Train Camera for Your Model Trains

Installing a train camera is an exciting way to bring a new perspective to your layout. You?ve seen the trains running throughout your scenery and landscape from a bird?s eye view and probably (hopefully) from eye level also, but it?s always from the outside of the train, as if you?re a rail fan looking on.

Imagine the fun of watching your scenery and mountains roll by while you?re sitting in the cab of your own locomotive, or maybe watching everything go by from the rear of the train.It?s especially fun to watch other trains either coming toward you on a second track or moving along with you. You can really get a first-person sense of what it would be like to actually be the engineer on your own train!

If you?re a dispatcher in a model railroad operating session and you need to see what?s going on in the yard without having to leave your control panel, you can send your train cam to the area to check it out!

Amazingly, you can do all of this now with a small wireless color video camera attached to your train.

The TC-9P is powered by a rechargeable Nicad battery, which begins charging any time the rail voltage is above 4.5v. It works on AC, DC and DCC powered track, and can be installed on any scale train - even Z scale.

It works by wirelessly transmitting a high quality color video signal to a wireless receiver within a 30-meter range. The transmitter itself measures 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.47 inch, contains a 270,000 pixel ?? CMOS Image Sensor and transmits a 2.4GHz microwave signal.

The wireless receiver can be connected to any TV or VCR with an RC video input.

The picture has good resolution and color and wide angle focus with enough detail that you can see turnout points, signals and crossings easily and can even work in tunnels with very little light!

The Train Camera System contains everything you need to get started including the transmitter with microwave antenna, controller, rechargeable battery, wireless receiver, AC adapter, and video cable.

You could install the transmitter on the front of your locomotive or on top if you have enough clearance on your layout for it. If you wish, you could cut out one end of a passenger car or boxcar and install the camera inside so that it?s not readily seen from the outside. You could also install it on a flatcar and angle it to the inside of your layout so your can watch the scenery go by as the train rolls through the landscape.

Overall, this is another great way to enhance your layout, to ensure your scenes are viewed at eye level for the best perspective, to see what it would be like to be an engineer on your own train, and mostly to have fun!

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Read This Before You Start a Trains O Scale Model Railway Project

In this article I am going to outline the things to consider before starting your model railway project. Due to the logistics of building a model railway, mistakes early on can really bite you in the butt later on down the line.

Space

The first thing you need to consider before all else when building your layout is space. How much space do you have and how long will that space be there for? Not only how much space do you have, but do you have enough space to do what you are planning on doing with your model? Lack of space is a common problem, but there are a couple of solutions.

Firstly you can create more space. A common way to do this is to build a shed in the back garden, or board up the attic! If you are serious about your hobby and you want to keep your layout in a fixed position you could be better off doing this first as last.

The second option is to have your layout on a board. This is ideal for a spare bedroom that is rarely used because the whole thing can simply be put against the wall while the room is being used. Depending on size it could even be slid underneath a double bed. If your board is particularly big you could have it in two pieces, and design your layout accordingly. This way the two pieces can be detached and stored more easily.

A more complicated version of the board is the folding board. This means that your board has two joints with hinges. This allows you to fold your set up and put it up against a wall or under a bed.

This second method requires a reasonable amount of forethought and planning. The distance between each joint must be double the height of anything you put in your layout. As if it isn't it will get crushed once folded together. Also you can not have any terrain or buildings between the joints. This method was mentioned in the interests of thoroughness and is not recommended for a beginner.

Layout - Scenery

If you are a beginner you may not even want to have scenery at first which is absolutely fine, if so skip this section. However if you are going to have scenery it is best to think about it before you start.

There are some questions you must ask yourself before you start your layout:

Is your layout going to be an urban setting or a rural setting?What time period will your setting be in?What country will your setting be in?Do you want your setting to be built up, or do you want it to be very green?Is the layout going to be designed by you or are you going to replicate somewhere in the real world?Do you want to be able to change your layout in the future?

You can just decide how you want your track and then simply start building the layout around it and decide as you go. This can be very creative and is a good approach if you are starting the project with a child.

All of these different options must be taken into account with the consideration of your budget and the amount of time you want to spend.

As a general rule of thumb a rural theme with rolling hills will be easier and cheaper to produce than a city theme. If you have the time and patience a city theme can also be produced on a shoe string.

When considering a time and place think about the buildings in that period and place and whether or not they would be hard to replicate with your own hands. There is no point in deciding on replicating a gothic city if you don't want to spend ages making the models or buying them off the shelf.

If you decide to replicate somewhere in the real world this can often be more expensive because there is no compromise. This is also a more time-consuming option.

If you would like to change the layout of your scenery or your track then a rolling hills setting is not ideal for either of these. An urban setting or any scenery with movable parts is better suited for this.

You do not have to move your scenery to change your track layout!

Not if you plan your track well in the first place.

An oval track is difficult to change without moving most of the pieces of your track. This is because like a circle the bits of track are as far apart from each other as they can be. So the idea is to be able to change your track by moving as little pieces as possible. This is done by making a track that crosses or runs very close to itself in a few places! This way you can change the dynamic of the whole track by only moving a few pieces.

