British LCM 3 dockside diorama (1/35 scale model)

Scratch built dockside and water WW2 diorama featuring the British Landing Craft Mechanised (LCM 3) by Trumpeter. I built this 1/35 scale model a few months ago and have been working on the diorama on-and-off since then. The dockside was constructed from XPS foam while the water was a combination of aluminum kitchen foil, paint, and gloss gel. The 3D printed figures are sourced from Holden8702.
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0:00 Intro and reference images
1:32 Base and water effects
6:03 Dockside stone wall
13:51 Cargo
17:37 Dockside details
22:33 Figures
27:42 Final images

[@Jan-hx9rw]

Nice. I've been searching for inspiration on painting algae and seaweed at the high water line of a diorama, and this fills the bill exactly. Thanks!

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks - I'm glad it was useful. Oil paints are such a useful tool.

[@johnsampler520]

Outstanding work of art👍, im curently converting an LCM craft into an A.T.C.H with the helepad + huey helecopter sat ontop with full crew, where you have rows of fuel cans i am putting a small tank or amphi vehicle , your videos are helping tremendously especialy how you created the base and water effects, its a long term build in process but a labour of love at the same time.

[@ModelNerd]

Wow, sounds like a great project! Best of luck with it, and thank you for your kind words.

[@Jregidor1961]

Hello Your videos don't seem long to me, they are extremely instructive and for those of us who don't know much about modeling I think they are very helpful. I can only tell you, Master I liked it a lot, I follow you

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you - I appreciate the feedback. It's always hard to know how much to include and how much to edit out :)

[@markedwards4616]

First class diorama, some great tips.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks - glad you enjoyed it

[@robbo1068]

A long time from start to finish but absolutely worth the wait....fantastic job, MN. The whole diorama, the LCM and its contents, the wharf side and figures come together to create a scene of busy work and a time of war. The figures have definitely made the whole scene come to life.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you! It has been a long, long time working on this. Many thanks for your ongoing support.

[@c123bthunderpig]

Awesome dioroma and BIG. The most interesting part of the build we're the materials used for the base and wall, truly amazing creativity resulting in a real world look. You mentioned the Tamiya grey primer - I've always been concerned about a primer being too thick, however, I tried the Tamiya spray can on a spare kit with lots of detail just yesterday and it is perfect. The viscosity is just right and does not interfere with details at all. Thanks for sharing another diorama build. Cheers, Bob in the colonies.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate. Yes, the Tamiya primer is good stuff indeed! For some models (mainly tanks) I might use regular car primer because it's cheaper, but for anything where you really want to preserve the details, the Tamiya stuff is the way to go.

[@johnblessing2642]

Outstanding job, really looks good.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you John

[@greybeardmodels]

Excellent diorama, and great tips for sourcing the Navy figures - I'm surprised no one (Like Miniart or ICM) has come out with a set of Naval Figures. Thanks for sharing the tips in the video, I'll be trying some of them soon. Cheers Bob 👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Bob. Yes, I was surprised by the lack of figures when I started looking too. I suppose their use in 1/35 scale would be fairly limited - but with several LCM and LCA kits available, you'd think we'd at least have a couple of sets.

[@BobbyG-bp9xr]

Hiya Gary! 😁 Glad to see you back ( I've missed you!) and glad you had a nice holiday (apart from the sinus thing!) So looking forward to the Delta 2 and also the icm Ju-88 P1, been looking out for it in my nearest model shop for a while now. And I'm not watching any other reviews until I've seen yours first! Congrats on the 15000 subs too mate, absolutely fantastic and well deserved too. 👏 👍 So wanted to message you last week when it popped over the 15k but couldn't!😂 Lovely gift from Gaahleri too, and again , well deserved. Its so lovely to see you back and listen to your plans and schedule. Take care mate, and please don't wear yourself out! Best wishes and regards Bobby

[@kevinbloor9102]

Excellent as always

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Kevin

[@douglasstreet7304]

THAT is fabulous. Don't fret, many of us struggle with painting figures.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you!

[@rutgaurxi7314]

Nicely done, I'm a little surprised that Royal Navy models aren't more widely available.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you. Yes, it's a shame. A set of figures packed into an LCA, or crew preparing an LCM, plus the actual crews themselves controlling the vessels, would be nice. I mean, if we have cheese sellers and waiters, surely we can have RN figures...

