My Liberty Ship Diorama *PICS*

Looking nice and "busy" so far. As far as what to put in the water, what scale is this? Looks like 1/350 to me. I was going to suggest maybe a small harbor tug, which I know there are a bunch of in 1/700 scale ... not sure about 1/350.

Or perhaps some barges loaded with fuel drums or something, tied up on the outboard side? That would be pretty easy to scratchbuild, it's all straight lines.

Looking good so far! I wonder if you saw this pic in your researches? It's from the Naval Armed Guard site:

http://www.armed-guard.com/la040c.jpg

As for inexpensive landing craft, I don't know what resin ones would cost, but for about $17 you can get a Revell USS Montrose kit which includes about 18 small landing craft in 1/375 scale. You could use some of them for deck cargo.Then you can just throw the rest of the kit in the parts box.

Lighter type vessels wouldn't be too hard to scratch build, maybe a fuel barge? How about putting in some floating garbage and such. Harbors were none too clean in those pre EPA days. :)

Fred

I was just sorting through some trash & I came across some landing craft from the Montrose.  They are much too narrow -- even for 1:375 scale.  Even worse of you attempt to scale them for 1:350.  Their tramsom's are also totally bogus.   They are rounded.  The LCVP's transom was a shallow V.  The shape is much more remeniscent of the LCM Mk2. 

You want some interest,  throw in a couple of tugs.   Iron Shipwright makes some very nice ones

and they are relatively inexpensive.   They would make a good first resin kit. 

 Perhaps a yard oiler

That YO would have most likely been Ocean Gray - like most District Craft --- but you could always take a bit of artistic license and throw a bit of dazzle on it