Car Float

After a few months of the car float being on the back burner and plans to remove it completely. I read an article where a steel mill used a car float to move cars loaded with slabs to its rolling mill on the other side of the river. So this put new light on the car float operations.

The car float base is made out of a MDF step and other details. The car float apron was made from a Atlas bridge and styrene strips and sheets.

KV&O RS11 431

KV&O RS11 431 switching out bad orders.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone. I hope each and everyone of you guys have a blessed day with your family and friends.

Take Care, Stay Safe, Happy Modeling and God Bless you all.

Bluetooth Gaming Controller

A few weeks ago I seen a video on YouTube where a guy used a mini Bluetooth gaming controller to operate his DCC trains. I found this interesting so I set out to look for a controller and see what I could come up with. 

After a few minutes on eBay I realized there all types available with many different prices. So I purchased one for $3.28 total including shipping. They all have basically the same button arrangement so I went cheap in cast I couldn't get this to work.  

After doing a Bluetooth connection with one of the old phones I use as a controller. I turned on the layout and then started JMRI. Then started a WiFi Throttle connection within JMRI. 

Next I started the Engine Driver App on the phone connected it to JMRI and went to settings, which is the 3 dots at the top right hand corner. 

In setting look for Gamepad Preferences. 

In the Gamepad Preferences there is a list of different Gamepad types. I had to go through the list to see which one be suited my controller and change the function of the buttons. The buttons can be set up in different ways to the user's preferences, but I used the joystick left and right to controls the directions. Up and down for increase and decrease of the speed, and used the 3 of the 4 side buttons to control head lights, bell, and horn. 

This controller does take a little to get use to but once the setting are how the user wants then, it is really easy to use and can be use with one hand. I leave the phone the controller is connected to on the control stand and only carry the controller around. 

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to everyone. Hope you and your families are blessed with a great holiday season. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Boiler house

After seeing Garry Lance's boiler house it inspired me to start back to work on mine. I started out going to use part of the Walther's Coke Retort kit be decided to build my own addition. Here are some before and after pictures. Some of the Detail parts are from Garry Lance. The piping is wooden dowel rods and brass fittings.