[@allanrichards3752]

That really works and looks top notch

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Allan - much appreciated

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Very nicely done Sir. Looks great.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you very much :)

[@marccxxshammer6643]

Great work

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate

[@organicpaul]

Great job!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Paul

[@paulsmodels]

This came out really nice! Good job!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you! :)

[@JuergenGDB]

Excellent diorama, well done, and looks lifelike. Learned some new techniques I had never seen before.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate - I'm glad it was useful.

[@petermoscone3115]

well done...looking forward to more of your work 👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate

[@philRminiatures]

WOW, truly superb...with most impressive details!😍😍👍👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@BrushQuill]

This came out looking really nice mate. Lovely work

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate - I appreciate your support

[@SerbanChiribau]

Awesome! 👌

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate

[@johntreloar8203]

Nice work Stu, it turned out great.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you John - much appreciated

[@kba3039]

Fantastic build Stu😊

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you - much appreciated :)

[@krzysztofg.3667]

Great diorama and very good video. I like your paintwork, especially on the dock side wall ("even better than the real thing":-). Greetings

[@ModelNerd]

Many thanks!

[@ModelMinutes]

That is one great looking diorama!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Matt - much appreciated!

[@calumclark1719]

That is absolutely outstanding and i think the best i have seen, little touches like the fendering on the pier and the ladder being outwith the pier is actually how it is always done the bollards its all great. A small hand crank crane is the only thing that could have been added as that's what was used on the old finger piers they used for loading but it isnt a miss. Outstanding stuff

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate - much appreciated. Thanks for watching!

[@RichardScovell-xz5nb]

Fabulous..thanks

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you - and thanks for watching!

[@davegiles2344]

Really nice build 👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks :)

[@paulhennessy5627]

As always, a wonderfully executed and inspirational build. ❤ Another idea forthe tarp would be a 50/50 mix of acrylic paint and pva. Paint on to a non absorbent surface. Once dry simply peel off and cut to shape/size.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you, Paul. The funny thing is, I've tried the paint and PVA mix before (and found it works really well) - I just completely forgot about it until you posted your comment! :)

[@greg8938]

Nice work Stu 👍🏻

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Greg

[@detlevwalter7495]

Very well done 👍. Great idea 💡 with the net. Great figures

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks!

[@user-id6tf9nx6g]

Brilliant, loved it Mike Bristol UK

[@playram2802]

Очень симпатичная работа!👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks!

[@goforitpainting]

Looks cool. 👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you :)

[@robertwagner2363]

Cool Dude I like it!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate!

[@hansdijkstra5814]

Great build. Very nice diorama (as always lol). 👍 The guy handeling the Jerry can should be sent to the front though. That is not the way to handle those. 🤣

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks. Hehe, yeah, I know - I need to get into customising my own figures. It's frustrating sometimes trying to make a scene fit a pose, rather than the other way around.

[@steve1315]

Good work sir 👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Steve

[@MikeUSA67]

Awesome result, mate, something to be really proud of! I don't want to niggle, but I do it anyway: if that is a boarding plank, then it is hellishly steep, isn't it? 🙂

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you. Yes, it is :) And that's after I cut the dock wall down a couple of inches!

[@MikeUSA67]

@@ModelNerd Maybe there is a massive tidal range in that part of your country 🤣😂

[@KGmodels]

That is s huge diorama! The dock Looks great and the figures fit perfectely! The Ardennes diorama will definitely look great once you finish it (whenever it will be :) and I know something about huge dioramas as my brother has started one for his Sherman which is absolutely huge! Anyways,great work Stu!

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate! Yes, the Ardennes one will take a while :)

[@jeremynorman1330]

The ''light blue piece '' is a collar.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks. I thought it might have a fancier name! :)

[@crasher303]

Very atmospheric & Great looking dock wall. Glad I was not in that working party, hand balling Jerry cans. Matelots No 3's Europe uniform was very dark Navy blue surge, no white fronts, a navy blue wool jumper instead, & no light blue collar. Some wore Navy blue battle dress, or boiler suits.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks for the info - much appreciated

[@ianstewartbrown5308]

Fantastic diorama, I would have been very disappointed with those figures but you did a good job with them

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you. I did feel the detail was lacking a little bit. Luckily I have another source of 3D printed figures (self-printed) for other projects and those are outstanding. Check out Artejoal on Cults3D or CGTrader. Top notch stuff.

