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Military & Defense Models

Combat vehicles, air defense systems, radar, ships, and weapon systems — built to the CAD you release, at a scale that fits the booth and the briefing table.

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The vehicle can't go to every show, the launcher can't sit in a lobby, and a slide deck can't show a procurement officer what's under the armor. KiwiMill builds military and defense models at scales people can walk around, pick up, and understand in seconds — main battle tanks, tactical trucks, air defense systems, radar, ships, and the systems that go inside them. We've spent 60+ years building for defense contractors and program offices: welded aluminum and brass, machined and 3D-printed detail, finishes matched to the real paint spec, and a Pelican or custom case for every model. And in all those years, we have never missed a client's show date.

M1A2 SepV3 Model

81mm Mortar Model

M-SHORAD Model

Coast Guard Cutter Model

Stryker ICVVA1 Model

Water Purification System Diorama

Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) Model

Foxhound 1/12 Scale Military Model

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“It's been wonderful working with you. You're a great team to work with — the first model makers I came across who knew exactly what we needed and could always work within our tight time frame!” — General Dynamics Mission Systems

What defense contractors use models for

Your product weighs 70 tons or flies at Mach 3. Your booth is 20 by 20. That's the problem we solve.

Trade show exhibits

AUSA, Modern Day Marine, SOF Week, Sea-Air-Space — a 1/12 scale vehicle on the table draws the crowd, and shows the variant, the payload, or the interior the full-size unit can't.

Program reviews & customer briefings

A model on the conference table beats a rendering on the wall — for the customer's program office, a congressional visit, or a milestone review where the hardware itself isn't in the room.

Training, lobby & milestone models

Durable training aids, lobby and headquarters displays, and presentation models for contract awards and program milestones — built to be handled, and to last.

Exhibiting at AUSA in October? Most models take 8–14 weeks. Model orders for fall shows realistically close in July — send your CAD and show date now and we'll build the schedule backward from the date.

Military & defense model questions

What program managers and marketing teams ask us before their first project.

How much does a military or defense model cost?

Most KiwiMill projects start around $10,000, with no fixed ceiling — the drivers are size, level of detail, and features like removable armor panels, motorized turrets, lighting, or interactive controls. Send photos or CAD of your system and we'll give you a real number, free.

What kinds of military equipment can you model?

Main battle tanks, tactical and armored vehicles, air defense and missile launchers, radar and communications shelters, ships and cutters, aircraft and helicopters, weapon systems, and full base or site layouts. If it's built from CAD, we can build it in miniature — including the variants and payloads you want shown side by side.

How do you handle proprietary or sensitive data?

We build from the CAD, drawings, and photos you're cleared to release, and we sign your NDA before we see any of it. Much of our defense work never appears in our portfolio for exactly that reason — the projects you can see here are a sample, not the whole list.

How long does a model take to build?

Most models take 8–14 weeks depending on complexity and features. We plan backward from your show or review date — and in 60+ years, we have never missed a client's show date. For AUSA and other fall shows, orders realistically need to land by July.

What scale should we choose?

For ground vehicles, 1/12 scale is the sweet spot: a tank or JLTV fits a table or a shipping case, and it's big enough to show hatches, sights, and interior detail. Larger scales suit working or remote-controlled models, like the 1/8 scale FMTV we built. Ships and site layouts run smaller. Tell us where the model will live and we'll recommend a scale.

Can the model have working features, and will it survive the show circuit?

Yes to both. We build motorized turrets, remote-controlled drive, lighting, removable panels that expose the interior, and interactive displays visitors can operate. Everything is welded aluminum and brass instead of plastic and glue, built to be handled by thousands of visitors and shipped show to show in the Pelican or custom case included with every model.

The vehicle can't go to every show. The model can.

Send us the CAD you can release and your show date — vehicles, launchers, radar, ships, or the whole system.

Request a Quote Call (626) 813-9661

Not ready for a quote? E-mail us — two sentences and a photo is plenty.