Build a REALISTIC Abandoned WWII Bunker DIORAMA - Miniature Model Scenery

How to make a realistic, miniature WW2 D-Day bunker diorama in 1/24 scale (techniques would also work for 1/35 scale military models)
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PATREON: / smolworldworkshop
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Channels Referenced in this Video:
Night Shift:
@NightShiftScaleModels
Boomer Diorama:
@boomerdioramas
Check Out Some of My Tutorials Mentioned in this Video:
Concrete Texture: • How to Make and Paint ...
In this tutorial, I show you how to make a realistic bunker scale model, similar to what you may see on D-Day June 6,1944 in Normandy, France. In actuality, I'm replicating an old, abandoned WWII US Army Base which used to be Coastal Defense Fort throughout WW1 and WW2. I know this bunker looks a lot like the one from the opening scene of Omaha Beach from Saving Private Ryan. But this observation bunker is actually supposed to ba a much smaller observation bunker made in the United States. I built this diorama in 1/24 scale, it could also be built in 1/35 scale to fit your military plastic model kits of soldiers and tanks, etc.
I show you how to make the old, weathered concrete bunkers using pink XPS foam, and a convincing concrete surface texture using mortar mix used in bricklaying. I show you how to weather a concrete surface using washes of ink, as well as acrylic paints, and enamel paints. I show you how to 3D print miniature accessories, as well as how to paint a rusty, chipped, metal finish. I show you how to landscape for your dioramas and model railroad layouts by laying the landforms down with styrofoam, and then coating everything with sculptamold. Then I show you how to cast in paint plaster rocks from the Woodland Scenics Rock Molds. After that, I show you how to make dirt paste for dioramas and scale models, how to make ultra realistic Static Grass, How to make miniature moss, how to make realistic miniature vines and ivy for dollhouses and dioramas. I show you how to paint and weather the bunker to look abandoned, showing its age through moss, rust, mold, and other stains, all replicated using paint. I show you how to use both brush painting techniques, as well as airbrushing, both of which are great for beginner model makers.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:35 Make a WWII Bunker Diorama from Styrofoam
1:59 How to Make a Miniature Staircase
3:05 How to Make XPS Foam Walls
4:15 Seal XPS foam with Black Acrylic Paint
5:08 How to Make a Realistic Concrete Texture
7:32 How to Weather Miniature Concrete with Inks and Acrylic Paint
12:10 3D Print Miniature Details
12:24 How to Paint Rusty Metal with Chipped Paint
13:40 How to Use Chipping Medium
14:35 How to Weather Scale Models with Enamel Washes
16:34 How to Make a Diorama Base
17:17 How to Cast Plaster Rock Molds
18:00 How to Make a Miniature Landscape
18:47 How to Make Terrain with Sculptamold
20:49 Paint Realistic Miniature Rocks
22:30 How to Make Dirt for Dioramas
24:17 How to Make Ultra-Realistic Static Grass
26:29 How to Make Miniature Moss
28:18 How to Make Ivy & Vines for Dollhouses & Dioramas
29:35 How to Make Bushes Using Super Trees
30:45 How to Make a Miniature Ladder
31:12 Final Result!
31:40 Please Support Me On Patreon
Music:
"Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"
@WhiteBatAudio
Song List:
1. Galaxy
2. Fractals
3. Home
4. Empty City
5. Existence
6. 50 Million Year Trip
7. Recovery
8. Edge of Tomorrow
9. Distance

[@blitzsturm5614]

This is so good My german electrician grandfather is happy to remember the good times he had with Americans, british, and canadians. 😊

[@LeonardoMastrogiovanni]

Hope he told you what a mistake it was to vote for fascists, we could really use that kind of education right now in Germany.

[@chemistryofquestionablequa6252]

@@LeonardoMastrogiovannioh yeah, cuz Germany is doing SO well right now…

[@DCrypt1]

​@@LeonardoMastrogiovanni fascists are still far superior to Marxists lol

[@Panzerram]

To young to be a furry man

[@JordanDunaway-gl1wz]

@@Panzerrambro I can be a furry whenever I want I’m like 9 rn

[@batacumba]

The foliage and plants are so impressive. Usually I find that’s where a lot of miniatures don’t look as realistic. Awesome job.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much!! Honestly foliage is one of the most intimidating parts for me, so I’m glad you like the way it turned out!! Thanks again for watching!

