The Australian Army discovering why the M88A3 exists.

An Australian M1A2 SEPv3 on the prowl during a recent LFX.

Painted up a test print using a rattle can to see how it looks. Very happy with the results.

Thanks! Printing in 1:48. Don’t want to burn through too much resin.

3D design of the GDLS Griffin III, created in Fusion. Drawn 1:24 scale.

Griffin III running gear & hull section. Road wheels, idler, & T161 track are all pulled from a Bradley. Modelled for a single-piece print per side.

Parts scaled, fit, & supported in the slicing software, ready for printing.

Test fit of the running gear on the hull. Green parts are dry-fit from the paint mules.

Designing & printing a desktop rendition of the GDLS Griffin III 50mm IFV demonstrator exhibited at the annual Association of the US Army conference in DC in 2018.

The Australian Army’s new F9 sidearm weapon system in the hands of soldiers of 8/9 RAR. This is the first large-scale issue of a military pistol fitted as standard with a red dot optic & white light.

The only thing more Japanese than a 1:1 giant robot is a 1:1 giant robot in the snow!

87式偵察警戒車 - the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force’s 6x6 reconnaissance vehicle as a 1:16 scale “scratch print” end of year project. Using a 1:35 kit as a model, the prints are designed in Fusion, with an overall length of 375mm/14.7”.

M1A2 SEP v3 arrive at 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 3 Brigade, Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, Queensland.

2025 project is increasingly looking like the 87式偵察警戒車 or Type 87 Reconnaissance Combat Vehicle.
My annual projects incorporate these criteria:
🔵1:16 scale
🔵Armoured vehicle
🔵Australian, mid-1990’s +
A Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Type 87 isn’t Australian, but could be the change I need!

Flying to Kitakyushu, then bouncing back to Tokyo via Hiroshima, Kyoto, Matsumoto, & Yamanashi via Shinkansen & JR East facilitated squeezing a lot into a little.

Nothing like a quick side quest to Japan to clear the head.

Try “S’am” for those wanting to cover all their bases?

More or less.

Australian Abrams operating in Indonesia, again.
Moving heavy armour around the region is vital to building the organisational muscle memory to do so, whilst refreshing our partnerships.

Down to the last 10% of the hull. May actually get this one done before Christmas!

Australia’s new Abrams making their way northwards to their new home.

Some model geekery - Canberra’s annual model show, Scale ACT, is occurring this weekend.
Huge turnout! The new venue has made the event very family friendly. Now the biggest show in Australia.

No, static only.

A bit more progress. As always, the last 10% seems to take 80% of the time!

Having taken the rest of the week off, it’s time to get some paint on my 1/16 Australian M1A2 SEP v3.
Designing, printing, & fitting the Under Armo(u)r Auxiliary Power Unit to the tank was more work than it should’ve been!

Think high rate of fire M203/320

Babe - wake up! Fresh official pics of Australia’s new SEPv3 have dropped!

“Ticket please, sir”

MARS/Barrett Squad Support Rifle System, a 5-round 30mm direct fire support weapon. Interesting concept.

XM250 6.8x51mm Next Generation Squad Weapon - first time in Australia.

Other rounds are:
-XM1186 General Purpose Combat Round (GPCR)
-XM1192 Blank ammunition
-XM1194 Drill Dummy, Inert (DDI)

The Special Purpose round is in development. No word yet on tracer.

plus.shephardmedia.com/analysis/decis…
2/

Open-source confirmation regarding the performance of 6.8mm XM1188 reduced range ammunition.
-113gr flat-base solid copper projectile
-800m rapid velocity decrease due to flat base
-same high pressure, same high velocity, & two-piece hybrid case as GPR
-fits within 5.56mm SDZ 1/

Next Generation Squad Weapon continues testing in support of its roll out, this time w/1st Squadron - Airborne, 40th Cavalry Regiment during cold weather testing in Alaska.

📸 US Army via LinkedIn.