The final days of a near-century-old World War I German tank could be partially relived through advanced 3D technology, thanks to research conducted by a Queensland scientist.

German tank Mephisto, which fought its first battle nearly 98 years ago, has been on loan to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra from the Queensland Museum since last year, where it will remain until mid-2017.

Mephisto is on loan to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Credit:Karleen Minney

It was the last surviving original German A7V tank and was captured by Australian troops in 1918, when it was found abandoned at Monument Wood, near Villers-Bretonneux in France.

Mephisto was brought back to Queensland as a war trophy and had been on display at the Queensland Museum for about 70 years.