I am new to the forum and haven't been able to post any pictures so I figured that I would give you a video tour on my layout which is still under construction. The Logan Valley is a freelance railroad set in southwestern Montana in 1957. It starts in the Yard at a Logan, goes through the layout, which is a point to point and ends going into hidden staging tracks, which will allow continuous running. More scenery has been added since this video was taken. It is in 1080 P HD. Enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiVKY_jl-w4
Neat video Chet, great looking layout..... 8) Welcome to the forum.....
Great video Chet , thank you for sharing, could you post a trackplan of your layout , just so we could see which part we are going through with the video.
Chet
Welcome to the forum! I enjoyed the video tour - nice looking layout. Looking forward to you future updates.
I wish I had a track plan to show you. I never had one. The layout was started about 25 years ago, hand laying code 70 rail and turnouts. If I could figure out how to post pictures I would post some to give you an idea of how the goes, but I haven't been able to post any. I have been able to upload a few photos to a gallery but am unable to get them to post. What I can do in the future is to take a video overview of the layout and post it.
The layout is a point to point, with a yard and engine facility at each end, and hidden staging tracks which can allow for continuous running, but I very seldom do this.The layout was built as a switching layout. There are about 20 some customers in four towns on the layout. A local switcher would start from either yard, switch industries along the main line and the loaded cars would go to a yard where they would be put into an outbound train and moved onto one of the hidden staging tracks. Another train with loaded cars could then be brought into one of the yards, broken down and made into a local train and a local freight again would service industries.
A lot of the industries on the layout are also tied together serving other industries along the route. I am a lone operator as ther are no other modelers in the area so this type of operation works well for me. I have no hobby shops at all in my area so that's why progress has been so slow. Thankfully e-retailers that have come on line in recent years have been a big help.
If someone could help me to figure out how to post pics, I have a lot to post.
Hi Chet.....give me a call and I'll walk you thru it, you've just missed 1 step. 407-834-2183
Chet welcome, nice job on both the layout and the video.
What did you use for the tree armatures? They look good.
Hal
Chet,
Thanks for sharing the video with us. Nicely done and welcome to the forum.
Tom ;D
Chet
Welcome to the forum! I enjoyed the video tour
Ditto what they all said!
It runs very well too. This video makes me want to go downstairs and put a camera on a train again. It is such a neat perspective.
I thought I was alone until the very end when the arm appeared in the video...
Jimmy
Quote from: Chet on September 30, 2014, 04:17:56 PM
I wish I had a track plan to show you. I never had one. The layout was started about 25 years ago, hand laying code 70 rail and turnouts. If I could figure out how to post pictures I would post some to give you an idea of how the goes, but I haven't been able to post any. I have been able to upload a few photos to a gallery but am unable to get them to post. What I can do in the future is to take a video overview of the layout and post it.
The layout is a point to point, with a yard and engine facility at each end, and hidden staging tracks which can allow for continuous running, but I very seldom do this.The layout was built as a switching layout. There are about 20 some customers in four towns on the layout. A local switcher would start from either yard, switch industries along the main line and the loaded cars would go to a yard where they would be put into an outbound train and moved onto one of the hidden staging tracks. Another train with loaded cars could then be brought into one of the yards, broken down and made into a local train and a local freight again would service industries.
A lot of the industries on the layout are also tied together serving other industries along the route. I am a lone operator as ther are no other modelers in the area so this type of operation works well for me. I have no hobby shops at all in my area so that's why progress has been so slow. Thankfully e-retailers that have come on line in recent years have been a big help.
If someone could help me to figure out how to post pics, I have a lot to post.
Chet
There are a few how to threads on posting pictures here 1. Posting on Modelers Forum. (http://modelersforum.com/index.php?board=2.0)
If you still have problems let me know and I would be happy to walk through it with you. I about pulled what's left of my hair out getting started here - but once you get use to it - it works pretty well.
In the words of Jaime one of our founding members " We love pictures".
Quote from: halrey on September 30, 2014, 05:32:47 PM
Chet welcome, nice job on both the layout and the video.
What did you use for the tree armatures? They look good.
Hal
Ditto, I like your trees.
Eric QUébec city
The trees are made from sagebrush. It's all over the place out here in Montana. They take about 15 to 20 minutes to make and I figure that they cost about 50 cents each when they're done. I was going to make a post on the trees but I haven't figured out how to post pictures. Everything I have tried doesn't work. Apparently the picture file is too large.
Chet.....in case you didn't get the IM reply, anytime after 5:30 & before 9:00 PM EDT will be okay.
