This is nuts | Model railroad locos and rolling stock | Model Railroad Hobbyist | MRH

mrhmag.com - Model Railroad Hobbyist Ken Patterson's modeling buddies got a crazy streak and started putting together modules out in Ken's sloping back yard in an attempt to get a platform to run trains and photograph them with an outdoor backdrop. Watch as they use lawn chairs, pieces of wood - whatever they can find to jerry-rig support for the modules. Did they succeed? Watch and see for yourself. Video is part of the September 2013 issue of Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine.

[@jasonsmith6408]

just can't get over how realistic it looks in natural light

[@bunkydon]

+Jason Smith oh yeahhh.... so real :P

[@briancritchley498]

Three very cool men, they are into a hobby & it gives them friendship and happiness..

[@JeffDM]

It all looked good, but it's the sunset shot at the end that really makes the work shine.

[@ohioken1]

Love seeing these trains in natural light. Looks like a lot of work, but fun!

[@BJ-cf2ib]

The detail on the bridge is what gets me. Graffiti and an old truss bridge that sit below it. That is awesome.

[@grandamstudios]

With some of those angles I couldn't even tell it was only a model! Amazing quality!

[@sotxbob]

this is cool... never thought I'd ever see a train load of Pacers and Gremlins again. LoL

[@jasonsmith6408]

Outstanding scene with the passenger car and sunset! ! great job

[@switcher450]

The results are jaw dropping... specially that sunset scene at the end. Great work guys !

[@dennythomas8887]

You know there are more Gremlins and Pacers on the train than there are on the road today...lol The trains and the modeling are the best I've ever seen, fantastic work guys f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c!

[@caelanreeves9760]

That last shot looked really realistic actually

[@sonnydean1617]

Fantastic job! Had I not watched the video from the beginning, I'd swear I was watching a real set of MoPac Units rounded that bend. As military modeler myself, I really appreciate the effort and fine detail you rail modelers put into your work. You guys make all us modeler's proud! :-)

[@aidenthayer4278]

When it whent over the bridge I was stunned on how real it looked

[@davidallen6333]

In the right lighting and camera angles looks very realistic , great job !

[@TheSlipCoach]

I agree, the sunset shot is the cherry on the topping!

[@johnwhite6753]

What is it in the human mind that makes it so fun to see life in miniature? I do some modeling, wooden ships and tanks and stuff, and the first thing I do is hold it at eye level, one eye closed, and pretend it's sailing the seas or rumbling along. So it was when I was a kid, so it is as I near 64. Great job guys.

[@disturbed1954]

Love it when a plan comes together! Truly amazing work of art!!!

[@teresababe87]

Good looking modules and rolling stock to start with, but add in the real backdrop and natural lighting and Wow!!! Nice work.

[@mike59317]

Very well done, the natural sun light makes the lay out look real. Congratulations to all involved in this vid. Cheers.

[@eligebrown8998]

way to cool. great video. thanks for sharing. I cant believe how real it looks even with the close up.

[@RailFanRick]

This video goes to show you, when you want to have fun with friends doing the hobby you love you will find a way to make it happen,,,,,Great Video Guy's!

[@HugsBach]

Nothing beats natural light. Excellent video of the model Railroading equipment. These models used, seemingly were more realistic to me. Loved it all!

[@richardgordon8110]

GUYS. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL LOCOS AND CONSISTS.

[@BossSpringsteen69]

As a professional railroader and railnut i give you guys a WOW! Realistic.

[@rugmanal]

I traveled from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles on a train when I was young. What an adventure .

[@davewing5288]

Damn....that first run by looks so real its insane.

[@michaelglass4701]

David Wing , it does look real, that's the magic of Model Railroad

[@gertvelthuizen4462]

You guys truly are nuts, but what great way to show it!!

[@michaelirons5553]

With the natural lighting on the beautiful scenery it looks too realistic.

[@brainsironically]

Pacers, Gremlins, Mavericks, Ford station wagons. That train came straight from 1980! Nice vid. Really loved watching the guys set up the track; that's dedication!

[@charlessagler20]

Brains Ironically -The wagons and sedans behind the Gremlins and Pacers are Chevrolet Caprices and Impalas

[@mixtec53]

7 years ago...? Simply awesome!!!

[@joep4235]

Pacers and Gremlins... how awesome is that!

