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Train Ride # 3 with Camera with an Update on the Union Station Engine Facility Plus the New N-Scale BLI Water Tower Journals/Blogs
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Super User 753 posts jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

This is the third Train Ride with the Cube Camera & shows some of the sections of the layout not shown in the previous two camera train rides. Once again, the camera is facing backward on the depressed center flat car. The two car train is led by an N-scale Kato E8A with a motor decoder only. The trip starts out with the train exiting the West Helix then through Michaelson Junction and around the main level of the center peninsula and back to Union Station.

The second section of the video shows the progress made in the construction of the Union Station engine facility that is built within the center of the East Helix. The coach yard & the reverse loop are wired and working. The Walther's N-Scale 130 ft turntable has been installed, wired, and programmed which was fairly easy to do once I did the first couple of tracks. The roundhouse base has been painted & installed along with the embedded track. I used superglue to attach the track to the base.  There is some mods that have to be done to each of the tracks to properly align with the turntable bridge track. The instructions cover some of what has to be done but the tops of the track had to be beveled down a little.  The bridge has code 80 (according to the instructions) so I used code 80 for all of the approach & sidings.  Also, the first two plastic ties had to be removed plus the next 5 plastic ties had to be filed down to match the height of the turntable’s plastic apron. The turntable has its own reverser so that made it easier to install & not have to worry about that aspect. I am pretty pleased with its operation so far.

This is a picture of the panel that will be used to control the tracks around the turntable.  The turntable itself has its own control box. The panel is made from a 11x15 shadow box.  The background was done in Photoshop & attached to a piece of lexan (very easy to cut & drill).  Each of the 14 tracks will have a power cut-off and LED indicator so there is still a lot of wiring to be done over the next week or so.


panel.jpg 

The next video shows one of the N-Scale BLI Water Towers with sound. I tested it using an MRC DC transformer.  After the Union Station engine facility is completed, it will be installed near the coaling tower.  It is a refurbished one so it was less expensive.  It seems to work pretty well.

My YouTube Channel is -  https://www.youtube.com/user/tanzj
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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Neil Erickson NeilEr Moderator 5,788 posts
Neil Erickson NeilEr

Cube +

JMT - I've taken a few test runs with my new cube and the camera works great - too good! After watching your videos my ceiling is now painted and the track is getting tuned up, some new lighting purchased, and basic land forms going in to fill in much of the plywood for now. 

This has been a good lesson - the camera doesn't lie! Thanks for promting me to give this a whirl. Maybe by the end of next week I will learn how to splice some video from the cube together and post here. 

Neil Erickson, Hawai’i 

My Blogs
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jmt99atsf Super User 753 posts
jmt99atsf

Cube + Camera

Neil,  Glad that you found that you found that the camera works for you on your layout. It certainly does give you a different perspective on the layout.  By the way, I use iMovie on my Mac to work on the videos.  I would assume that if you are using a PC that Movie Maker should work too....John
Blog index:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/jmt99atsf-blog-index-12219303
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Neil Erickson NeilEr Moderator 5,788 posts
Neil Erickson NeilEr

iMovie

Thanks John:

I use a Mac at home and it does seamlessly work with my iPhone and iPad. At work my PC is all business. In the past movies shot on my iPhone were edited right on the phone. This also gives me the option to upload right to YouTube so easy peasy. The cube seems easiest to use if I just leave it running then edit the whole thing. It seems to take a long time to download and save and, so far, my shots just illustrate that my train room is full of junk and that I live with unfinished business or compromises all down the line - not what I want to show friends. Very motivating to get things done 

Neil Erickson, Hawai’i 

My Blogs
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