[@izzyjones7108]

​@smolworldworkshop you did a fantastic job. I want to make hanging vines/and it's a struggle. I used a thin wire and made individual leaves etc with thin paper..I used colored pencils, markers, and watercolor pencils on each leaf. It was extremely tedious.. yours looks Absolutely amazing and so cool

[@smolworldworkshop]

@izzyjones7108 Thank you so much! I thought about doing that method because my references showed more typical ivy leaf shapes. I really want to give it a try sometime, I just ran out of time for this project. Thanks for watching!

[@izzyjones7108]

@smolworldworkshop you're welcome. You're so talented and I love seeing what u make☆ thanks for showing us!

[@yourlifeisagreatstory]

Ya, great job and video, gained a sub from me.

[@OJAndToothpaste]

The weathering and rust looks amazing, I love the cracks in the concrete

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!! The cracks were super fun to make! Thanks again for watching

[@pkmnmastertash]

Amazing work again! The outdoor photos are just stunning. Anytime a miniature doesn't look like a miniature its always a testament to the creators skill and this is no exception.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much for your kind words!!! I’m so happy you like the way it turned out. Also thanks again for your continued support :)

[@DIYDollhouse84]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@RSpracticalshooting]

without the hand in the thumbnail i wouldn't have known it wasn't real

[@danielcotnoir3363]

You absolutely nailed the concrete work. I grew up around US Army seacoast fortifications, 8 inch disappearing guns, and you created perfection.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!! And that’s awesome, I love visiting old coastal defense forts! Thanks again for watching!

[@phoenixguild8375]

Nightshift is the Bob Ross of miniature painting. The guy is always a blast in his videos. Super pleased to hear his name dropped, been watching his stuff for a while.

[@peterfitzgerald53]

Like a scene from saving private Ryan fantastic diarama

[@Napominis]

One of the best tutorials about scenery i’ve ever seen. Pls keep posting

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!! I’m glad you liked the video! Already have some future projects in mind, thanks again for watching

[@monsterpartywars2018]

Absolutely nailed it! This looks just like the leftover WWII bunkers and gun emplacement in San Francisco and the Marin Headlands.

[@MichalKaczorowski]

Looking great! One note: I recommend cheap spray bottles for spreading alcohol and thin glue.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!! And that’s a great idea, thanks you for sharing that with me!

[@jacdavis]

I've just returned from Normandy after touring the allied beeches and visiting the cemeteries and monuments. Your bunker diorama is awesome and very realistic to those found in France. Excellent video, throughly enjoyed it. 😍👍

[@czerskip]

The result is very convincing, and a great example of how the more layers you add, the better the final look is! 👏

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!! Yes layering is a key factor for building up your effects to create a realistic result. Thanks again for watching!!

[@popofireman1026]

As a military modeller since I was 12 (now almost 47), I must say, this is absolutely stunning work! Thx for the inspiration 😉 Greetings from Belgium.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much for your kind words! I really appreciate it, and thanks for watching :)

[@SoCalCode3]

This is awesome. I always grew up being fascinated with WW2 bunkers/fortifications. I even had dreams of them. Thanks for sharing.

[@Teverell]

I grew up in the South of England where there are numerous WWII bunkers just sitting abandoned, this looked absolutely realistic, especially in the final outdoors shots. I'm not a modeller, but watching your channel and others like it, I am always blown away by how you take foam, sand, paint, plaster and wood and turn it into something that could easily be part of a diorama in a museum or something. Wonderful work!

[@hardtailgang]

Absolutely nailed it. These feel exactly like the forts on the Washington coast that I grew up visiting. I believe running around in these old forts as a kid probably led to aged concrete being one of my all-time favorite textures. Yours is maybe the best I've ever seen, I'll definitely be taking some of these tips into an upcoming Killteam board where I plan to use a lot of concrete textures.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much, you’re too kind! And that’s awesome, I also visited some local coastal defense forts when I was younger and I always had a great time. And that sounds awesome, good luck with your projects!!

