Hi G3
Check out the Go Pro camera.
The 3+ or newer model has wifi and remote control capabilities (including the ability to watch video in near real time) that you can use on a tablet or mobile device.
All the video is captured and stored on the camera.
Then you can download to your computer.

George

Do you have a camcorder, ytyey are all palm size.  I place one on a flat cal and push it around layout. then I do same facing backwards. This is a great effect especially if you have multiple lines .

Steve

 

Here is a thread from last February On-Board Video Camera which covers the topic.  

The previous GoPro generation "near real time" was a delay of about 3 seconds.  I have heard the newest Sony cameras have a delay of about .5 seconds(unknown video size and speed).

I would like to get a streaming WiFi 720p 60 frames/second miniature camera.  Still too big and expensive.

Dan

 

Hi George, there are so many options out there it gets quite confusing.  I am challenged in a lot of areas including this one.  But I went on the bay and found a simple, inexpensive bicycle helmet camera and it works fine and simple to operate.

 

Steve, Lady and Tex

I found the easiest to do was put one in the front of my Budd cars, facing camera out the front door window. except for the antenna it is invisible. I have pictures of the whole installation if you are interested. Email me at old.trains@Verizon.net.

 

Also there is a vendor at YORK usually in Purple hall that sells a camera and transmitter you can mount in an engine which can send picture to either r a TV or recorder 

Here's what I use, I have a receiver and several of the cameras.

 

2.4GHz 8CH Wireless Mini Pinhole Tiny Camera CM200 + AV Receiver RC302 Kit FPV

 

I bought a couple extra cameras, I have some more cars to equip.

 

Boscam CM200 2.4GHz 8CH Security Mini Wireless Video Camera Cable SPY Recording

 

I have one I've mounted in a RK snowplow that I run around, and I'm working on mounting one in a locomotive.  The BUDD car that Hugh mentions might be a good candidate, I just got my K-Line interburbans running again.

 

I have had a number of requests for the Budd Car installation photos.

It is all on this link.

http://www.jcstudiosinc.com/BlogShowThread?id=854

 

BTW, antenna works just as well lying down on the roof. It does not have to be sticking obtrusively up straight.

Thanks Hugh. That is a very nice installation.

 

Brad

Wait a minute.  In this picture:

 

http://www.photos.jcstudiosinc.../user911/lights3.jpg

 

What are those uncoupling tracks you've got on O tubular curves?  That's not a UCS section, is it?  What are those?

 

SJS

 

 

 

Say John, what do you use for a power supply for this camera?  The track power board that I have puts out too much voltage for the camera above (I bought one, but haven't been able to try it yet).

 

I use one of the cheap AC-DC switching power supplies from eBay to power it.  It provides plenty of power for the camera at the correct DC voltage.

 

NEW AC DC TO DC Buck Converter Step Down Module Power Supply Output DC 1.5V-27V

 

 

 

No manual needed, you connect AC to the pins next to the bridge rectifier, DC to the ones on the other end, stick it down with some double-sided foam tape, and adjust the blue pot to the desired voltage. 

 

Installation completed.

John, Do you know of any miniature dc to ac converters? I still want to battery power my TMCC locos on two rail with the radio signal through the rail.

 

Ron

DC to AC is a lot more complex.  I don't know of any off-hand.  Why do you need AC?

Hugh,

 

Enough Titanium to cause interference?  Are you friends with Robocop?

John,

 

I would really like to go to 2 rail, but I want to still use the Tmcc since I have a heavy investment in the Lionel product. It is my understanding the Tmcc requires AC track power to operate, but converts it to Dc for the Loco can motors. If you know of some way around it I'de love to know. I can't just run dc on the rails because the loco wheels have no insulation.

 

On the other hand I have the ability to RC everything but no way to power the railsound do I? 

