Ball-Joint/dp/B01DLMK82S
The 13 oz. version should work well with the HC.
Post by: William Brillinger on April 01, 2017, 03:37:33 PM
The HC sits just below my hip and does not swing around.
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.
Post by: TwinStar on October 16, 2018, 10:48:13 PM
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.
Post by: William Brillinger on October 17, 2018, 09:35:37 AM
Post by: Tom on October 23, 2018, 07:40:30 PM
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
Post by: gcarter1945 on October 25, 2018, 06:42:32 PM
I miss working on the Utah Colorado Western.
Geoff
Post by: Nut 07 on September 27, 2022, 04:45:58 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