[@8yearoldwithagun426]

I've visited the atlantic wall in Jersey, channel islands, off of france, maybe 30 times in my life, and this is genuinely spot on. Everything about this is perfect, it matches everything i've seen.

[@GavTatu]

I'm from Jersey, and yeah, this looks so like the bunkers !

[@gfr2023]

as a geologist I said that your rocks are a masterpiece

[@smolworldworkshop]

Wow thank you very much!!

[@impguardwarhamer]

I live around a lot of these ruins, cant say enough how well you did with the foliage. The painted grass is fantastic, but particularly adding lots of that long brown grass and those dead bushes really sell the piece.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much! I wasn’t sure how to tackle all of the foliage at first, so I’m glad it turned out. Thanks for your kind words and thanks for watching!

[@stephencrawford6082]

I love sculptamold, great product and very versatile. Diomara turned out perfect, fabulous work.

[@shadovanish7435]

Amazing ink wash painting effects on the concrete & rocks; very realistic result! The bunker diorama looks great, & is not so easy to tell it's a model, with the natural background!

[@smolworldworkshop]

Wow thank you very much for all the kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for watching!

[@peshpeshabdulla]

It looks so realistic it fits with the outside!

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!!

[@benjaminphillippe6562]

I've lived on an 65km2 island with over 6000 german ww2 bunkers all my life, I'm suprised by how good this is

[@legomaster7982]

Where is that?

[@CMC440]

man finally i started mine diorama. i using your video over and over again... thanks so much,,, almost 400K views :D

[@fgha223]

Imagine If He Make The Movie With This 🔥

[@user-of2su2wv9f]

The weathering on everything is perfection. Particularly those drums. When I wore younger mans clothes, I moved many of them around. 👌 👍 🎉😊🙏

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!! I’m glad you like the drums, they were lots of fun to paint. Thanks again for watching!

[@miguell.3201]

At first glance, this reminded me of Battery Spencer in San Francisco! Ahhhh.. used to go there with a couple of friends to watch the sunrise/sunset, and chill after our tests whatnot.. Love the video!!

[@wbbartlett]

An incredible job. Looks amazing in the natural light.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much, taking the pictures outside is one of my favorite parts!!

[@GavTatu]

that was amazing ! i live in jersey, we have so many WW2 german bunkers, and although slightly newer than the ones you were copying, it looks just the same.... and the forced perspective pics at the end look legit real ! just what out coast and headlands look like... i am amazed !

[@jkoblivion4175]

Outstanding. Lots of smart details and amazing color scheme.

[@alfredpotts6136]

Lots of useful tips in there, great video! For a chipping effect on metal, I find that after the rust coloured case coat, simply stippling toothpaste on before a spray undercoat works really well. A gentle scrub with warm water and a toothbrush gives a great effect.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!! And that’s a great technique! I’ve used the toothpaste method once when I was painting 1:1 scale props! Lots of fun and thanks for sharing!

[@cheeseburgerrunner5217]

Looks really good man. You may need to bring the static glass closer to the diorama when applying to help the grass stand up taller. It should also have a grounding rod that you touch to the diorama site you’re working on when applying too.

[@josephgreeley5569]

Having spent an inordinate amount of time messing around in the Endicot period forts around the Columbia River mouth in Oregon and Washington State, I congratulate you on a job well done! Very realistic looking. The only thing I would have changed is that almost all the doors that are still there in those forts have places where the metal is rusted through which I think would have been a neat effect to add.

[@CWModelling]

Great work on the concrete and a great looking diorama 👍

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!! That means a lot, your work is absolutely stunning!

[@Sms68]

Mad Skills. Incredible Work

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much!!

[@vascotoys]

This is absolutely incredible work. Thanks for sharing these techniques. This has inspired me!

[@dmmtrck6310]

Amazing model work. So realistic. Even when you photographed the model in the park by the sea it looked as if it was a real structure. Well done.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much! I love taking pictures of my projects outside, it’s one of my favorite parts. Thanks for watching!

[@roberttanguay8532]

Nice build. If you don't have any chipping medium, you can use hairspray for the same results

[@darrenshaw6513]

That is stunning to look at your workmanship. increadable talent.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!!

