@YoHo - Yes, that will be quite the challenge. 3 3/4" Height is pretty tight. The reference to the flat car is the length of the depressed section. I was thinking of mounting the power supply there. More later.
They make em, but they are more for IoT type applications (Internet of Things) so are not going to have the omph to run full windows.
You know, for extra geek factor and challenge, you could go with a Raspberry Pi 2 and throw Ubuntu on it. Those are small, inexpensive and quite capable. There are some videos on YouTube you can check out to see if that's something you'd be interested in. I'd like to do one running Kodi (XBMC) at some point. -Mike
@ SLSF Freak, - I checked out the Raspberry Pi 2. Very nice, small and fascinating. I'll keep it in mind. Still, if I'm going to have full Windows 8 functionality I'll have to go with a: 7"X7" ITX motherboard. sigh.
sorry for my naivety but I don't understand what this computer is for ! do you mean in an HO freight car, or is it G scale ? Again, what is it for ? why is it rolling around the tracks ? Or, is it ? does it get power from the rails via its wheels ?
It is to be a static computer. Building it inside of a railroad car will be fun for me. The power will come from a standard source.
Intel has their system on a stick 2 out with reviewers now and there's the nuc, but neither really offers the tinker's PC building experience.
Ya, you have me there. I think you know where I'm coming from. Yes, I guess, after lots of thought I want: Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 Fully functional system Made / assembled by me Inside of a model railroad car. Hmmm, Drats! Giant mutant Drats! I'm not giving up. Maybe I'll have to scratch build a boxcar from 1"X8". The end panels will be tough. maybe I need to make it more toy like?
Of course, not even a home brew system from the 1990s when it was popular matches the joy of truly building your own in the 70s and 80s.
Please, I'm still in the dark ! I Don't get what a static computer is doing in a train car or engine ! I really don't get it ... You mean an imitation computer in a car ? How ? Why ? I keep seeing a wooden cattle car with the poultry shelves and one whole side gone, and this lit up screen like a flat screen TV...What on earth ? !! I'm totally baffled !! And again, HO, S, O, or G scale ?
I don't think he's putting a screen in a boxcar. If you have a desk job, think about that desk - kind of boring. Flatscreen. Box (computer). Keyboard. Mouse. I'd find it refreshing and interesting to have a boxcar diorama on my desk in place of a boring PC box. I think that's the kind of thing he's after. It's interesting, it's a challenge, and sometimes that's all one needs.
SLSF Freak - You are spot on. Right now I have a big black box to house my computer. My stepdaughter has a very nice looking high end case with all kinds of 'pimped out' feathers including the ability to drive 3 monitors at one time and probably her TV too. Well, all I want to do is swap my black box for a boxcar and maybe a factory. The scale is not important save only that it will likely be 'G' Gauge. I am now thinking that I may position the boxcar in front of a factory or warehouse and position the system board 1/2 in the boxcar and 1/2 in the building along with the other items. I could then vent the air through the roof of the building. I'm designing this in my mind even as I type this at 6:00 in the morning before work. Hmmm, wonder if I will be able to focus at work.
Putting PC innards in assorted interesting "cases" is a hobby unto itself. Most typical is putting modern PC parts into a very retro computer case. Like a current main board in an old Macintosh with a color monitor. Bonus points if you make it a hackintosh.
Once you are no longer constrained solely to the dimensions of the box car, there are a world of possibilities. Since the height really isn't the defining dimension (unless you want the unit upright), you can probably get the diorama into a smaller scale, with buildings, etc. S or O may lend itself better for scenic variety One caveat to keep in mind - accessibility to the innards of the PC.
OOOOOH !! Now I get it !! !!! A train car large enough for a real PC ! ! ! I kept picturing a miniature computer screen in an HO car with its wall gone, rolling past in a club or such..... No ! IT's a way to enhance the otherwise boring look/shape of a PC !!! Finally !!! Great idea.. So car will be like 10- 14-20 inches tall, on static trucks and with couplers at the ends.. I'm thinking now, tank, hopper, caboose, What about a cut-away side of an S4 or an 0-4-0 T....One more (now you've released a monster ! ): Maybe in the front of a steamer, in the smoke box, coming toward you......pilot truck and all, on two rails, tie and ballast...!!
@Everyone - Thanks so much for your contributions to this thread. What I want does not exist. Yes, in theory I could find a 1:12 boxcar that would be big enough for three or four computers and all of their gear. Sigh, that ain't gonna happen. Maybe I could use a 'Raspberry Pi' or something similar but it would still be limited. Maybe I will build a factory from metal or possibly buy a small computer and paint it to look like a large N Scale factory. I'm still open to suggestions / ideas etc. I'll keep you posted.
