About Apollo Controllers
Apollo Controllers is located in Brisbane, Australia. We design and build two product lines: the Apollo range of DC model railway controllers, and the Scamp embedded computer.
There are no imported generic products here, no rebranded modules. Everything we sell is something we designed and test ourselves, because we wanted it to exist and we care about quality.
The person behind the products
I'm John Catsoulis. I've spent my career in embedded hardware — designing electronics, writing firmware, and teaching. I hold a Bachelor of Science (Physics/Electronics major) from Griffith University and a Master of Engineering from La Trobe University, where I also lectured for a number of years.
My book Designing Embedded Hardware, published by O'Reilly, has sold over 100,000 copies in two editions. I've worked as Director of Engineering at Opengear, managed R&D at GroundProbe and EDMI, and contributed to research for NASA. I tell you this not to impress, but to explain why the products are the way they are: engineered to a standard, not manufactured to a price.
The Model Railway Apollo Controllers
I'm a committed DC modeller. Not because I haven't tried DCC, but because I believe analogue DC — done properly — delivers better slow-speed control, simpler wiring, and a more satisfying operating experience.
The Apollo Duet offers 512 speed steps and a 25kHz PWM frequency, which means locomotives run smoothly from a standstill and respond precisely across their full speed range. These aren't features you'll find on mass-market controllers. They exist because I built the controller I wanted for my own layout, and then made it available to other modellers who felt the same way.
The Scamp Embedded Computer
Scamp is a compact embedded computer built around the PIC24F microcontroller and running FlashForth — a Forth implementation that makes it an extraordinarily capable tool for interactive hardware development, automation, and control projects.
It's aimed at engineers, makers, and technically minded hobbyists who want real programmable hardware without the overhead of a full development environment. Scamp has found its way into model railway automation systems, industrial prototyping, and educational settings.
How we work
Orders are fulfilled personally, typically within a few business days. Each item is tested before it is shipped. If you have a question before or after purchase, you'll get a reply from the engineer who designed the product — not a support script.
We ship worldwide.
A note for international customers
Apollo Controllers ships from Brisbane, Australia. Customers outside the United States are tariff exempt. US customers will find tariff costs already included in listed prices, with no surprises at checkout.