T-26 production design

Glad to acknowledge you all that designing of our T-26 light tank is already finished. As new features with regard to the Panzer I Ausf. A we released shortly ago, this our second model enjoys two significant improvements, as you will see through the images below (please click on each one to see it larger):

First of all, a turret hatch can be opened. And secondly, the sprue will include the torso of a tank commander. The figure itself is inspired in several contemporary photos showing Spanish republican tank crews, wherein the vehicle commander used to wear an officer cap. Both turret hatch and crewman features can be understood as our response to feedback received by users.

Also, following the trend started with our Panzer I Ausf. A, this new model has been designed as to be built either the 45mm gun armed "B" version, or the twin turreted "A" version, as shown below:

Minairons Miniatures' T-26 will have around 10 parts --and these include those optionals needed for the "A" version indeed. This way, our second Spanish Civil War tank clearly follows the path we were committed to --no other than producing accurate scale, fast assembly miniatures, sturdy as well as detailed enough to satisfy wargamers' requirements.

These nice tanks are to be sold in box as well, just as the Panzer I Ausf. A. Also, they're to be complimented by a decalsheet too, including national markings for some of the nations that used it.

So, what's going on with us?

Things not always run as smoothly and fast as expected, no matter how much care you put at easing it. So that, sadly, I'm afraid we shall experience some unavoidable delays --nothing to panic about, seriously; but an always annoying issue for a newly born company indeed, because this uses to perceive itself as dramatically needed of a catalogue expansion...

However, while some things seem to inexplicably delay, some others get speed when least we expected them to do so. Such is the case of our re-scaled to 1:100 Panzer I A. Its mold making is advancing fast enough to allow us to present you the very first injection shots of the thing:

As you can see, there are still some injection flaws preventing a correct flow of plastic within the mold, so that the tracks haven't been formed, the hull still shows a gap or the Breda gun seems unfinished. Nothing to worry about, that's normal. First shots are done precisely for detecting such flaws and fixing them before real production starts.

About the plastic colour: Please don't panic! Again, it's just a test shot where the less important thing was choosing a colour for the sprue. Ultimate sprues will show the scary dark grey you all expect...

New Deals in Poland, Germany & France

The Minairons' distributors and retailers net keeps extending --at a slow albeit constant pace. The renowned Martola hobby shop in Poland have recently confirmed their commitment to carry our models as a retailer, for instance; as it has done too Le Lancier Bleu, a gaming shop in France already listing our 1:72 Panzer I Ausf. A in their website.

A third significant deal has been agreed with Heer46 in Germany, so that this firm will become a privileged distributor in their country of Minairons' 1:100 scale range products, as soon as the first model in such scale is released. That should happen this very month of December, or next January perhaps.

Besides, conversations have just started with a hobby shop in Belgium and an Australian distributor. Quite oddly to me though, no distributor in the USA have shown any interest in our fast assembly models so far, apart from the maker Historical Products Company (HPC) --who, quite logically, are showing their main interest in our 1:72 scale models.

First previews of Befehlswagen I B

Happy to be able to show you some first shots on another of the models we're currently designing. This will be Panzer I Ausf. B with Befehlswagen (or command vehicle) option. Here below you can see some renders on how will the command superstructure look, according to our design:

This one will be a mixed resin-plastic model kit, taking some advantage of those plastic parts already designed for our Panzer I Ausf. A; along with a number of totally new parts that are to be produced in resin. Thanks to such combination, you will be able to build either a regular Panzer I Ausf. B or a Befehlswagen command tank.

Panzer I Ausf. B will be released in 1:72^nd scale first, to be re-scaled later into 1:100^th and 1:56^th too.

Some of a Wishlist

I've just created a new page in this blog, quite significantly entitled as Wishlist. It has no other purpose than keeping a provisory register of what our customers and fans would like us to make, while awaiting the complete Wishlist Program we're planning to install in our final website, www.minairons.eu --whose development is about to conclude, thanks to the Gods of Olympus!

Please feel free to check contents of this admittedly primitive Wishlist and make the suggestions you esteem necessary. Naturally, you can also place a submission, if desired.

T-26 design, almost ready

This is the overall look of our T-26 tank after the designing desk. Naturally, it can't be taken as an ultimate model yet, because opinions and suggestions of both mould maker and plastic factory manager must be heard before --and some will likely mean going back to desk. But it allows us to consider the designing work as nearly finished, very close to a (happy) end.

Your thoughts?

Retailers in the USA and Germany

I'm glad to confirm to you all that some new agreements have been reached for allowing Minairons Miniatures models to be fluently spread into a much wider geographical area, beyond that of the distribution deals already announced a few days ago.

Such is the case of Germany for instance, where our 1:72^nd scale range will be found pretty shortly at the well-known BB-Toys shop, while a second company whose name can't be told yet has shown a strong interest in our 1:100^th scale models.

