Lionel Caboose with Camera ?

Previous thread:

https://ogrforum.com/...8-caboose-cam?page=1

Ryan and Dave said on the first catalog show it's the same camera used in the theater cars, which the online listing cites as "Hi-Def 1080p camera".  The only one anybody has seen is the prototype displayed on their show, from which they did say the catalog picture was taken and is an accurate representation.  Rightmost video on top row here, starting at 23:30 mark.

What, me worry?

interesting

I got the resolution from the Horse's Mouth, I asked Dave Olsen.  He said...

It'll go up to 1080P, but the frame rate drops to 15-20. The lower the res the faster the frame rate.
It isn't an amazing camera, but isn't half bad.

I probably can live with that, I suspect it'll have a pretty decent frame rate at 720P.

It'll work perfect for my YouTube Series. Get some green screen material to cover the caboose roof and sides, and you can insert anything you want in it's place! Maybe a steam locomotive cab or a diesel cab? Definitely ordering one. Now...which road name do I buy? 

Thanks everyone! I received the answers I needed. I might pickup a NS or Reading one. I would like to see a N&W one down the road. Wonder if the camera is small enough to fit in other model cabooses. I would love a N6b (if it is not too small).

I'm on the fence still.  If I buy one, I'll have to paint it or maybe wait to see if they expand the roadnames available in future years.

I posted a couple of videos of the Caboose cam in operation using the Lionel WiFi Camera App:

https://ogrforum.com/...40#77734315992396540

H1000 posted:

Lionel sure is fast. MY CABOOSE CAM ARRIVED TONIGHT!!!!! Check out the short video below:

The FPS is pretty low here and I think it has something to do with my tablet. I was able to get 25 FPS at 720p.

 https://ogrforum.com/...87#77734316024003687

H1000 posted:

I was gone all weekend and finally had some more time to play with the camera today. Zoomed the image so that I would see less of the caboose roof top. Troubleshooted problems with frame rate and made a recording at 720p that maxed out at 25 FPS and bottomed out at 14 FPS. It seems that the camera likes light, the FPS would easily max out when the lighting conditions were brighter.  The latency of the live image is about 2 seconds, not too bad.

Here's another trip around the loop with the camera recording in the Lionel WiFi Camera app to the tablet.

 Edit: After posting this I realized that the live video displayed on my tablet was 720p, but when I used the recording function it would only record at 480p. Still the video looks pretty good considering the loss in resolution.

 

I received mine this past weekend. Not happy with the video...blurry, extreme glare from assorted lights on my layout, etc. The design is not good. The camera shoots out the cupola window through the rear ladder guides, so all video looks through this barrier. The app for iOS does not show the same utility icons as shown in the guide published by Lionel. I will experiment more, but so far not so good.

I believe I have the first generation of the CoupolaCam Caboose. My grandchildren ages 5 & 4 think the live video is a lot of fun. They like to wave at the caboose as it goes by. The image quality is very poor and there is no sound. I am using a iPhone 7 Plus.

Is Lionel going to upgrade this caboose to full HD 1280 x 720?  Will owners be able to send this caboose back to Lionel to have the upgraded camera installed?

Gary

VegasTrains posted:

I received mine this past weekend. Not happy with the video...blurry, extreme glare from assorted lights on my layout, etc. The design is not good. The camera shoots out the cupola window through the rear ladder guides, so all video looks through this barrier. The app for iOS does not show the same utility icons as shown in the guide published by Lionel. I will experiment more, but so far not so good.

Hi Guys

I bought mine and it arrived a week ago, and as I live in the Uk I think the 50hz has something to do with the problems, with connecting the cam to my wi fi network which is at best very hit and miss.

the screenshots are not very good, and I tried the recording function but cannot find them on my Android tablet, I saw on youtube where a guy dismantled the caboose and removed the thick perspex window, which made one **** of a difference. I also get a flicker when viewing on my tablet, but this may be due to the 50hz??? overall not impressed, but as a novelty its okay. I may follow the scenario and remove the window when I get time, but now concentrating on rehasing my layout.

happy modelling from the UK 

Hi Lionel Man in the UK.....

