Griffon MEPAC in 1/48 Scale: Behind the Scenes of 3D Design

Before taking shape in our workshop, a model is first built on the computer. At Promodels, the development of our 1/48-scale Griffon MEPAC gives us the opportunity to share the various stages of its creation. In this first article, we invite you to explore the work done on the 3D files, with a special focus on the vehicle’s interior layout and its 2R2M mortar.

At a 1/48 scale, the accuracy of a reproduction depends as much on the correctness of the proportions as on the fineness of the details. 3D design allows us to address both of these aspects together, while taking into account the constraints of creating a miniature. Each element must find its place and contribute to the model’s overall coherence.

For this version of the Griffon, we devoted a great deal of effort to the layout of the combat compartment. The open hatches reveal part of it, but we also paid close attention to the elements that will be less visible once the model is assembled.
Seats, mounts, ammunition storage, and equipment arranged around the mortar enhance the reproduction. The digital renderings, which show certain parts of the hull obscured, allow you to better appreciate this work and understand the vehicle’s interior layout.
These details add depth to the model. They also help convey what makes the MEPAC unique within the Griffon family: the integration of an artillery system into a compact space.

The 120-mm 2R2M semi-automatic rifled mortar is the MEPAC’s primary weapon. Its reproduction therefore plays a key role in our development.
Beyond the barrel itself, we have worked on its mount, the components of its mechanical assembly, and its integration into the fighting compartment. The ammunition depicted inside the vehicle is also part of this attention to detail. Viewing the mortar on its own makes it easier to observe details that will later be partially obscured by its surroundings.

The MEPAC, which stands for “Mortier Embarque Pour l’Appui au Contact” is a fire support version of the Griffon developed as part of the SCORPION program by KNDS France, Arquus, and Thales. Intended to gradually replace towed 120-mm mortars, it combines mobility, firepower, and crew protection.
This 24.5-metric-ton 6×6 armored vehicle accommodates four soldiers and carries the 2R2M mortar, supplemented by a 7.62-mm machine gun mounted on a remotely operated turret. Integrated into the ATLAS fire control system, it can rapidly provide support to units in combat and then change positions.
Performance specifications released by the Army include a range of up to 8 km, a transition to firing configuration in less than 30 seconds, and a rate of fire of 12 rounds in 90 seconds. The first vehicle was delivered on December 19, 2024, with an announced target of 54 vehicles by the end of 2028.

The illustrations in this article show our model currently under development. They depict the progress of the 3D design; some details may still change before the final version is released.
In upcoming articles, we’ll move away from the screen to show you close-ups of the interior components and the mortar. You’ll be able to see how the 3D-designed details take shape at 1/48 scale, and then follow the next steps in the model’s construction.
Join us as we bring the 1/48-scale MEPAC Griffon to life, from digital design to the finished model.

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