[@robk1310]

I counted 28 AMC Pacers on there. Damn!!! Talk about having flashbacks to the 1970's.

[@supergoober1021]

Beautiful work! And OMG!! All those Gremlins and Pacers are just too funny!! Well played! They’ll make it just a little easier to convince people it’s a model. Damn fine job!

[@CSXT8482]

That's insanely real looking.

[@petelinster7093]

I'm not a railroader or a hobbyist. I'm Just a guy that does a Christmas village everywhere. I had an N gauge train when I was a boy. So I can appreciate this. And I am impressed with this addiction to Railroading. It was cool to see all those old AMC Gremlins on the car carrier etc.. So cool to see 3 old kids having fun. Thanks for sharing. Check out Linsterville 2013 for some Christmas fun.

[@bh.rippleeffect]

Very well done! Excellent! Miniatures in natural settings are like the 8th Wonder of the World

[@trainman7616]

I just love the frisco model. Its stunningly beautiful

[@markjolyn94]

Great video! Those engines were great not to mention the Zephyr cars,amazing. It's mine and my wife's favorite passenger train. Thank you for all the effort that went into this video

[@hntrains2]

It is nuts because those engines are uber-cool!

[@skeetjeffcitysub86]

Alot of hard work but it all came together! Now that's nuts!! Great work guys!!

[@gretel013]

Very well done all around. Class act guys. Scenery and the electric poles very realistic, even more so with the real scenery backdrop. Liked very much. Thanks.

[@baldgamer305]

I love the very last shot of the sunrise/Sunset the Best ..Awesome guys.

[@danielwatson8931]

The shots going over the bridge look so real to true scale. I imagined if they actually recorded sound of a real train with the low vibrating sound of the engine, the deep brash Metal contact of the cars on the track and overlay that sound onto those video shots, people might actually believe it's the real deal. Very cool.

[@freeamericausa1]

Amazing what Imagination, and a return to childhood can bring to life. Terrific idea. Glad to see it worked so well. That view down across the horizon was terrific. ROLL ON.

[@lynneferencik1378]

Very nice, love the workmanship

[@davidliverett5781]

I have to say, I don't like passenger trains, but that last scene with the sunset in the background, wow!! Absolutely amazing!!!

[@YouSimon1000]

Thank you for going nuts. Everything looked fantastic!

[@music100vid]

That worked out nice guys. The sunset shot was was especially cool.

[@bliesberg]

Awesome shot of the Zephyr going into the sunset!

[@bigeasy2595]

If I hadn't seen the beginning I would have thought it was a real train great job awesome detail

[@oldgittarist]

Honey, I've shrunk the Pacer....Superb modelling and ingenuity guys!

[@johncourtney3235]

Loved this video, brings back the old days of working on setups w my dad.

[@Tomeleck]

Fantastic! Great shots. The only thing missing here is a blast of steam exhaust from the steam locomotive. The final sunrise/sunset shot of the observation car is really quite beautiful.

[@bazilmatthews9299]

Makes for some great photography and show off the scenery work so much better

[@lasalleman]

Incredible detail. Well done.

[@WaybackTECH]

Now I know where all the Gremlins and Pacers in the world went! amazing how nice this looks outdoors.

[@curraheewolf]

Awesome!! Happy railroading!!!!!

[@BNforever2009]

I thought it was nuts too but the natural lighting is worth it--so real!!!

[@kamikazeyamamoto4545]

Amazing! Lots of Gremlins, Hornets and Pacers on their way to AMC dealerships, circa 1970-1979 (year these particular cars were in prodyction).

[@jimmygt4]

gremlins, pacers, family trucksters, doesn't get any better. mission accomplished.

[@muddtrack6969]

WELL DONE OUTSIDE! NICE VIEW! LOT OF GOOD DETAILED WORK ! FROM A HO BUILDER, 50 YEARS !

[@JohnnyClavin]

So cool to see all the American Motors Cars. Pacres ! Gremlins ! Far Out Man !

[@moonspots01]

Outside with the natural lighting really makes it seem real. Nice.

[@nigelhill74]

Great shots! Nice work.

[@elbrio69]

Train videos

[@josziHH]

indeed a crazy setup on the sloping back yard, but looks great with the natural backround and sunlifght. Awesome sunrise at 8:11.

[@ModelerManMike]

Ken, you guys always have such entertaining video's. Wish I had some great looking area like you guys do to shoot some video. Maybe some day! Thanks for sharing!