Minairons Miniatures are close to land in the United States too, thanks to an upcoming deal with Historical Products Company (HPC) for carrying our 1:72^nd scale vehicles range, that matches so well with theirs own renowned metal SCW figures.

Some further talking has already started with French, Australian, Italian and Turkish retailers and distributors as well --although none of such possible deals can be confirmed yet. Except for the particular agreement with Caliver Books for an exclusive distribution in the UK by them, no other exclusivity conditions are currently contemplated yet, so that any further request is still welcome.

Please check our current retailers & distributors list on this page.

15mm "Bilbao" Armoured Car first previews

This is one of the very first testing shots of our upcoming "Bilbao" Armoured Car in 1:100^th scale, that have been cast for testing purposes as well as some artwork to be done on them by Rubén Torregrosa of Heresy Brush. Note below the scarce number of parts and the overall neat lines.

Model is expected to enter production into the next two weeks, after some minor issues are ultimately fixed --such as the small holes that should attach the front wheels to their axles, for instance. Here below you can see a complete, 4-sided preview of the model:

Another issue to take a decision about is the machine gun. As a first trial, we chose to oversize it with the aim of testing results. However, I sense it keeps being a better solution to provide for it a regular sized metal MG. Your thoughts?

Announcement of Distribution Deals

I am really happy to announce that Minairons Miniatures has reached an exclusive distribution partnership with Caliver Books - Partizan Press, for this renowned company to become, from now on, our full effect speaker and exclusive distributor in the United Kingdom.

Besides to this, another significant agreement has just been achieved with Waterloo 1815 so that this well-known firm will become a privileged stockist and distributor of Minairons' products in Italy.

There are good news for Irish aficionados too, because a similar deal has already been agreed with The Hobby Den; not to speak about Germany yet, where a widely reputed local trader has just contacted Minairons for our products to be carried by them; as soon as an ultimate agreement is reached, their name will be publicly announced too.

In order to keep all these distributors and stockists conveniently visible and fully at hand of users, I've just created a new provisional blog page to keep track of them, whose name is Where to find us.

Panzer I A: 21% off if pre-ordering now!

Once successfully completed the second injection test, the 1:72nd scale Panzer I A of Minairons Miniatures has been finally approved for production, so that we shall have it available before the end of October.

Our Panzer I A plastic sprue consists of only 10 pieces, 2 of which are alternative turrets --standard as well as "modificado" 20mm Breda gun. Model is available in a 3-sprue box which also includes a decals sheet with national markings for up to 4 early German), Kuomintang Chinese and Nationalist Spanish tanks.

This set is to retail at EUR 18.95 normally, but we offer you to pre-order it now for only EUR 15.00. That is, over 21% off!

Development of our website is experiencing a 1-2 weeks delay, so it cannot be used for pre-ordering yet. However, you can formally pre-order using eBay: just locate it through this link or, alternately, search it by its item no., #271085292713. Of course, this launching promotion is also valid for attendants to Alpha ARES convention (Barcelona, Nov. 10-11), so this offer is valid until Sunday 11^th November 2012 inclusive.

Do not miss the chance --it's a 21% off!

Meet you in Barcelona!

Minairons Miniatures is glad to confirm attendance to the upcoming Barcelona games convention yearly organized by the local club Alpha-ARES under its own name. Such event has become with time not just one of the milestones in every Spanish aficionado's calendar, but the most significant wargaming show in Catalonia too.

This is why, as a Catalan company, we at Minairons Miniatures had long dreamt of this convention as our formal birth date, beyond any cold reasonings about opportunity and so –and finally such will be the case indeed!

This year, the "Alpha-ARES 2012 : Jornades d'estratègia, simulació i miniatures" convention will be held on 10^th – 11^th November, at the Cotxeres de Sants civic centre & conventions hall as usual. As told, we are glad to publicly confirm our attendance there –with a pretty small stand, such as admittedly corresponding to a newly born firm... There you'll be able not only to meet us and chat about future plans, but also to purchase our very first 1/72^nd scale Panzer I Ausf. A boxes, as well as to have a taste on our upcoming first 15mm AFVs –or even to acquire them too, good Hermes willing!

Don't miss our banner!

Bilbao AFV design, ready!

The designing process of our first resin model is already finished --quite satisfactorily, as you can see by the renders below:

It's time now for mould making and some test shots, as well as some artwork, before this nice model is formally released. It not only enjoys a rotating turret, as you can see, but also its turret hatch can be opened. Model measures 54mm long and 20mm wide exactly --that is, a pure 1/100^th scale!

Confidentially, I'm still a bit concerned about an eventual fragility of its machine gun. Such eventuality must be tested during our first mould shots. If such happens, I'm thinking about supplying it with a replacement metal machine gun.

No partnership

Sadly, our conversations with Falcata Miniaturas haven't resulted in the durable partnership agreement we'd have desired, due to a latest hour disagreement. However, neither of both firms has desisted from an eventual, looser kind of co-operation deal in a future. In spite of this rather unexpected setback, we at Minairons Miniatures still keep our own production schedules at full, as well as Falcata Miniatures also does --so that exciting news for you customers are expectable from both firms, in the short term.

