Lights, camera and distractions

Sometimes we wish to view our layouts from a different angle, and then curiosity gets the better of us.

    -What if.........I could get a cab view.?
    -How could I fit a video camera ?

Well for a bit of fun I obtained a small digital video camera from an electronics retailer, and for $50, (I have dropped more on a Saturday afternoon at Flemington races and have ended up with a lot to less to show for it.) therefore I would give it a go.

So this is Part 1 of the process.

The camera specifications are:
   - 640 x 480 res at 30 frames per second (not HD)
   - 4 GB flash memory
   - USB interface/recharge
   - 82mm long , 22mm diameter
   - 30 gram weight

The crude proof of concept prototype.

parked outside the Railway Hotel looking a lot like a North Korean missile launcher.

(camera mounted on Bachmann Brill chassis with Blu tack, real classy)

Which showed some promise, as long there was enough natural light, as it failed to provide a decent picture in the evening run.

 Then I thought it needs to run in a actual model, enter Part 2 of this caper, the candidate.

As my MMTB Y class (Y 469) is actually built form a reworked Bachmann Brill trolley and chassis, that the Y class were the only MMTB cars built to the Peter Witt style meant there were no bulkheads between the cabs and the saloon, unlike my stable of W class cars.

The shell of MMTB Y469 with camera mounted and in the process of being 

charged by the USB lead from the computer. (note the window glass has been removed to facilitate

the access to the camera control buttons.)

Y 469 giving to railway station crossover the big eye.

(The leading trolley pole has been removed to utilize the hole to mount the camera

with a M4 screw and nut.)

Now for the fun part, the camera works like a treat stuck on a bogie with Blu tack, but fails to to offer a decent picture when mounted in the Y class. Go figure!

The promising unedited video complete with flaws, stalls and the big hand.

(note to self, clean wheels before running a tram that has not run in 12 months)

More to come, from under the wires,  Glenn

Resuming Services

After a delay in obtaining a new computer, then the bride decided that we needed carpet throughout the house, (including the man cave), services have resumed on Victoria Street. The man cave was used for storage of household stuff for some part of the process, then it received carpet, and now under the threat of '*crippling sanctions', painting of models is now barred there.

Therefore for about a month, not much has happened, a little research for an upcoming rolling stock project, obtaining some more period cars, including a Ute (pick up truck) and horse float.

Which adds to the theatre of the race day traffic at the racecourse end of the layout

From under the wires, Glenn

'*Crippling sanctions'- most married men would be aware what this involves....

Lest We Forget - Anzac Day

The most solemn day on the national calender, Anzac Day (Remembrance/Memorial Day for those outside Australia), is a time of reflection and a to pay respect to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and to those who still perform in active service for the nation to this day.

The Anzac spirit is honoured  on Victoria Street, as a small representation of mid to late 20th century inner suburban Melbourne, it has a small local war memorial as a focal point near the railway and retail strip.

Locals pay respect at the local cenotaph, those who wished to

participate at the dawn service at the shrine in the city, would have

caught the special service trams from the outer routes into the city.

 Ex servicemen participate in the grand Anzac tradition of a quick and not so subtle 

game of "two up" behind the the Victoria Street Gates signal box,

before catching up with fellow 'diggers' at the races, football or for a

quiet beer at the Returned Services League Club.

                                      "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
                                       Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
                                        At the going down of the sun and in the morning
                                                            We will remember them."

'Lest We Forget'

Well done fellas, From under the wires,

Glenn

 

Service Disruption

Due to an incident involving premium European beverages and the good family Japanese laptop computer, (the computer lost ). I will be unable to update the blog with photos as I struggle to mash the screen of this 'smart phone' to compose this message.

I intend to rectify this problem in the near future, thanks for your understanding.

From under the wires and in the dog house. Glenn

Labour day runnings

A few highlights from the Labour Day Holiday

Sending the crowds home from the races

Traffic mayhem after the last

Not much happens elsewhere on a public holiday.

regards Glenn

Footscray Tramways (then and now)

This Victorian Labour Day Weekend (second weekend in March) marks fifty years since the demise of the Footscray Local Tramways, so over the last month or so I have sorted through my collection of historic photos and taken photos of the same scenes recently.

A map of the proposed, as built and as at the time of closure

As the Footscray Local Tramways ended well before I was born, it is only through reading about it, collecting photos, and having pleasant chats with elderly locals, that all this history can come alive.

The layout 'Victoria Street' has been part inspired by this local history, as the first tram model that I adapted is from a Bachmann Brill trolley into the MMTB X1 460 several years ago.

X1 460

So as a tribute to the Footscray Local Tramways I have compiled this video of 'Then and Now'

For more colourful history of the Footscray Tramways

http://www.hawthorntramdepot.org.au/papers/footscray.htm

From under the wires.

Glenn

On the buses

I finally obtained a 1939 Leyland Tiger TS8* single deck bus in green MMTB colours, to compliment and retro date the Victoria Street timeline a few years. I do have in my stable a 1975 Leyland National 10.3* typical of the decade in 'citrus orange' that did limited the layout to the mid 70's to 80's.

Victoria Street circa 1957

Now for a bit of theatre, then and the models

X1 464 and Leyland MMTB 126 in photo,

Footscray depot before 1962

next to

X1 460 and Leyland MMTB 117 in model form,

Footscray kitchen bench 2012

A 1975 Leyland National negotiating the gates

behind SW5 812 (archive collection)

Victoria Street circa 1984

*As I am not a 'bus nut' all information is obtained from the boxes they come in.

From under the wires

Glenn