Got it, thanks
Chet,
Welcome to the forum and what a way to open. your video is great. You are doing a marvelous job on your layout. Congrats!!! The scenery is wonderful and I like the sagebrush trees. Are the rocks homemade or did you buy them? They look great. Whose camera did you use? Go Pro or something else. I have a Mobius camera. I have run it at the front of a train, but I really like your idea of putting it "in the train". Great idea. Look forward to seeing more of your layout.
Frank / Erieman
http://modelersforum.com/gallery/263-011014113316.jpeg
Here's what I used for a camera car. The camera is what I had on hand. Unfortunately it was too large to fit through tunnel portals and into the hidden staging at the end of the video. The train comes out of the hidden staging area where the NP switcher is whe the train leaves the yard at the beginning of the video.
One problem I did have is that all of my flat cars are equipped with sprung Kadee trucks and with super elevated curves, if the camera wasn't balanced perfectly, I would get a nice video of it rolling down a hill side.
The rocks are hydrocal castings from Woodland Scenics molds.
Chet,
Yes, that is one big camera and there is no way to get that thru the tunnels. I faced the same problem some time ago and then someone introduced me to the mobius camera. (see photo) base price is around $80 for the camera and 8G of memory. Add $10 for 16G and $20 for 32G. The camera is 1080p, wide screen HD video. As you can see, I have mounted it on a flat cat and added a small raised block. I started with the camera directly on the flatbed and did not really like the image - too much track. Raising the camera gives a better view of everything. After looking at the height of your camera, I might even make a taller mounting block to check out what the camera see's. The video image is the most important part and the fact that this has no problem going into tunnels. If you would like more information on the camera, let me know and I'll did up the link. Thanks again for the wonderful video. And the rocks are great too.
Frank / Erieman
If I had a longer main line run I might consider another camera. While visiting another modeler in another state, he invited me to a local model railroad club layout and they had a similar set up as yours. It really worked well. The only track I can't run on is the hidden staging trackage, and that usually isn't very interesting. Can't see buying another camera for that.
Chet,
One advantage of the camera running on the front of the train has been to see track issues, dust and dirt, etc. Actually, all of the six layouts that I have used the video camera, we only found a very few issues. Running it the dark area of staging, tunnels, etc.has been fun because you get to see some of the construction details, wiring that is hanging close to the track, etc.. It serves as a good trouble shooter.
Your camera does a fine job and, as you say, no need to take it in the dark. Based on what I see on your video and the height of the camera lens, I'm going to build another camera block to try it out with a higher viewpoint. I really like your video. Have you taken video going into sidings, engine house, etc.?
Frank / Erieman
I have a few other videos taken with the camera running in front but I really like to see the train wind through switches and curves. It gives a little different perspective. Here is an old video taken running in the opposite direction. It is older and more scenery has been added since. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hheRPelQKyk
Quote from: Chet on October 01, 2014, 11:41:35 AM
http://modelersforum.com/gallery/263-011014113316.jpeg (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/263-011014113316.jpeg)
Here's what I used for a camera car. The camera is what I had on hand. Unfortunately it was too large to fit through tunnel portals and into the hidden staging at the end of the video. The train comes out of the hidden staging area where the NP switcher is whe the train leaves the yard at the beginning of the video.
One problem I did have is that all of my flat cars are equipped with sprung Kadee trucks and with super elevated curves, if the camera wasn't balanced perfectly, I would get a nice video of it rolling down a hill side.
The rocks are hydrocal castings from Woodland Scenics molds.
Chet
Again welcome you are very close to posting pictures - I found your picture in the Gallery and copied the BB code. You find this by clicking on the picture and the scrolling down to the codes. I have copied that code and pasted it here. And through the magic of computers it displays the picture. Sizing the picture will affect the presentation - like getting rid of the scroll bars. I hope this helps.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/263-011014113316.jpeg) (http://modelersforum.com/gallery/263-011014113316.jpeg)
I did stumble on how to do it, just hope I can remember. I'll call you in a while. I managed to post a picture on "the Empire" on layout tours. It's a great way to support benchwork along a wall.
Your video's are great and I agree with Frank they really help with finding track problems.
Quote from: Chet on October 01, 2014, 04:22:41 PM
I did stumble on how to do it, just hope I can remember. I'll call you in a while. I managed to post a picture on "the Empire" on layout tours. It's a great way to support benchwork along a wall.
You got it - just saw the picture you posted on Jeff's thread.