As an evidence of such commitment, I'm pleased to confirm to you all that a new range of resin vehicles, 3D-designed by ours own, has just been started. This resin range is aimed at complimenting our regular plastic ranges, following a style consistent to these and using their very same scales. Thanks to such, we shall be able to produce rare or short-run AFVs as desired --by our own, with no subjection to third parties.

Our first model in this new range will be the charismatic Bilbao armoured car --to be released in 1/100^th scale first. We're already designing it!

Also, we have just opened a new section in this blog, under the quite explicit name of "provisory catalogue" (click for a glance). This is intended to permanently show our current releasing expectations --as well as serving as some prequel to the future wishlist & working progression page we shall install in our final website, www.minairons.eu.

As for the mentioned website, work on it has taken speed lately, so that I can reasonably expect now to have it working just in time for our first release --that is, around mid-October.

Partnership announcement

I am happy to publicly announce that, after several weeks of intense, stimulating discussion, Minairons miniatures has just concluded a durable partnership agreement with Falcata miniaturas, a well-known Spanish-based manufacturer of white metal miniatures.

By the terms of such agreement, from now on Falcata will manufacture Spanish Civil War metal figures and resin vehicles in exclusive for Minairons, in those same scale ranges we are going to produce in plastic.

Not necessary, in my view, to detail the easily imaginable benefits achieved by both firms through such an agreement (you know: production costs, regular income, etc). Inversely, I would like to point you out the advantages it will report to the gaming community as a whole.

First of all, you'll experience a faster catalog growth rate than expected if production had been restricted to just plastic. Thus, Minairons miniatures will be able to surprise you (pleasantly, I guess) with new releases nearly every month. Either plastic or resin vehicles, or metal figures, even accessories and scenics!

Secondly, we shall be able to take on virtually any SCW vehicle or figure, with almost no exceptions. So far, we couldn't even dream of seeing certain items in plastic --due to production costs and amounts. But now we'll become able to manufacture these in resin instead. Such is the case of the archetypal "tiznaos" improvised armour, or that of short-run tanks such as Euzkadi, Trubia, Barbastro or IGC Sadurní d'Anoia... Not to say about softskin vehicles!

Finally, a new range of metal figures will be added to those existing so far. We honestly believe it positive to the gaming community as a whole --other manufacturers included! Because both the 15mm and 20mm already existing ranges have either experienced little evolution lately, or lacked enough representation, with too few brands in concurrence.

Fans of 28mm category might still feel a little disappointed after noticing our rather limited mention to them in this announcement. I beg you to understand, however, that these are also good news for them, because it makes a huge step forward in the consolidation of our humble firm. Such consolidation will allow us to feel ourselves strong enough to extend to 28mm too in a near future, as our intention still is.

Some eye candy

Rubén Torregrosa, who is the talented painter behind Heresy Brush painting service, has dropped on Wargames Spain forum some pictures of the three 1/72 Panzer I A prototypes he was commissioned for painting. These can be watched on the following thread:

http://www.wargames-spain.com/foros/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=19773.

Don't miss the opportunity to glance at his masterly work!

He performed an excellent work with them not only at painting, but at taking a complete set of pictures of the models too --either alone, by couples and all together; on a sky blue background as well as on some scenic artwork. Here you are another one such scenographic examples, displayed as a box-art test:

Some of the several pictures he took will be used for box-art, others are to be used for promotion purposes --either by Heresy Brush or ourselves, and even some else will be shown inside already commissioned painting tutorial articles of wargaming magazines.

Panzer I A decals sample

Some users have asked us whether our boxed sets will include a decals sheet for the models. The answer is "yes, they will". Each boxed set will have a small waterslide decals sheet with markings for each one of the tank versions. As for our 20mm Panzer I A, markings are to be those below:

...OK, I'm anything but good at pictures taking! This is the sheet concept design:

As you can see, the idea behind is to provide the user with a basic national markings sheet, suitable for building all the models in box as of the desired Nation --and still having a few left, for you'll have not less than 4 markings sets of the selected Army for the 3 models in box!

Feeding Republican prayers

Here you are a very first preview of the next AFV we're currently planning:

True that it's still a crude draft. Just for keeping you thrilled! ;)

Panzer I A painted

The so-called 2^nd generation of 1/72^nd scale Panzer I A prototypes were delivered last week to Ruben Torregrosa of Heresy Brush, for being painted and having a complete photo studio on them. One out of those 3 models is already finished, you can see the excellent work of Ruben through the pictures below:

First, the standard version with twin MGs:

And now with the "modificado" turret with 20mm Breda gun:

A really excellent job, having into account it has been done on just a resin prototype, not the ultimate plastic product! These pictures will be used for promotion purposes, as well as for box art.