I’m in the process of fabricating a Video Camera Car. The “platform” will be a 3/16" plexiglas sheet with a recess in the centre to hold the camera. I want to keep the vibration and sway to a minimum and am think of using spring load trucks but don’t think that will be enough to kill all the vibration. Does anyone have any ideas or am I "over engineering this?
Fergie
If your trackwork is smooth, the weight of the camera should prevent vibration and swaying, but if your trackwork is imperfect the camera will detect bad spots very quickly.
You should certainly do all you can to minimize the vibration and/or sway. Using long wheelbase 4-wheel equalized trucks should help. I’d also think a three point truck mounting would help. And, as mentioned earlier, smooth trackwork is important.
After you’ve got the video, maybe something along these post-production lines:
http://www.videoforums.co.uk/general-software-problems/17628-reduce-image-vibration.html
Ed
I’m going to go off the deep end here with a suggestion.
If you can find some wheels with large flanges (we call them the old pizza cutter wheels), then see if you can find some rubber traction tires. Maybe from N scale. And put them on the pizza cutter wheels, and put the wheels in the trucks. This may help reduce any vibration.
I wouldn’t worry about either. Try running a video to see how it goes.A little sway won’t hurt anything and the vibration will be minimum. Just put the camera on a few layers of cloth and vibrations will be nill.
Thank You guys as you all have given me plenty to think about. I’d like to think my track work is “Class A” as I’ve spent hours on it trying to make sure it is level, straight and bump free. going through the Walther’s Catalogue I think three axle trucks and the use of dampening material between camera and cradle will be the answer, I may even use light springs dampen load on the trucks. Pics to follow.
Fergie
Fergie, I really wouldn’t worry about that much, unless you’re really not happy with the actual results as you watch the vidio.
We run cameras at times and project the images for visitors to watch during shows. Actually some slight sway and other movement gives the feel as if you are in the cab. You should be more concerned about any transmision issues or interferance that may affect the quality of the pics.
I think that you’re worrying excessively. [swg] I created the short video shown below to illustrate the effects of superelevation (jury’s still out on the success of that [:-^]) using a cheap and very simple Kodak digital camera. While the focus isn’t especially good, the vibration is minimal (at least until the camera clips that last lineside sign [banghead]), all in all not too bad for a first attempt and with less-than-optimal equipment. The camera was simply sitting on a flat car, and was connected to an AC adapter - I walked alongside, throttle in one hand and AC cable in the other.
Wayne