As with most things in life you must think about time and money, as your decisions now, will effect these in the future. Build or Buy? That is the big question. Building is cheaper but time-consuming and buying is the opposite. So think about what you want and use the information here to design a layout that suits you perfectly.

Trains

The final consideration is trains. When buying trains there are a few things to keep in mind but generally speaking BUY WHAT YOU LIKE!!!!

A lot of train manufacturers make some great starter sets and these are perfect for the beginner. They are matching, they work together and they are usually very good quality.

When buying any model train it makes more sense to buy better because it will be cheaper in the long run. I wont go into the details of what is collectable and what is not as that is beyond the scope of this article.

If you buy the good brands you can't really go wrong, MTH, Lionel, and Atlas Industrial Rail make some great starter sets.

And never forget: KEEP THE BOXES THEY COME IN, and keep them in good condition. This will affect the resale value if you decide to sell or swap them in the future.

Electrics

The last essential consideration for your train set is the electrical side of things.

There are two main options - Analog, and Digital.

As this article is aimed at beginners I would recommend going digital. Its just easier!! And if you don't have any experience with wiring or you have a child that will be using the set it could be the safer option as well!! Whatever you choose you will also need to buy a power pack.

Although I have tried to be as pragmatic and concise as I can in this article don't forget that this a hobby and requires passion. So read the rules, take the advice and then do exactly what you want to do!

Model Trains is a great hobby and is fantastic for anyone who has a creative or technical flare.

I really hope this article has been useful for you, if you have any questions on model railroading don't hesitate to post them on my blog - trainsoscaleus.com

Happy Railroading!

Alex

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Model Railroading Tips - How to Avoid Your Trains From Derailing

One of the most frustrating problems that model railroaders face is the extremely annoying problem of derailments. This can not only cause your model railway trains to go off track, but also your plans to build your dream model railroad too. This can be quite a common problem, but one that can be solved relatively easily if you know what you are doing, so I wanted to share some model railroading tips to help prevent it.

The first thing I would suggest would be to check the wheels of your model train to make sure that these are all turning properly. If the wheels are sticking at any point, then this may be the cause of any derailments you are experiencing. You will also want to make sure that the wheels are correctly aligned, as if they not then this can be another common cause of the problem.

It's also a good idea to lubricate your wheels if they seem to be sticking to smooth up the motion. Adding a little drop of oil can free up the movement nicely if you are having problems, although be careful to not add too much either, as this can cause the wheels to pick up dust and dirt, which will only add to cause further problems.

Another common cause for your model railway trains to derail is due to problems with the track itself. Therefore, the first thing to check is that the model rail tracks are clean and clear of debris. By cleaning the rails, this will not only remove any dirt that could get stuck in the trains wheels, but also make sure that the electrical conductivity of the rail is in tact too.

You should also check that your track connections are all correctly made and that everything is all smoothly aligned. This is one of the most common problems in causing your model trains to derail. As the trains run over the joints time and time again, this can cause them to move slightly over time and this will inevitably start to cause trains to come of the tracks. Therefore, a handy little tip here, is that if you have built a track in a permanent scene you can solder the joints in the track and then file them down to be perfectly smooth.

When running your fingers across the joints, you want to make sure there is no change in the level of the tracks and that the gap between the two is minimal, if any. It's also important to make sure that these joints aren't forced into place when creating your layouts, as this stress on the track will tend to cause more problems, with parts moving about and slipping out of line.

The last of the model railroading tips I want to share with you in trying to help you avoid derailments is a relatively simply trick to help with keep your model railway trains on the track. This is to add a little extra weight to your wagons. Many newer models are lighter than the old trains and this can cause them to jump free of the tracks easier. Therefore, the extra weight will help prevent this. However, if you do choose to try this method, be careful not to add too much as this will only cause extra wearing on your trains and other problems may arise.

I hope that by using some of the model railroading tips I have shared with you today, you can solve you model railway trains from derailing and by learning how to avoid this frustrating problem, keep your model railroad dreams on track. For more tips and information, visit my website by clicking the links below.

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Life Like Trains Are Cool

Making life like trains can require a great deal of talent and experience. You would need all the raw materials such as paint, metal and a model plan. Life like trains such as locomotives and carriages however are so popular that it makes this hobby not only popular but also very profitable. If you can hand craft life like trains at a decent rate then you will be able to make a good income from them. Just look at some of the train models sold on eBay which are extremely impressive.

People tend to like these model trains is that they look like someone spent a lot of hard work and attention to creating them and people can appreciate this. When there is so much detail in a particular model the natural reaction is to just appreciate it.

Two of the manufacturers that people like the most on the train modelling industry are Lionel and Bachmann. All the best models that can be bought are usually sold by them such as the famous Polar Express. They have been making trains for many years now and they know exactly what they are doing so you can trust their quality.

My favourite aspect of models is the little features that are added with the strokes of a paintbrush. The precision that is required is really amazing and not easily replicated by the average hobbyists. You can tell by looking at some of the models that the artist has spent a lot of time and love into it.

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