[@billsoo306]

I toss my nitrile gloves after use. Now I'll have to save them to try this out.

[@ModelNerd]

Definitely worth a go!

[@ronaldbyrne3320]

Superb job, gives me some ideas for my own diorama - IF I can find the time to start on it. 😁🤣 Don’t care much for the figures, though. The detail is too soft, especially the facial features, which is why you had a hard time painting the faces more realistically, I believe. Last but not least, I love your dockside wall for its texture and weathering.

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks mate. I think you're right - hopefully the Tamiya and other figures I have for my next diorama will be easier to paint.

[@ronaldbyrne3320]

@@ModelNerd I also struggle with figure painting, especially faces.

[@ljscalemodels526]

Hey Stu fantastic

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you mate!

[@leeroyjenkins7141]

Fantastic as always! How do you glue the latex glove into position? Can you paint directly over the top with vallejo model colours? Any tips for that? 😁

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you. I just glued it down with PVA glue and then painted it directly with the Vallejo.

[@leeroyjenkins7141]

@ModelNerd awesome! Thanks I will try it for one of my models

[@aesotope1592]

Top 👍

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks!

[@steveashforth5097]

Once again, you have presented us, the viewer, with a fantastically inspirational video. I'm learning so many techniques. I just need to implement some of them, Lol! Regarding the 3D printed items. Are the stl's available to purchase from anywhere, or are they all your own designs? I look forward to seeing the next installment.

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Steve, much appreciated. You know, I need to get better at giving credit to my sources for the STLs (and get better at tracking them when I download them, so I can mention them in my videos). In general the STLs are all freely available. I typically use Cults3D or Thingiverse, occasionally CGTrader. You've actually given me an idea for a short video where I maybe highlight 4 or 5 creators on those sites who make great accessories for modelling. Thanks!

[@steveashforth5097]

@@ModelNerd Thanks for the reply. I think a video regarding 3D accessories etc. would be great as there doesn't seem to be many on KZbin. I usually do a Google search & then end up possibly not buying the best there is out there.

[@rickmoreno6858]

excellent work but you should have printed a ladder from cults

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks. I could have printed a ladder but it's much harder (more print failures) to print in the winter due to the lower temperatures. Plus I had the metal handy :)

[@rickmoreno6858]

@ModelNerd yes you are correct well I really appreciate you replying. Can you tell me how much the figures were total with shipping as I think I may have to get some

[@MVeminor7]

Hi Stu, fantastic build. The dock is the dirtiest thing I've ever seen you paint. Great job. I love the final look!!

[@epicforger12345]

How long does the gel take to dry I have tried Vallejo gloss gel before and find that larger amounts do not dry at all for me

[@ModelNerd]

It find it is dry in 24 hours. Very thick layers may take a bit longer to go clear.

[@user-zw7gp8xb8f]

🤝🎥👍

[@markfergerson2145]

I have to say that I’m not a fan of the aluminum foil as water surface technique. The reflectivity can help especially when painted with lighter blues to simulate blue water, achieving a false sort of transparency. The texture just never seems right to me though, no matter who does it. That nit having been picked, I love this diorama for not being directly combat oriented as is so often the case. As with your airfield and ambulance bus dioramas it tells us of the humdrum majority of the time a soldier spends in service. As in the old saying everyone wants to focus on the moments of terror and bypass the hours of boredom. I mean, I’ve seen some gorgeous convincing tanks firing projectiles, stuff like that, but we can’t survive on pure desserts with no meat and potatoes, right?

[@ModelNerd]

Thanks - I agree, these "every day" scenes are quite interesting to work on. And no problem picking nits :) I think a lot depends on the scale and how rough you want the water to be, but toilet roll and glue has given me the best results so far I think.

[@babylonsburning1]

Not convinced by the figures, I won't be buying them.

[@ModelNerd]

Yes, they're not the sharpest, that's true. Not many ways to get RN figures though, unfortunately.

[@user-id6tf9nx6g]

Brilliant, loved it Mike Bristol UK

[@ModelNerd]

Thank you Mike