 

Regards, Ron

George, I would go with the GoPro 4. The 3+ is no longer available. The video is amazing and matches my big video cameras very well. I have three GoPros and have found their support people are the best. They are in Northern California and get back to you in a day, two at the most. They make lots of mounts, I even have one for my dog Lucy. If you want low track shots you can even turn the camera upside down to get the lens close to the ground. Hit a switch and it flips the video. Been using them for about five years now. Don

Ron, best to start a new topic so we don't get the two topics confused.

 

I've never attempted TMCC with DC, so I can't really say how it would work out.  The battery tosses in a new wrinkle.

 

Don't waste your time.

 

The GoPro is a great camera, but it is NOT well suited for close-up model photography. It is fixed focus (you cannot adjust the focus) and anything closer than 6" - 8" from the camera is out of focus. I carefully checked one out for use in our OGR model train videos and quickly saw that I got much better results from the Panasonic HD video camera I have used for several years.

 

Some of the others suggested in this thread will work much better than the GoPro.

A little off the camera topic, but here it is.Round off the black phenolic so pickup shoes do not catch.

 

Sorry, I don't follow this at all.

I now use a Canon Power Shot HD. On a flat car with a mounting bolt to camera base.

In front of the engine.

This is a video, Riding the Rails.

Rich, guess you don't know about the close up lens for the GoPro. Also show me another small video camera that can do 4K video. Don

 

Flatcar with mounting bolt & camera car in front of the engine. HD

  Click photos to enlarge

Thanks John, I just ordered two of these - they are cheap.  Could I also use these to  power my other slightly larger cameras that use 9 volts?

A little off the camera topic, but here it is.Round off the black phenolic so pickup shoes do not catch.

 

 

Hugh:

It is a little off topic, but thanks for sharing.  I've never seen this done before and wouldn't have thought to do it.  Interesting solution for a tight spot.

SJS

 

what is a "phenolic"?

http://www.sdplastics.com/phenolic.html

 

Sure.  I'd count on no more than 1/2 to 3/4 amp maximum from them, don't believe the 3 amp rating.  When you pull anything close to 3A from them, everything gets very hot!

Thanks everyone...for your responses, especially trainroomgary. This post kinda got off on power supplies, which, at the time, I wasn't worried about, but then gunrunnerjohn jumped in and I was interested. He has helped me in the past with LED car lighting, much to my success. I have a flat car and an incredible Sony mini-camcorder and will try something with that first. Then if it works out, I can go smaller. It would be nice to have it broadcast to my TV or computer screen, but I can wait for that. My layout is so sparse right now, I just want to get some engine-level videos of what my "broken-ankle buildings' look like. Just to indicate how naive I am, it never occurred to me to "PUSH" a flat car with a camera on it. I just thought it had to be on the engine. Oh well, live and learn. Guess that's what this forum is all about. 

 

Anyway, I'm much in debt to all of you...and thanks again.

 

George (G3)

I like my X-10 security color and sound TV camera that transmits a live signal to a receiver hooked up to a TV.  VCR or digital recordings can be made from the TV.

 

Watching the picture live is great entertainment for all, (kids love it).  The X-10 is rather inexpensive, runs off 4 AA rechargable batteries, and is easy to mount on a flat car to view ahead or toward side to view the layout.

 

Choo Choo

The X-10 was probably the first low priced miniature color video camera/transmitter available for live action video, and was pretty cool.  I still have one which was pushed on a flatcar, but is now used for a trackside view.  But it is now old tech and there are much smaller ones available now at low prices, with better quality video.  I have since picked up a couple of smaller cameras, one of which I put in the cab of a GP-20 dummy.  The one that I just acquired, on Gunrunner John's suggestion, is so small that you can hide it in just about any engine if you so desire.  I may try it in the cab of a steam engine for an "along the the boiler" view.

Yes, I know about the close-up lens and I tried it. Using it gets things close to the camera in focus at the expense of distant objects being out of focus. I still get better overall depth of field shooting models staying at the wide end of the zoom on the small HD Panasonic video camera I use.

As for 4K video, I don't need or want it. Most of our audience still buys standard definition videos on DVDs, not the 1080i HD BluRays. I don't need to spend money to move to a format that has no audience.