[@travelerop]

first time seeing your work, and i must say its phenomenal

[@ASLAcademy]

Fantastic detail. Scratches my WW2 history itch.

[@grahamminter3450]

I used to live near one like this on coast of UK and this really looks authentic.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much! Glad to hear it looks authentic! Thanks for watching!

[@brucematthews6417]

Really amazing. The outdoor pics at the end looked like scene sets right out of the Thunderbirds series.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much 😊

[@duanebeyer950]

Looks just like Fort Casey, awesome job. Fort Casey is one of my favorite parks. Living in NY, I don't often get to visit. Last trip was in 2013. Great job and you bough back some great memories.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much! And that sounds awesome, hopefully you’ll get to visit there soon, and I’m glad this brought back memories. Thanks for watching!

[@Mcastavet]

I was thinking the exact same thing! Fort Casey is beautiful (to my eyes, anyway), as is this build. I'd never thought about making a fort model before but this video has inspired me.

[@laurenzolg7506]

D'un réalisme impressionnant ! bravo ! et chapeau !

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much!

[@shroomyk]

Your builds are always STUNNING. Amazing work. Everything always looks so real.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much! I’m glad you liked the video!!

[@ralfe2212]

Without the hand this looks so unreal real!! AWESOME!!

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much 😀

[@user-bu5ld1ni9w]

This diorama is amazing

[@user-wm2jm1nv1x]

Salute to those heroes 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡

[@douglasvitrano]

This looks just like the World War II ones you find around the SanFrancisco area!!

[@thewetpen]

This reminds me of some of the fortifications out here along the Washington coast (Fort Worden, Fort Casey, Cape Disappointment), though I suspect they're probably similar all over the country. Nicely made!

[@Williamday-xg6wp]

It looks great I been to many forts used thru WW11 and you have hit it spot on

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much!!! Glad to hear it looks accurate!

[@davidharlandrousseau]

Outstanding work. Excellent presentation.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much!

[@notta3d]

Amazing. The details are so nice.

[@williamcox6043]

Your rocks look super realistic and I love the ground cover effects and use of color. Beautiful work! 🙂

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!! I’m glad you like the diorama! Thanks for watching

[@russellmary175]

New to the channel--great idea with the filtering technique when using the mortar mix...definitely going to try that one.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much, and welcome to the channel!! Good luck with your projects! I bought a 25lb box of rapid set mortar mix from Home Depot in case you’re looking to buy the same stuff. Thanks for watching!

[@cyberpunkdreams]

Great work. A tip for the scultamold is to mix some paint in with it for when you first apply it, then you don't have to apply a base layer afterwards.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you! And that’s a great tip, thanks for sharing!

[@kandrewneill]

Well done! Reminds me of Ft. Casey and Ft. Worden.

[@CraftyMcCraft]

That mate - looks AWESOME! I have lately started building dioramas myself as well (part of some therapy stuff), heavily inspired by you and a couple of the other big channels on the platform. Thank you for that. :)

[@bobp5356]

Awesome job. The concrete and door finishes look absolutely real. Thanks for the video.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thanks for watching! I’m glad you like the concrete textures! Lots of fun to make!

[@anzaklaynimation]

Supreme level of detail.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!!

[@holsson85]

Amazing work! We have coastal bunkers from WWII where I live and the weathering and look is just spot on!

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much! Glad to hear the weathering looks authentic!

[@agm97ga]

Great job. Thanks for sharing and all of the explanations.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!

[@AlpacaYT40]

Out standing ❤😮

[@darkfactory8082]

Outstanding realism.. I'm trying on some railway model, but not yet close to yours.. Cheers.

[@Sjels17]

Very realistic. Love it

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!

[@nickkohlmann]

Fantastic work!

[@fabg947]

C'est magnifique. Superbe travail. Bravo

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!

[@user-fd3bq9do6k]

凄い😳もはやこれは芸術だね。

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much!

[@cchristner]

It's too bad Hollywood doesn't make movies with practical effects anymore, because you'd have had a job for sure! Really nice scale work, I could see it being used in Guns of Navarone.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I definitely wish that they’d go back to filming practical special effects more frequently as well. Thanks again for watching!

