Build A Camera Car For Under $20 (266)

[@TheDCCGuy]

Well, as I expected, sometime after lunch eastern time on 7/22/22, the subscriber count finally hit 30,000. So thanks to my newest subscribers who made it happen today and of course to all of you who have followed me over the last 3 years. Hopefully I won’t run out of ideas for new videos anytime soon.

[@markgoodrich941]

Congratulations. You do a great job and provide a wonderful service to us all. Thank you.

[@markwakeley3835]

Good job Larry. Keep making great videos. The camera looks interesting.

[@chrislangdon8182]

You deserve it! Your videos give the answers to my model railroading questions, anyway congrats!

[@michaelhoffman6354]

Thanks for your efforts, your videos are top notch. The kids and I have learned a ton from you. Hopefully you can continue to enlighten our model railroad world.

[@rogerhuber3133]

Larry, you are the ultimate model railroad electronics guru and if that's all you can get from this camera I think I'll pass it up! Love the channel and have learned so much here. Congratulations on the 30k subscribers!

[@DJE2025]

Congratulations on 30k!!

[@donaldshroyer8633]

I did a similar rig for my N scale layout about a year and a half or so ago. I used a gondola with a bracket made of balsa scraps glued together and held in the car by simple friction to hold the camera lens in place. Because of the length of the wifi antenna, I also needed a flat car buffer. My experience with documentation was very similar to yours. Although I got the memory card to work, I could not get sound to record. The most concrete benefit to the videos, once the novelty wore off, was to help straighten out track I used to think was straight.

[@markhilliker1488]

I bought the same camera after watching this video, works great. I put the SD card in as you did and had it fall out. I turned it around and it clicked in. Keep making content, love it.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Glad it worked for you. I must have gotten one made by the midnight shift on their way out the door!

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

Congrats on 30,000 subscribers, Larry.

[@sparky107107]

camera cars are pretty cool to show off a layout. I use a Go Pro mounted on a flat car and do Live Streams from it. Everyone says they enjoy them so I try to do at least one live show a month

[@crsrdash-840b5]

Hi Sparky. yeah, you're Go Pro works great!

[@johnbanicki7232]

Simple but elegant solution. Thanks

[@jhoodfysh]

Good evaluation Larry. Gratz on the subscribers (29.9K) as I was viewing this.

[@alainaarrhodge5900]

Woohoo for the milestone! Congratulations!

[@michaelsmodelrailroading7665]

Congratulations on reaching this milestone!

[@raquaro1]

Congrats on approaching 30K! I started following you at less than a thousand! You have come along well because your videos are top notch! Keep up the great work!! I learn something every time!

[@warrenholmar1129]

Well done on 30k very well deserved! Very good content also

[@rjl110919581]

Thank you for sharing your details video as great watching every time

[@newnorfolkmrr1754]

Well done on the 30k subscribers. I'm not surprised - fantastic channel 👍🏼

[@jeffreysmith85]

It a great idea

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

thanks again for that interesting project

[@dundasjunctionmodelr.r-jam8267]

Congrats on reaching 30000 subscribers, great job

[@4everdc302]

Way too make it happen Larry👍👍I picked up a Polaroid cube camera. Just need a memory card&get it mounted 🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲🙋

[@normantoogood6937]

Great video Larry. The museum where I volunteer has a model train layout. we are looking for a camera that can transmit wirelessly to a TV, so that visitors can see the trains traversing the layout. So far we haven't found anything. Ir all seems to be designed for smartphone display. If you're heard of such a camera, please let me know.

[@ChooChooVision]

Choo Choo Vision cameras transmit over WiFi to any browser. If your museum has a smart TV, you can transmit the video wirelessly and display the video on the TV set for your patrons.

[@worthingtonmodelrailway8628]

Congrats on subscriber count! I’m still trying for 1000 😂. I bought that same camera about a year ago! Was trying to upgrade from my Polaroid cube. I’ve stuck with the cube. As you inferred too much frustration trying to get the Chinese camera to work as expected. Issue with cube is it only records to micro SD but it’s way better quality. I’m sure these other cameras will get better eventually.

[@ronduz1281]

Great video as usual Larry! They are very informative , keep up the great work 👍👍👍

[@tvtoms]

Great fun stuff. I use a GoPro Hero Session, bought used on Amazon actually. It's a cube and fits through NMRA, HO scale tunnels, bridges and the like. It fits while on flat car, gondola, and even two ton hopper. I have a couple of poorly lit videos on my channel using it. It certainly cost more than 20 bucks though! nice work!

