Since this forum seems to have alot of O27 guys I’m hoping this is the right place to get an O27 question answered!
I would like to buy, at York, the K-Line camera car. If you own one, can you tell me if it will handle 27" curves?
As a bonus question ([:D]), I continue my process of replacing my Lionel O27 switches with K-Line’s but am not fully there yet - do you know if I"ll have motor housing clearance issues?
I bought a K-Line caboose and had to return it cause it wouldn’t handle 27" curves so I thought I would ask first this time.
Walt, I don’t know about that car in particular. But I do take it as a challenge to run the biggest stuff that I can on O27 track, including Lionel switches. Some of the modifications I have done are surprisingly easy. If you want to try something like that, let me know.
Walt, why whouldn’t the caboose handle the 027 curves? Was it hitting the switch housing or was it a problem with the steps on the caboose making the tight radius curve?
I have a friend who bought a K-Line caboose and even though it cleared his 031 curves, it was hitting scenery items that other cars and locos were not hitting. He also thought it was just too big in comparison to his other cars/engines. Fortunately he was able to trade it back.
The 13-inch flat car will be a tight squeeze especially with the Lionel type switches. A friend who had some K-Line streamliners showed me how those were hitting the switch housing on the Lionel switches. And those are close to length to the K-Line flat car. I’ve chopped off the housing on my Lionel switches, but eventually decided I llike the shorter length of the Lionel 027-style passenger cars, even though I will admit the K-Line cars are nicer. For me, size matters and I sold my K-Line streamliners for Lionel ones.
I’m sure if you wanted to make the effort you could probably rebuild the K-Line TV car on a shorter 11-inch Lionel or K-Line type flat car. Looks to me like there’s some “dead space” on the 13-inch K-Line TV car, which is why they have the vehicle sitting in the center of it.
But hey, you’re using the new K-Line switches - so I would imagine this shouldn’t be a problem.
Well, I got some helpful suggestions but I guess O27 guys aren’t the ones buying this car!
brianel: the caboose’s trucks wouldn’t rotate enough to go around 27" curves - just plain ol’ regular tubular track.
I have RK 131/2" passenger cars and they DO negotiate 27" curves, although they don’t clear Lionel 27" switch housings.42", yes. 27", no. I have only replaced 12 of my 36 Lionel 27" switches. For the plans I have for this year’s layout I will still need 3 of the Lionel switches. My passenger train just won’t use that section of trackage.
I think I’ll land up just taking 4 or 5 pieces of 27" tubular track to York with me and see if this car can handle it. The switch motor housing are of lesser concern, but I figured if someone knew then why not ask!
Hey Tom!! That camera would mount nice on an R/C plane, too!! Just kidding, I never thought of putting that on a rail car. Great idea, & starting to snow here! Thanks, John
You know Tom, I believe you (or your wife!) has something there!!!
The K-Line’s MSRP is $250. I bet I can pick up a device like you pictured for that kind of money. It won’t “broadcast” per se, but I bet I can fake out guests.
I care more about “broadcasting” when visitors come than actually seeing it for myself. I just think think the “broadcasting” is a cool new toy that will amaze them for one or two visits to the house. I’m POSITIVE that the nephews and nieces will like broadcasting every year. Maybe I can work in what you do somehow.
At the time, the camera was about $150.00. It has a cable to hook up the the VCR. When you play it thru the VCR you can record it to a video tape and of course it come with software and cable for your comutor.
I think I have seen them for about $100.00. I pick up a 256mg card for it for $10.00 on sale. That gives me about 1 hour of recording time.
Walt, Why not make your own with a pin hole camera and transmitter with a receiver hooked up to a TV and or VCR. One of our club members did this some years ago using a Budd car and it is an extremely popular item with visitors. [:)]
dougdagrump: I did consider building one but my electrical skills are so weak that I figured for once in train-life I’d treat myself and just buy something already made. But, it’s looking like that might be where I’m headed!
Get a flat car that will pass your 027 switches and buy a X-10 camera and receiver for $75 and strap them together (at www.x-10.com). Use 8 AA batteries and holder from Ratshack and you are in business.
The X-10 color tv camera is the same one that K-line uses. But you can order yours with sound for a couple bucks extra.
Here is a link to a picture of my X-10 camera car.
The advantage of a wireless traincam using a battery is that it will not exhibit the video noise (static) that other traincams are susceptible. Those that obtain their power from the 3rd rail will broadcast “static”, each time there is a momentary lack of power… such as when the pickup roller crosses the gap where two pieces of track are joined or through a turnout/switch.
The model below, also has the advantage of capturing your train and railsounds, through its microphone pickup. This really adds to the realism when playing back a video tape of your trains actions on the layout.
Watching the video tape playback of your train traversing your layout in total silence is not as exciting as listening to the trains chuffing sounds, whistle/bell, train announcements, etc. etc.
Thanks for the links! Now that I see one actually put together (thanks Charlie) it doesn’t look that bad. I saw those kits, many are available on ebay, and I started thinking: OK, but the time I buy the kit, get a car (i thought it needed a pickup truck but I guess not since batteries work), buy whatever to mount it, etc etc etc, I came to the conclusion that I should treat myself one time and just buy the car.
I gotta agree with the sound thing stevend - it’s the ONE reason that I wasn’t sold on the K-Line car.
Well, I still don’t know if the K-Line car will run on 27" curves but I learned alot!
Notice that I changed the title to include the ‘some of us do listen’ line.
I have to thank those that encouraged me to make my own car. Stevend: I went with Jerry’s kit - the one that includes sound. I played with it after returning from York and just can’t imagine the terrible mistake I would have made by not getting one with sound!
So often people say things like “it’s a piece of cake to install” and the like. Sometimes I’ve listened and had to get help, so I’ve become leery of that line. But this kit truly IS a piece of cake to install, especially since I’m not concerned about trying to hide it or make the car anything but what it is: a camera toting car!.
