Large Scale Central

C.V.S.Ry. Camera Car - Version 2

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

Upper management was impressed with the video taken inside Deep Cut Tunnel last weekend, but saw room for improvement in the lighting. Thus crew OT was approved to upgrade the camera car to carry more lights and self-contained power.

They started by sub-assembling some LED modules attached to styrene with double side tape. It was too cold to paint outdoors, so the crew wrapped the new pieces with black vinyl. Power to the 12V lighting set up is provided by an 11.1V LiIon pack. Tamia plugs are used for quick connect and eliminate the need for a power switch.

The styrene panels are affixed to the donor car with more adhesive vinyl allowing easy removal when needed…

Vinyl is also used to hold down wires…

Since they already had the vinyl wrap material out, the crew also wrapped the camera mount block to give the car a more finished look…

In order to run with our 3 foot gauge equipment a quick and dirty coupler change was needed…

We’ll clean that up and paint next time the car is in the shop.

Out on the line for operational trials…

The raw video inside the tunnel turned out a lot better than the previous attempt. As soon as it’s been edited down I’ll post in this thread.

#2

Very cool Jon!

#3

BRILLIANT!!!

-Kevin.

#4

OK - Here’s the test video. I’m pretty happy with the result. Next up - Night Run.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/88612707[/vimeo]

#5

Next up:

a vacuum car to clean up the leaves and hydrangea blooms littering the tunnel…:wink:

#6

Got that covered. Once the snow melts and the ground firms; I’ll open the hatch above Fred’s Vault and stick the leaf blower in there!

#7

Jon
That light mod you made worked nicely, Now we can see that you need a track bumper, incase you have a runaway!
Next you should work on a leaf blower car. That would clean that up nicely!
Very nice video!

#8

Keep the area clear, Jon…the day is coming…

Fred

#9

Neat idea… nice…

#10

Use that to check on snakes, racoons, weasels, aliens and other residents?

#11

Fred Mills, BSc, BS, SD said:

Keep the area clear, Jon…the day is coming…

Fred

The day is coming for all of us Fred. Hopefully later rather than sooner.

#12

Sean McGillicuddy said:

Jon
That light mod you made worked nicely, Now we can see that you need a track bumper, incase you have a runaway!
Next you should work on a leaf blower car. That would clean that up nicely!
Very nice video!

The see-ment wall works quite nicely as a bumper. I use it often!

#13

I tried a night run Sunday evening after dark. The resulting video was not impressive, but it was cool to watch the car run around. The camera has a “night shoot” mode. I need to try that.

#14

Very cool Jon. Where did that case of moonshine go? It was their last time. No you need to make deep cut eve longer. Maybe a subway :slight_smile:

#15

Nice work jon. Looks like plenty of light.

#16

Jon,

Are you bringing that to York?

#17

Wasn’t planning on it, but I can. It’s really no big deal - half hour of shop time. You want to do some night video on the timesaver?

#18

It was an eye opener at the show Jon. That really does put out some light

#19

Thanks Dave.

Here is video taken on the Timesaver. I had planned to hitch a ride on the New Hampshire layout, but the camera battery went flat after 8 minutes :[

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/89878293[/vimeo]

#20

We thought the car did great on the Timesaver. Thanks for bringing it.