N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: Southerngooner on February 24, 2022, 12:32:15 PM

Title: Miniature camera to fit Farish DMU
Post by: Southerngooner on February 24, 2022, 12:32:15 PM
Hi

We are trying to get some video of James Street from rail level, with the aim of covering the whole layout from this perspective over time. We had a guy take a short trip around the layout at TINGS with a camera mounted in a Mk3 coach which looked good, but we never found out what camera was being used. I've looked at pen cameras but they seem to suggest they look out of the side of the pen, not the end, so probably too difficult to fit in a coach. The mini cameras we use for viewing hidden parts of the layout are small, but too big to fit a coach.

Does anyone have knowledge of a camera that will fit and be of good quality to do this? Failing that there are cameras out there that might fit a wagon, but that would be a last resort.

I did search the forum and found a few experiments going on but none that seemed to fit the bill

Can anyone help?

Dave
Title: Re: Miniature camera to fit Farish DMU
Post by: chrism on February 24, 2022, 12:50:13 PM
This is the beastie that I used for my various video on the Coniston Railway (including the onboard footage in the NGF virtual Exibition) and Furness Junction;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07KC6C58Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07KC6C58Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

I selected it because anything else I could find appeared to be too high to fit under bridges, but this one has a rotating lens so can lie flat on, for example as I've done, an old coach chassis.

It is still a bit out of gauge widthwise, so I had to arrange a mount that offset it to one side a bit to clear tight lineside structures and swap it around where the structures are on different sides. It's certainly too wide to fit in a coach, though.
Title: Re: Miniature camera to fit Farish DMU
Post by: AlexanderJesse on February 24, 2022, 01:15:55 PM
I am considering a USB-stick cam. (sample: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visionaer-Camcorder-Digital-SECURITY-SURVEILANCE-Black/dp/B004TGRW9S (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visionaer-Camcorder-Digital-SECURITY-SURVEILANCE-Black/dp/B004TGRW9S) ). There are also some that use the longer but narrower USB-stick design. And generally stripping it from the case sure should fit a standard size wagon or coach
Title: Re: Miniature camera to fit Farish DMU
Post by: Southerngooner on February 24, 2022, 01:52:12 PM
The USB stick cam looks a potential winner, just need to check sizes. Recording quality will need to be considered too.

Thanks

Dave
Title: Re: Miniature camera to fit Farish DMU
Post by: Bob Tidbury on February 24, 2022, 02:09:29 PM
I have got a Branor Systems N gauge camera truck but just checked on his site and unfortunately he has discontinued the N gauge version now ,at the moment Hailstone has got it and said it is very good .
The family bought it for me for Christmas one year it was a good quality product shame he has stopped making them .
Bob Tidbury
Title: Re: Miniature camera to fit Farish DMU
Post by: Newportnobby on February 24, 2022, 02:34:55 PM
Quote from: chrism on February 24, 2022, 12:50:13 PM
This is the beastie that I used for my various video on the Coniston Railway (including the onboard footage in the NGF virtual Exibition) and Furness Junction;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07KC6C58Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07KC6C58Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)



That does look very good especially as I saw your results but it's a tad expensive for a bit of frivolity, which is all I'd need it for. On an 8ft x 4ft layout, only half of which is the scenic area, it's a waste really. After all, it's the price of a Farish coach!!
Title: Re: Miniature camera to fit Farish DMU
Post by: Tonye on February 24, 2022, 03:04:51 PM
I have got a Mini Wifi Module CTV IP Wireless Surveillance camera. It is really small , and in the 6 years I have had it I have never used it . You lot have just made me dig it out. It cost around £15.00 - Amazon.

Tony.