Progress update 3: Rebuilding the Apollo LM in 3D
Jan 22, 2026
It’s finished! After months of modelling, sourcing materials and digging through references, the recreation of the Apollo Lunar Module (LM) is complete and live on my site: Apollo Lunar Module
This final build combines the exterior, descent and ascent stages, tanks, plumbing, wiring, cockpit and landing gear to create one layered 3D model. You can see how the spherical propellant tanks are arranged around the descent engine, how the frames secure the loads, and how the cockpit is configured for visibility and procedures.
Highlights:
Materials and labels: All major surfaces have consistent materials and the cockpit labels and legends are mapped to match the source references.
Systems-first detail: Mechanisms that affect motion or function (e.g. landing gear linkages) are fully modelled, while cosmetic micro-detail is simplified to keep the model readable.
Usability: Color-coded tanks and clear routing help to trace systems.
A note on accuracy:
Online reference coverage is inconsistent, and sources sometimes combine different LM block versions. This model aims to provide a complete systems overview rather than focusing on rivet-counting accuracy. Where documentation is conflicting or missing, proportional fidelity and clarity are prioritized over exact part lineage. It is not 100% one specific LM; it is a carefully reconciled mix, grounded in the available data.
What made this hard:
Missing or inconsistent references. Some assemblies, especially the small mechanical interfaces around the engines, have limited photos or drawings. I cross-checked NASA archives, technical manuals, museum imagery and prior builds, but a few areas required interpretation.
Balancing detail vs. readability: Too much micro-detail can obscure the system. I focused on components that drive function, simplified ornamental parts and maintained the silhouette and interfaces. This trade-off makes the model both navigable and instructive.
If you have followed earlier updates, you will see that the biggest leaps in the final stage were tuning the material, completing the cockpit labels, and adding lighting to make edges and interfaces legible across layers. Where available, dimensions match published measurements; elsewhere, proportions are photo-matched to within a few percent.
What’s next:
I’m considering creating short animations of the landing gear actuation or a poster/infographic explaining a few key parts of the lunar module.
If there is interest, I can produce cutaway renders focusing on specific subsystems, such as the descent engine feed, RCS and environmental control.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy exploring the LM! I welcome any feedback on subsystem details, especially if you have original documentation that I can incorporate.
