Davenport, Battery/RC/Sound

[russm]

I thought I would post a couple videos of my little battery power Bachmann Davenport using my radio control, 5 AA li-ions, and a phoenix P8 with speaker all under the hood.  I'm going to add two solenoids to control the couplers next.  I'll use the hand bars as they work so smoothly it should be pretty easy.  The relays to drive the solenoids will be hung under the loco, there is a limit as to how much can be crammed under the hood.

Quick run to see/hear it operate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFIVWewpnZ8

The end shows a view of the inside, like most modern cars, not much room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ-f_ez91Vg

russ

[GG1onFordsDTandI]

I'm going to add two solenoids to control the couplers next.  I'll use the hand bars as they work so smoothly

Hand bars? What are they?
Id like to see some automated couplers for large scale. Got a link or some info to post?

[russm]

They are the bars that go across the front and back of the loco that have a chain going to each coupler.  Actually it's called a "cut lever" which pulls up the "locking pin" per:  http://www.sdrm.org/faqs/couplers/  Your question made me interested in what was really called.  

[russm]

I've designed the controller to let me actuate the uncoupler solenoids.  This is a video of the daughter board I'll use with my RC.  I won't install ditch lights but rather just use the uncoupling function.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow7eC54hxak

I've tested with a relay that can be easily located under the locomotive:
http://dx.com/p/arduino-5v-relay-module-blue-black-121354

Now to find solenoids that I can mount to actuate the cut levers.