Below is a short video from my CoupolaCam ...... with sound added.   The video quality is OK to great and my grandchildren ages 5 & 4 think it is can of funny and they like to wave at the camera as it goes by....  Do you know David Howarth from the UK? He has a large footprint on YouTube.

Gary

Wow, and I thought the video from mine was bad!  That's terrible Gary!  Here's a screen shot of my caboose running behind a Trackmobile.  FWIW, I think this is poor, yours goes right to awful!

Hi John:  My audience is a 5 & 4 year old, they think it is very cool.  Below is my camera car, if I need Full HD for my YT Channel this is the way I go.  Notice the high tech string that I use to pull the camera along the main lines.

The video quality looks a lot better on my new iPhone 11 Pro (Live). The process to make a video for the OGR Forum has to be crushed by Final Cut Pro to make it compatible because it is running at 60fps or something like this…..

Gary

I have a Mobius actioncam for videos from trains, it does MUCH better than the caboose.  I just wanted something for a novelty, but I was hoping for better quality video.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I have a Mobius actioncam for videos from trains, it does MUCH better than the caboose.  I just wanted something for a novelty, but I was hoping for better quality video.

Still have the window in it?

Yep, looks to be a PITA to get to it to take it out.

One thing, the screws don’t have to come out all the way, just the ones so you can swivel the trucks to get to the other one. Do the one sort of under the truck last. I ground the diameter off a Phillips to get along the truck closer. Lift the shell and with a probe pull the lighting connector off the light strip on the roof. Raise the shell farther and unscrew the light strip. Then remove the cupola. Trim the inside ridges of the cupola tabs so you can pop it back on last when you’re all back together. You have to plug the light connector in last under the cupola.

It’s sort of fun if you’re not needed elsewhere.

Trainroom Gary,

I have the same caboose which was on the first run of camera cabooses. Below is a screen shot of my caboose's camera. Not bad and the window has not been removed and I am not doing that. Lionel can remove it if that is necessary. This picture came from my modern Iphone 5 S!

That looks more like mine, but I'm not happy with the quality.

Chuck, I got the bottom off and noticed I had to screw around inside to take the light strip, etc. off and decided I was needed elsewhere!.

FWIW, the way to the the two screws under the truck is to remove the one screw in the coupler, remove it, and then swivel the truck until you can take the screws out normally.

Ted Bertiger posted:

Trainroom Gary,

I have the same caboose which was on the first run of camera cabooses. Below is a screen shot of my caboose's camera. Not bad and the window has not been removed and I am not doing that. Lionel can remove it if that is necessary. This picture came from my modern Iphone 5 S!

Hi Ted:

Cool still photo: I also checked out your club layout, Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders Lakewood, N.J.

Gary

gunrunnerjohn posted:

That looks more like mine, but I'm not happy with the quality.

Chuck, I got the bottom off and noticed I had to screw around inside to take the light strip, etc. off and decided I was needed elsewhere!.

FWIW, the way to the the two screws under the truck is to remove the one screw in the coupler, remove it, and then swivel the truck until you can take the screws out normally.

Thanks I’ll try that. I did think about taking the truck apart and couldn’t, but not that I would be able to move the truck off the screw. 

I thought about taking the truck apart as well, but when I looked it was obvious that was a non-starter, so I went with the coupler.  Much easier in any case, one screw and slide it off.

How many of you have removed the plastic window in front of the camera 

was there a big difference in clarity.

cpuld you just cut it out with a dremel tool or exacto knife without taking the van apart

The answer is clear. With the plastic window insert in place, the picture was very blurry. With the plastic piece out, the picture is fine and the caboose is loads of fun.

The camera lens nearly touches the plastic window insert. It's possible, but chancy, to remove the plastic piece from outside the shell.