Camera Car Build

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Tony, was he able to get an HD quality camera as well or just standard definition? If the hellow wire is video out I take it this does not have a wire transmitter? So we would need a wireless transmitter (digital/wifi preferable) and un board MicroSD storage for it to really work well.

[DKS]

Tony, was he able to get an HD quality camera as well or just standard definition? If the hellow wire is video out I take it this does not have a wire transmitter? So we would need a wireless transmitter (digital/wifi preferable) and un board MicroSD storage for it to really work well.

This is the camera only... [snip] I still need to come up with a way to transmit the signal from the camera.

Yellow wire is video signal out, Red is 3-5V+, Black ground, and White 3-5V+ to power the LED ring.

[peteski]

Good to see that I'm not the only one who sometimes doesn't fully pay attention to the posts in this thread. 

[unittrain]

Here is a pretty good video and a really nice layout

/>looks like he has some Traincat B&O signals. Pretty good camera.

[eric220]

Here is a pretty good video and a really nice layout

/>looks like he has some Traincat B&O signals. Pretty good camera.

Somewhere right around 2:15 I started having sudden visions of bursting water pipes.

[SkipGear]

A beautiful layout but get rid of the track nails, UGH!

Wonder what camera that is. He is watching it on an Ipad during the recording so it must be wifi or bluetooth.

[C855B]

Somewhere right around 2:15 I started having sudden visions of bursting water pipes.

Cast iron drain pipes. No pressure, pretty bulletproof.

I think I figured out the track nails. They're for a new 3rd-rail system, something like Märklin uses in HO. 

Nice layout, otherwise. It was a nice vid on full-screen. It would have been even better had the signals were lit, even if just fixed aspects.

[GaryHinshaw]

I have to say, I have yet to see an onboard video of a layout that I found to be a very compelling.  The extreme focus on the track work (which is not always N scale's strong suit), and the inevitable distractions of the background elements (hidden track, ceilings, storage shelves, people, etc.) really detract from the effect, in my opinion.  (By the way, I think the layout in the link above is way above average, as is the video sharpness.)

Until it becomes feasible to 'Videoshop' these clips, I think the best use for onboard video is for operations, where it has the potential to be really cool.

-gfh

P.S. The camera is a Looxcie 2:

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?148445-Video-of-Layout-with-Very-Nice-Scenery&p=900967#post900967

[C855B]

Agreed. Heck, N is challenging enough under reasonable still photography. It did make me think, however, that maybe it would be good to scenic the insides of my tunnels.

I don't know how the camera was mounted, but one thing I especially noted was it did not have that "whoa! hang on!" effect of whipping around for a curve too late. It was easy on the eyes in following the action naturally.

[conrail98]

I don't know, I've seen some really good ones using the iCar. Here's a playlist of a series of videos from a layout I operate regularly on. I think it's good.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF30D2C53038D7747

I've watched some of the other videos he's done on Free-Mo layouts and the openness of them does add a little bit of distraction,

Phil

[eric220]

I think the best use for onboard video is for operations, where it has the potential to be really cool.

That's what I'm aiming for. Still contemplating the exact details of how it's going to work, but I want to have the option of running a train by remote using the camera view.

[C855B]

I don't know, I've seen some really good ones using the iCar. Here's a playlist of a series of videos from a layout I operate regularly on.

...

I dunno, Phil. I watched Part 3 and for starters was trying to figure out why the opening frames with the scene pans were so jerky. Maybe it was overprocessed in the YouTube conversion?

Anyway, once we cut to the iCar and the train started moving, while the frame-to-frame smoothness was nice, a bent axle on the car was pretty obvious. When you go full screen on a big monitor it's an unsettling effect.

[peteski]

I have to say, I have yet to see an onboard video of a layout that I found to be a very compelling.  The extreme focus on the track work (which is not always N scale's strong suit), and the inevitable distractions of the background elements (hidden track, ceilings, storage shelves, people, etc.) really detract from the effect, in my opinion. 
-gfh

I'm on the other side of the spectrum: I don't find all the non-model-railroad items in this type of videos objectionable.  Of course it is much more pleasant to see a funny finished room rather than dark and grungy basement with exposed wiring and plumbing, but to me having the "engineer's view" of a layout trumps the fact that I also see out-of-scale items in the distance.  I suppose my brain foccuses on the model railroad stuff and filters out the other things.

I also share Eric's (and it looks like yours too) opinion that "engineer's view" type of live video is best suited for the actual operations (rather than for exhibiting the layout).  Properly composed still photos (with some creative editing not excluded) is IMO the best way to show off someone's layout.

[eric220]

I'm on the other side of the spectrum: I don't find all the non-model-railroad items in this type of videos objectionable.  Of course it is much more pleasant to see a funny finished room rather than dark and grungy basement with exposed wiring and plumbing, but to me having the "engineer's view" of a layout trumps the fact that I also see out-of-scale items in the distance.  I suppose my brain foccuses on the model railroad stuff and filters out the other things.

I also share Eric's (and it looks like yours too) opinion that "engineer's view" type of live video is best suited for the actual operations (rather than for exhibiting the layout).  Properly composed still photos (with some creative editing not excluded) is IMO the best way to show off someone's layout.

You and I are pretty much on the same page.  Maybe it's just the novelty of the viewing angle, but I really enjoy the illusion of being down in the model.  It's kind of like the scenes from Beetlejuice when they're in the model.  We all understand that it's a model and not perfect, but it's still fun to be in the fantasy.  For me in particular, given that I'm modeling an altered history, this is as close as I can get to seeing it come to life.  At the same time, if the intent is to show off the quality of the modeling, this is probably not the best way.

[conrail98]

At the same time, if the intent is to show off the quality of the modeling, this is probably not the best way.

I agree with both you and Pete. It's why I linked to those videos. The funny thing is, I've operated on that layout about 25 times and the videos showed me details that I either gloss over at the sessions or just plain never saw before. Some of the mines on the layout, the only way to really see the details was from that camera's point of view,

Phil