[@ModelNerd]

Great result! The photos taken outside look fantastic.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much! Also I love the LCM 3 diorama you made from the other day. The 3D printed details were awesome, and that idea using the glove for the tarp was brilliant

[@spacecatandthekittens1954]

Amazing project! Even up close it looks like concrete.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!! The mortar mix was a fun technique to try out for the concrete. Thanks for watching

[@michaelwright2298]

Man, this channel is so good, you make creative, fun, and informative videos on dioramas, put in heaps of work into the videos and the dioramas, and still manage to reply to every comment! You are truly amazing and are extremely skilled. You have definitely earned my sub!

[@gruppenfuhrer45]

Absolutely amazing

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!

[@0000syuable]

素晴らしいです！！ 出来の良いジオラマは、上手く描かれた絵画の様なのですねえ！！

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much!

[@rrl4245]

Brilliant work and a great tutorial. Thanks

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you! I’m glad you liked the video!

[@Mark_nobody3]

This could work as a war bunker scene in a movie but all it needs is Hue lighting and sound effects, Great for still frame shots

[@smolworldworkshop]

That would be so cool! Thank you for watching!

[@danphilpott6302]

Outstanding! An inspiration!

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!

[@user-qe2wo6mc4y]

I am a WW2 nerd and I love learning and watching things about WW2 I have a lot of army men and set them on a realistic grass table this would look so cool on my table and had my army men breaching into the bunker and capturing the German soldiers but even if I wanted to build this for my table I wouldn’t have enough time 😢

[@gustavogobette7792]

excellent explanation, extremely educational

[@smolworldworkshop]

Glad to hear that! Thanks for watching!

[@rogerosterberger4627]

Totally awesome. You must have great patience to achieve your level of perfection. I will try some of your techniques in my next endeavor.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much for your kind words! Glad to hear you’re trying out some of the techniques. Good luck with all of you projects and thanks again for watching!

[@chipbrandstetter]

That's insane. Awesome work.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!

[@bugattiveyron8282]

Looks like something you'd see in Normandy in modern time

[@bradcraig6676]

So many great tips and techniques! I too use your cardboard door templates method, it works well with my hand held hot wire cutter. Some day I will get me a proxxon!

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!! And yes the cardboard method is awesome! Hand held hot wires are great too! Thanks for watching :)

[@knallpistolen]

Looks so good, omg you nailed it.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!

[@Alexavior1]

Absolutely amazing dude!

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!

[@naterez1433]

i would really like to see you recreate famous skateboard spots

[@WorldwarIIProductions]

This helped me!

[@motorTranz]

Amazing work as always! Thanks for sharing this!

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thanks for your kind words! I’m glad you liked the video, thanks for watching!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow! Very cool.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!

[@cyberfrank-bx2nv]

wow, amazing work - crafting bro! I d see red skull & friends on this incredible scene any day! so now you know... good show bro

[@fabiorodrigues890]

Fabulous work, just Amazing

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!

[@Austin.Kilgore]

Absolutely love this!! Would love to see some more WWII pieces, or even other wars!

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!! I’ll keep that in mind for future projects!

[@graemeatkinson2138]

Fantastic work! Good enough to be an active bunker diorama actually.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much!!

[@NotMorganFreeman.]

The thumbnail fooled me, as it took a second for the giant hand to register. I love watching these because there are some great techniques that can be applied to any scale.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you very much! I’m so happy that you enjoy these tutorials, and that you think the diorama is realistic. Good luck with all your projects!

[@Ellada0427]

This looks so realistic and amazing, totally mind-blowing! So happy I found this channel in my recommended 😊

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you so much 😀 I’m glad you found my channel too!!

[@marcdaniel8794]

monsieur vous êtes un vrai artiste🥇

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!

[@greenmodeler]

It's magical

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!

[@cggentry]

I don't want to overstep, and you're probably already aware, but PVC primer is very quick and easy to bond poly. The stronger ones can also be used to contour poly, which is nice with multiple layers.

[@Rubbernecker]

Beautiful!!

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!

[@Paulnikon]

Wow! Well done.

[@smolworldworkshop]

Thank you!