Design

Project Description:
In 1994 I was commissioned to provide concept illustrations for a proposed new high speed tilt train for Queensland Rail. These illustrations were to accompany my client's tender submission for this contract. The tender was successful and in early 1995 I was engaged as styling consultant to ensure design integrity during the development phase of the job which involved my presence on-site for a considerable period. The job entailed liasing with QR direct on a number of design matters. This speeded up the development process and helped to avoid potentially costly delays as alterations and additions could be incorporated with a minimum of rectification.


	Tilt Train Initial shaping The commencement of the full size shaping of the cab front. This facet of the job was undertaken, and successfully completed by a team of only two people, myself and Peter Toomey, a world class modeller with whom I had worked on many diverse projects over a long period. We had suggested that the framework upon which we would build our exterior shapes could be constructed hollow so that the drivers' compartment interior could be modelled simultaneously and give everybody a real feeling of how the finished train would appear and feel.
	Tilt Train taking shape During the development of the cab end a number of changes were necessitated by changing client and engineering requirements which also enabled me to change direction with the styling. Whereas the original concepts of approximately one year earlier were of a more angular design, trends had, by the time it came to build the actual train, shifted sufficiently to encourage the softer, more rounded look that will keep the finished product looking fresher for much longer. Here we see the model, or "plug" as it is referred to in the trade, very near its final configuration. When completed and fully approved by the client, the plug was painted in a high gloss finish in preparation to having moulds taken from it for the manufacture of the fibreglass parts.
	Tilt Train in action My involvement in the development of this projected ended in December 1995 when I submitted several proposals for the colour graphics for the train, one of which is currently applied. It then took a considerable time for the train to actually be built and I followed its progress on a regular basis. In 2001 I finally got to ride on the train when I visited my brother who arranged tickets and treated me to the final chapter in this story. I was also invited to visit the cab and I watched as the speedometer smoothly reached 160 km/hr. I am really proud to have been associated with this project.
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Project Description:
In 1997, Millard Design Australia (Melbourne) was invited by Daewoo to tender on the design and production of a show car based on their Matiz platform. The tender was successful and I was engaged as Chief Designer on the project reporting directly to both the project manager and Daewoo's own design centre in Korea. It was a very tight time schedule but the job was completed on time and whereas the client requirement was only for certain functions of the vehicle to be operable, our vehicle was totally operational and driveable. I had the opportunity to work with an incredibly talented and enthusiastic team of professionals on this job.

Transport Aerodynamics Project
Project Description: Whilst working as design consultant for Transport Aerodynamics, a company engaged in researching road transport fuel efficiency, I was responsible for the design of aerodynamic kits for a number of different brands and models of trucks. The company also manufactured the products and shipped them throughout the country and I developed and illustrated the assembly and fitting manuals. Strict adherence to the fitting instructions is critical since the kits were engineered to cope with increased stress on different areas of the truck structure and which could, if fitted incorrectly, result in damage to the vehicle outside the warranty conditions. Extremely close liaison with the engineering group was necessary on these projects.

	This was the kit designed for the new Freightliner and incorporated an aerodynamic bull bar. I also designed the colour scheme for this vehicle, which took pride of place on the client’s stand at the Melbourne truck show.

	Transport Aerodynamics were approached by the Nissan Race Team to design and manufacture aero kits for the Nissan UD trucks used as race car transporters. The finished product is shown here on delivery outside their workshops.

	One of the kits is shown here on a Mercedes. The range of Mercedes trucks included a number of different size vehicles all of which maintained a strict visual family resemblance and our kits were designed along similar lines to maintain that theme.
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Gilflite Boats Project (Melbourne Australia)





Project Description: Since 1977 I have been consultant to Gilflite and have been, in conjunction with this company’s management, instrumental in the concept design and development of a diverse range of fibreglass products including boats, caravans, spa pools, truck panels and bodies. In the marine field Gilflite ski boats are highly regarded for their quality, style and performance. The latter area, being imperative to the boat's performance dynamics relies on the "below the waterline" hull design created by the company's marine engineers, whilst I am responsible for the visual aesthetics above the waterline. It is always an exciting challenge to design a new model. I have to be aware of international trends and while I may try to incorporate some overseas atmosphere into the project it is essential to produce styling unique to Gilflite. Based on the number of occasions that competitive firms have copied our ideas, I feel we are successful.
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QR Tilt Train Project
Millard Daewoo Project
Transport Aerodynamics
Gilflite Boats