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

That was very cool. Glad the chairs held out. Fun video too.

[@walkerbelle]

Nuts for sure but, a very cool setup indeed! Excellent job gentlemen.

[@MrKabDrivr]

Ha! Pacers, Gremlins, Matadors, Javelins... The Curbmasters are a nice touch, too! Pretty nifty! Excellent looking layout, and clever way of displaying it against a natural setting... Thanks for sharing!

[@ianisaacs2340]

Wow you guys are braver than I! ABSOLUTELY AWESOME JOB!!! Never saw more realistic trains or scenery, keep up the beautiful work. 👍

[@jlwii2000]

the last shot looked very nice.

[@ZetaRanger79]

I salute the craziness; it's simply, to borrow a phrase from Buzz Lightyear, 'falling with style'. And it works, so execution is a success - blood pressure and heart rate notwithstanding. The modeling is excellent, and nothing allows that to shine more than natural lighting. Great, fun work - with a touch of an Evel Knievel way of doing things. I'll raise a toast to that!

[@trains5570]

Totally amazing work!!! Great video!!

[@jamesbaker7493]

I like the Pacers and Gremlins....Awesome.

[@rubber20021]

Ingenuity to get going, I like that a lot.... thanks for showing.

[@espeescotty]

Amazing models, both the modules and the trains. 1522 looked so good I was expecting the fireman to give us a wave too!

[@WigWagWorkshop]

Amazing! This was a lot of fun to watch

[@MrPartyExpert]

This is amazing... If I didn't know better it looks like it could be real.

[@InvertLogic]

putting layout in sunlight is like giving it life. I love the way it makes you feel real. I will also try to put my small N scale layout and see what difference it makes in lighting.

[@rockywood6928]

Lovin the 1522 and awesome shots.

[@jasonkarriker3134]

So many Pacers! :) Great work.

[@jeffreyroy9123]

looks so real

[@ZanesTrains1972]

So glad it did not fail great run by.

[@KauaiSeeHorse4]

WAY to GO guys. Luv'ed it.

[@saqibajaz5865]

You guys are brilliant

[@jrcbfun]

very very well done. detail is awsome ..great job

[@hovermotion]

At first i thought these guys are bonkers but it Looks so good in natural light so real, love the end clip in the sun set.......jim

[@jimsulkosky5188]

Looks nice outside looks real

[@jonsearles3270]

Great stuff. There was a guy who used to contribute to "The Magic of Model Railroading" back in the 1990's. I don't remember his name, but he was from St. Louis and used all brass models shot outdoors.

[@Landaux]

Great details!

[@willie92441]

OH MAN THIS GREAT, SOME ONE FINALLY SET UP H-O SCALE TRAINS OUTDOORS ON MODULES. I COULD IMAGINE RUNNING 20 CAR, PASSENGER TRAINS AND 70 CAR FREIGHTS. THAT ONCE PLY THE PENNSYSLVANIA RAILROAD BETWEEN NEWARK AND LINDEN N.J. IN THE 1950s and 1960s. And I have the space in my flat backyard. Guy's you gave me some damn great ideas. I ALWAYS KNEW THIS CAN BE DONE, NICE WEATHER FOR THE WHOLE WEEK AND YOU CAN HAVE FUN .

[@r.a.monigold9789]

That's more Gremlins than AMC ever made - THAT'S how real it looks! Nice! Safe? Nuts? Always go with "This is nuts" Thanks for sharing...

[@mattcastrains416]

That 1522 model is gorgeous.

[@RailTime1786]

wow layout perched perfectly over the edge.

[@arnabmajumder1658]

Sye Rail hey ,if anyone else wants to learn about building a model railroad try Panlarko Amazing Railroad Planner (do a search on google ) ? Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my friend got amazing success with it.

[@rebel6910]

great work guys.

[@nscalefun]

AWESOME!!!!! Thank you for your hard work on setting up outside for filming. Keep up the good work.

[@velocityinstereo]

Love that rotary light on the lead unit.

[@pennsy6000]

Great job guys! Awesome!

[@texasfossilguy]

great detail with the old wooden posts still in the ground. I just saw one like that yesterday walking alongside the tracks in my area.

[@brianwilliams9706]

That's very impressive, well done! Maybe its about time to re-assemble the unit and film it in 4K!!!