[@peteengard9966]

I haven't priced out components but there are FPV cameras and transmitters for drones that are micro and transmit in 4K. Most can be powered off a 2s lipo battery.

[@markgoodrich941]

Where could I learn about this? Thank you.

[@peteengard9966]

@@markgoodrich941 Any shop that deals in FPV drones. You need a camera, WiFi transmitter, 2s lipo battery, and the receiver. Some WiFi transmitters will have an app for a phone or tablet. Or even a set of goggles. DJI digital is popular. Pricey for the digital system but companies like Fox Ear still make analog systems.

[@markgoodrich941]

@@peteengard9966 Thank you very much for the information and help. Now I know what to look for. I appreciate your help.

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Congrats 🎉🎊🎈 Larry

[@warrencleversy2773]

Congrats to your online video success!!

[@mikeseba7817]

Congratulations!

[@caboosech]

Great video

[@sparkyprojects]

Maybe search for 'fpv camera and transmitter', you'll need to add a battery (or power from track), but these are small and very common these days Used on drones and aircraft, you could possibly hide it inside a loco ;)

[@markgoodrich941]

I wish I knew more about this subject and fpv cameras. This video has sparked an interest. Thanks for the tip. Now it's time for me to try and learn more!

[@ThisWorks4Me]

Writing about inserting a microSD card into the camera. I had the same problem that you had and then found a solution. You have to use something to insert the card deep enough. I used the back side of my knife and it locked into position.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I’ll give that a try. I was afraid I’d get the SD card stuck in the camera and have to cut it open to retrieve the card. Now that the video is done I’m not concerned with its integrity so I’ll keep my 5lb sledge handy.

[@ThisWorks4Me]

I purchased a camera and car in May from Micro-Mart. Had the same problem with the micro-usb card. The LED indicator lights aren't too bright either. Might try to make my own with an ESP32 camera module. Probably the same basic camera. Thank you for the video.

[@markmatteo2417]

I got this camera a while ago, earlier this year. It's a pain in the A and I recently ordered a camera from Amazon. I haven't tried it yet, but that's the aggravation I got with this camera. I also ordered it from micromark which I also regret b/c it was overpriced. But I am hoping the new camera is easier to use.

[@jeffreysmith85]

Get a portable battery I had trouble with the SD card staying in. I have it at my front door

[@fredkalmbach8578]

Any thoughts about a video programming Digitrax DS74 Switch decoder including Tortise switch machines and DSXCP1 switch controllers. Seems to be a complicated process.

[@TheDCCGuy]

You’e looking at a significant outlay for a video. I’ll send them an email and see if they will send me a free review sample but they have gotten a bit tight about that in the last few years, especially now they have their own KZbin channel with product tutorials.

[@randydobson1863]

HELLO LARRY ITS IS RANDY AND I LIKE U VIDEO IS COOL THANKS LARRY FRIENDS RANDY

[@jassemalzahrani4502]

If it helps anyone you don't want a camera that records any less than 1080p 60fps anything less than that is just in my opinion not worth it. But. 20 bucks is 20 bucks great video

[@lgrfbs]

The reason for the low FPS is that it is built to be a surveillance camera. I've gone on that mine myself with a different kind of camera. (Video from my camera: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2nLYqKYrM2ona8 ) But if you can't build what you describe, the micro-mark has a freight wagon under part number 90154 for $124.95 and for that price I hope everything works on that camera.

[@FKHTrump2024]

I’ll be looking for a go pro or something else that looks really bad plus I need sound

[@andrewstevenson5449]

Thanks Larry. I suppose it's okay for the price, but the video looked really poor quality, and that combined with your several problems, makes me think it'd be worth spending a bit more money on the camera. :) I wonder if the SD card slot is for another version of the camera, but they use the same mould for all the cases.

[@canadianlocomotivelogistics]

Check out some of my videos from a better camera that has a built in video server and does 1080p at 30 fps. You pay for what you get.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I would say you get what you pay for in most cases, the trouble is there is a lot of misinformation on eBay, etc. This makes it difficult to actually know what you are getting which was the point I made when I said to be very careful choosing a camera. This video was as much a warning as it was a DIY tutorial.

[@frankhellman6879]

The Chinese sending cheap junk to America!? Lying about specs & capabilities?! No. I don't believe a word of it. 👍🎉 on 30.

[@jeffreysmith85]

Get a better camera