Miniature Cameras For Model Trains

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Sol
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From todays MREmag:

Miniature Cameras For Model Trains


I was watching MotoGP bike racing, having raced British bikes in the 1970s, and was surprised by the small cameras mounted on bikes, where every ounce of weight and size is important. Also, I know that cell phones can carry very capable cameras with rather poor video. Also, you can add weight and drag, here and there.

Surely, the outstanding qualities of exhibition layouts could be filmed? Bearing in mind the considerations of depth-of-field and lighting, this is something of a photographic challenge.

As well as questions about finding suitable cameras, many highly-detailed layouts having prototypical lineside structures, it requires a bit of lateral thinking to put a decent camera on a miniature train and to replicate the effect of rolling through a West Country station. The photographic challenge, mostly to do with depth-of-field in close-up is immense.
I offer this 1 minute 30 second video of what might be achieved, in this case on a layout with no great impediment. Indeed, the footbridge was hit only once, before I found the mix to make up the camera carrying train. In this case it was a Hornby 4MT Fowler 2-6-4T towing a 5-plank wagon and a flattop 4-wheel container wagon on which was mounted a Canon A620 camera (2005 'point-and-shoot' type). This was towed around a two-oval circuit on a table measuring 3m x 1.2m.

The subject of the video is a Hornby 7MT 70045 Lord Rowallan, but in spite of the piano at the introduction, it is the 4MT which does all the work, but without the glory, since it unseen.
I set the camera firstly as an experiment, on the flattop wagon, with cut-off Peco sleeper as a prop. I then made loop of ordinary car-paint masking-tape to hold it in place. How this is done depends on the camera used and the speed.
It was operated through DC control with a Spectrum Magnum but would this sort of thing might be easier than with DCC?
Wouldn't it be great if we could get perfect focus throughout, as in real life? Or maybe not… Driving the two trains was much like riding a bike. Reflexes here and there and Chopin in the background still sounds beautiful.
In spite of all the above, I want to graft various format sound onto the film and I am interested in other people's ideas. This includes formats and speed and the inevitable pitfalls.
Robbie McGavin
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Apparently the video is no longer available Ron?…

… OK, working now. Somebody was having fun with a camera.

cheers

Last edit: by Marty


Marty
N Gauge, GWR West Wales
Newcastle Emlyn Layout.
Newcastle Emlyn Station is "Under construction"
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i have seen this done before but slightly different. the loco being filmed had an arm extending from the front (small wire) this was attached to a flatbed trailer on a parallel track. when the train set off the camera did, when the train stopped at a station the camera did. it worked well. the only thing you have to watch for is a Y in the track and the camera shoots one way and the loco the other.:mutley

i think John rjr has played about with a mini camera in a loco cab (i may be wrong)
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rjr
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like this ? One I prepared earlier..

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=blUFKoj__Sc
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I strapped my HTC phone to a bachmann bogie bolster recently and had a "passenger view" video uplifted to U Tube. It's in my thread or my U Tube channel.

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

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craigmunday.smugmug.net
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Enjoyed that Craig. :thumbs
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A few years ago, one of the then long term members of DEMU and a longstanding member of RMweb at the time (Dagworth) had an exhibition layout operated by himself and a group of others and most of the operation was controlled "in cab" using cameras in the cabs of the locos which enabled the operators to see the signals. It was an amazing feat of microminiature engineering. Not sure if he is still active on RMweb.

 
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Does anyone remember the "Wheels" Interlude which the BBC did  which was a trip on a model railway filmed from a carriage window ( the wndow appeared to be a cardboard silloette) . I believe the accompanying music was called "Wheels". Considering how long ago it was made I remember it appeared very realistic at the time .

I wonder if its still around ?


Richard. A sorely missed member who lost a brave battle in 2012.

 
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I mean no disrespect, but it doesn't do much for me, although recently I did  enjoy a ride around a layout as a coach passenger , using a small on-board camera.

I suppose it comes under the category of 'too twee' for me, like revolving mill-wheels, trickling fountains, sequencing traffic lights in front of lines of stationary cars and flashing Belisha Beacons beside crossings that have never seen a foot-fall.

Taken one step further, will we see sash windows sliding up and down, or hear the sound of tinkling bottles when  milk float appears on a scene?

I can admire and appreciate locomotive sounds that coincide with prototypical movements, but a background of generic 'diesel noises' or 'steam engine sounds' would leave me cold, and annoyed.

Grumpy Old Doofer

'You may share the labours of the great, but you will not share the spoil…'  Aesop's Fables

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin


In the land of the slap-dash and implausible, mediocrity is king
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