After knocking my noggin one time too often on the shelf above the narrow 'along the wall' segment of my empire I've decided that a periscope would allow me to look down on the work site with my head over the aisleway. I wonder if anyone has tried anything similar.
'Scribbled on an envelope' concept calls for two mirrors at opposite ends of a rectangular box, with a viewport above the smaller one (which will have lamps baffled from view on each side.) The other mirror will be rather larger and the adjacent port will be the full width of the box and about eight inches along the axis. I figure a box with internal dimensions 6x12x20 should meet my simple needs. Still to be determined - the best way to support it above the worksite so I can get under it with spiking pliers.
Of course, if I hadn't ended up hand-laying a turnout in a hole I probably wouldn't need such a tool.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - eventually)
How to make a Periscope youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVaR16Kov8s.
Even shows you how to make a periscope helmet with lights.
You could always hang a video camera up pointing down at the work and watch what your doing on the TV. Surgeons have been doing surgery this way for a number of years now, so it should be a breeze for Model Railroaders as we are even more talented.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Brent,
After having Bladder Cancer Surgery in 1999 and the DOC. at the VA Hospital sticking this tiny camera in the part that stuff is supposed to come out, not in and Him saying, ''see this is the Cancer cells'' Look here at the color monitor, I will definately pass on the camera, idea.
He told me, that doesn't hurt. Well I told Him, let me strap you in this chair and play with the camera, then see what you will say. Legal torture!
When I finally had the surgery, I could not feel anything below the waist, for six hours.
Now back to trains and periscopes.
Frank
When I saw the title of the thread I immediately thought of submarines. I couldn't fathom (pardon the pun) how submarines could relate to model railroading, except perhaps as part of a port scene.
Now I understand.
One of the most intriguing models I have ever seen was done by the now retired owner of Aurora Hobbies. It was a submarine under water with only the periscope showing on the surface. The wake from the periscope and the waves were done superbly, but of course there wasn't anything below the surface of the water to see because the water was opaque.
It was both frustrating and captivating at the same time. It was like being given a one scoup ice cream cone when you really were hoping for three scoups.
Sorry - my bad!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Frank:
What do you expect them to say? "This will really hurt!"?
It's not good advertizing for the clinics when they have a lot of patients running out the front door in hospital gowns screaming at the top of their lungs.
It's all about marketing - tell the poor sob's what they want to hear.
That reminds me, unfortunatley, that I am due for a colonoscapy this year. Heck of a way to celebrate turning 60! Oh well, how many times in your life do you have attractive women telling you its OK to pass gas!
Sorry again -
Chuck:
I figured that after hijacking your thread with my corny jokes I should try to contribute something meaningful.
If I understand your predicament correctly you want to be able to see down onto track which is hidden out of view. If you are able to get your head into the space between the levels of your layout to see the hidden track then I don't see why a periscope is necessary. I am thinking that a single mirror placed on a suitable angle above the hidden track and mounted to the bottom of the upper level would allow you to see what you want to see with a minimum of intrusion into the space so you can reach in to do your work.
The mirror would be placed at approximately 45 degrees to the track you are working on. The angle would depend on whether you are looking straight on or looking up at an angle. It could be held in place by magnets i.e. a few magnets glued to the edges of the mirror and some sort of magnetically attractive strips mounted on the underside of the upper track and the back of the scene. The strips could be removed after the necessary work is done so they don't muck up your background.
The biggest disadvantage to this method vs a periscope is that you will be seeing things in reverse whereas a periscope with two mirrors corrects that problem.
Please tell me what you think, including if you want me to butt out with the off topic jokes.
We used to make those "box tube periscopes" in grade school, from 1/4 inch plywood and two old military steel signaling/shaving metal mirrors, clunky and of limited effect.
Might it be more effective to have several small camera "eyes" located at various fixed (or repositionable) points around your layout, connected to a computer+monitor?
That would give you the capability to view in color, zoom and save images.
Cedarwoodron
Dave, don't worry about the off-topic items. Been there, done that. (Is your proctologist a pretty lady? Mine is a former linebacker with a beard...)
I've tried the single mirror - and don't like it. My simple mind just doesn't compensate for the reversal of motion.
Considering that a cheap camera and monitor would probably cost about the same as time, tools and materials for a periscope with a decent field of view, I'm going to call that the winner. I've been meaning to get one anyway, to install over one puzzle palace in the netherworld that will be hard to see once the landforms (with access hatches) are built over it.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
My Railroad
My Youtube:
Graff´s channel
hon30critterThat reminds me, unfortunatley, that I am due for a colonoscapy this year. Heck of a way to celebrate turning 60!
Yes, and you will be able to see everything on the color monitor in real time!! Been through that twice myself, the hardest part is the prep procedure - but I will not go into details about that.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Dave,
With all due repect, a Colonoscopy is a piece of cake, compared to what I had done. Won't elaborate, it's at the other end. And some discomfort, is a lot different, than real life pain, that you can do absolutely nothing to stop. Legal torture, don't have another name for it. I was told by my Doc. they have a smaller camera now!
Btw: I should mention, that was only for the pre surgery examination, not the surgery. Had a spinal for that.
Chuck,
I'm guessing, a hands free periscope, if possible? Or once set, your hands are free?
Chuck: I would go for the video camera too. You might be able to pick up a survelience camera cheaply somewhere.
Frank: Yeah, doctors tend to underplay the pain and discomfort of a procedure. Like you said, they don't want patients running screaming out of the clinic. My friend had THAT looksee procedure and he said it hurt something fierce. As for the "other end" procedure, I had that once. I don't remember a thing. I don't know if I was awake during the procedure or not (I hope not) but they gave me a drug to erase my memory of the event. I guess what I don't know won't hurt me. No discomfort afterwards. I had one doctor be prefectly honest about the pain of a procedure--a hemmoridoctemy. He said the recovery was one of the most painful recoveries of any surgery(although my friend who had a quadruple bypass would argue that). I fell in love with morphine! Problem was, it came 4 hours apart and lasted only 2 hours. Bummer.
..... Bob
Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here. (Captain Kirk)
I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Adam Savage)
Resistance is not futile--it is voltage divided by current.
Hi Frank:
Sorry, I wasn't trying to dismiss the level of pain you experienced.
I understand your issue with dealing with the reverse view. Heck, I have enough trouble dealing with things I can see straight on!
Perhaps the magnet idea could be used to allow you to quickly install and remove the periscope.
I had no problem by what You said. It's hard to explain some things to others, unless they have experienced them.
I would highly recommend that you don't put off the Colonoscopy, actually it should be in your 50's. The prep is a lot easier than it used to be. I had a very good friend pass away this March 19, from Colon Cancer, they caught it too late, He was 67. My other friend which is also of the latter, said at one time he thought He didn't need it. Now He's standing in line to have it done. You never know!
Take Care!
Just had my fifth colonoscopy. I suggest to the anathesioligist it might be wise to stand to one side of the gurney, not in a diret line with it---comes the puzzled look, and the question Why??
Because I say, there is over 2000 pounds of gas in that tank attached to that hose that has just been shoved up my butt. If the regulator malfunctons, how far do you think this gurney, with me on it, will go?? I would stand to one side.
Any tension in the OR usually dissapates.
herrinchoker
"Has Anybody Built a Periscope?"
I've been looking into it...
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I think it would be rather difficult to hold a periscope steady in one hand and work on something with the other hand -- especially if working in a confined space.