New 1:600 Naval Flags released

We've just made available three new sets of Age of Sail flags, related this time to the Republic of Venice, the Dutch East India Company up to 1660 and the (in)famous pirate Edward "Blackbeard" Teach --who operated around the Carolinas around 1716 to 1718.

Our Age of Sail flags collection, currently consisting of 22 sheets covering 8 maritime nations, for a period extending from early 17^th to late 18^th centuries (besides of two ruthless pirates too!), its an outstanding complement not only to our 1/600 scale ships range, but also to similar products from brands such as Skytrex, Peter Pig or the upcoming Firelock's Oak & Iron boxed game.

Such naval products range can be checked in this category of our website.

WSS flags range launched

Just as announced some weeks ago, a first set of War of Spanish Succession 28mm flags has already been released, devoted to the catalan "Saint Eulalia" Infantry Regiment. This set stands as a DIN A7 sheet comprising both king's and regimental colours for the mentioned unit and can already be acquired from our website. This very same flagsheet has been edited for 15mm and 20mm too --albeit under a 3-months pre-order program. So that, depending on its final results, thse versions will be also paper printed, or otherwise commercialized as PDF files. They can be checked here: 20mm version and 15mm version, respectively.

That's not all though, for a second set is already on the way; this one devoted to the also catalan "General Deputation" Infantry Regiment --one of the senior units in Charles Habsburg's army. Once again, its 28mm version will be directly brought to printers while its smaller sisters have fallen into the above mentioned pre-order program. All them can be checked and eventually pre-ordered from the following links: 28mm version, 20mm version and 15mm version.

Abraham Lincoln Battalion flags

We've just made available a flagsheet containing some flags used by the Abraham Lincoln Battalion, a renowned unit in the 15^th International Brigade whose militants were not only US Americans, but Mexicans, Argentinians and Cubans as well. Sheet comprises a battalion and two different company flags.

This new flagsheet has been released simultaneously in 1/56, 1/72 and 1/100 scales. Each one can be checked and eventually purchased following these links: 28mm version, 20mm version, 15mm version.

War of Spanish Succession flags

Those of you fond of 18th c. gaming know that several brands are already offering quite comprehensive ranges of flags in virtually all the scales this period is gamed in. Would it be any room for another one, then? So I think, indeed. The reason why is that very few of the existing collections (if any) do include the armies of the peninsular theatre itself: either the flags own to Philip V and Charles VI, or even the Portuguese ones.

Helping to fill such huge gap is my intended goal. Therefore, following the request of a customer, Minairons is about to start editing a thoroughful range of War of Spanish Succession (1701-1715) military unit flags.

We are planning to produce such flags as small DIN A7 sheets (as customary amongst us) comprising two flag designs --the King's colour and the Regiment's colour of one given unit each. Sets will be designed primarily for 15, 20 and 28mm altogether; with a door open to edit them later for 6 and 10mm too, depending on demand.

Once a given set is designed and edited, its 28mm version will be immediately taken to printshop and made available. Otherwise, the 20 and 15mm versions of it will be put in webshop under pre-order status, awaiting user orders on them; so that a range will be printed when is met a minimum number of requests on the sheets belonging to it. Provisionally, I've set that minimum to hundred (100) units.

If eventually a given range (15 or 20mm) does not meet such minimum after a period of time, then I'll resign taking it to printshop; anyway, I'll make the affected sheets available alike, but as a downloadable PDF instead. Let's suppose provisionally a 3 months' term for doing so.

As already commented above, I'm planning to leave room for reproducing the range in 6 and 10mm too, depending on your requests. On this matter, there are still some decisions around to be taken, affecting product format (printed paper? PDF? 6-10mm versions separate or combined? and so). Let's take some time to keep thinking around, still. Your comments at regard can be decisive.

Resuming SCW figures creation

As some were perhaps already aware, our 20mm SCW figures range experienced a sudden halt some months ago, due to health problems of its sculptor Juan Bautista --wo is also owner of Xan Miniatures and co-owner of Steel72 models. Despite the serious issue this could mean, I liked better to wait until he could get back to normal activity, rather than pushing forward the range using a different sculptor. It was a matter of trust. However, shortly ago Xan announced publicly on TMP to feel recovered enough to retake activity, to happiness of many --not solely that of mine, I dare to venture.

He has consequently started to release new miniatures under his own brand, and has restarted SCW work too. So he has finished the commissioned set of Italian crewmen for our L3/33 Carro Veloce tankette that you can see below:

Also, work has started on a new set that had been waiting for too long now: the 1/72 scale version of the Republican bike riders set that I had been able to make available in 15mm long ago. Here below you can see Xan's work on one of the two dispatch riders that will compose the set:

Upcoming Ship of the Line

I'm happy to show our upcoming 1:600 scale Ship of the Line, work on whose ultimate desig is over now.

Loosely based on the plans of an early 18th century Russian real ship, this new model can stand on tabletop as a 3rd or even a 2nd rate man-of-war --so being ideal for War of Spanish Succession, GNW, Turco-Venetian Wars or even golden age of piracy settings!

In the next weeks we'll 3d-print the design and start prototyping a master model --a job to include levelling it down to waterline, of course.

1/600 naval accessories released

We are pleased to present a new range of 1/600 scale naval accessories, aimed at helping users to customize their model ships --not just ours own, but those from others brands that are compatible with ours, like Skytrex's Triton range or Peter Pig's range #18.

Current releases comprise several rigging sets along with a matching mast --all in white metal. Pricing varies from €2.45 to €4.95.

New SCW items by Peter Pig

In the last months, the British firm Peter Pig had resumed the expansion of its range #13, dedicated to the Spanish Civil War. A first result of their effort was a recent batch of "tiznao" armoured trucks such as Somua-Naval, Hispano Suiza 3T6, Constructora Field and Torras nº 4:

These were soon followed by a fifth "tiznao", MTM nº 1, as well as a civilian car, the Franklin Olympic sedan:

And more recently by two new civilian vehicles: a sedan car with excess luggage and a pickup van, both based on the Franklin Olympic. In addition, Peter Pig has released new references of spare heads for GCE, the one with straw hats while the other with Moroccan turbans. It should be commented too a third refrence devoted to female heads, which stands ideal for militia women:

As some may already know, Minairons carries the complete range #13 from Peter Pig; it can be found within our 1/100 scale listings.

Painting commissions

After some thinking, I've decided to open a miniature painting service, with the aim of complementing Minairons' offer of products and services. Such service is to be carried by myself --with the occasional assistance of a friend when needed, and I honestly believe it can be rated as optimal for wargamers (please watch my miniature painting blog to get an idea on how I work).

Such decision has come after having been commissioned recently a couple of painting jobs --almost simultaneously, and both related to Age of Sail ships! BTW, this is the work on one of such commissions (consisting in a total of 7 ships from both Minairons and Peter Pig):

A Minairons galleon in Spanish livery:

Here below, a Peter Pig fluyt in also Spanish service:

Next, a frigate from Peter Pig too; this one, flying Catalan ensign from the 1640-1653 Secession War:

And last, a Peter Pig schooner also showing secessionist flags:

The other commission taken is larger, for it consists of a couple of fleets entirely from Peter Pig, totalling 13 ships! I started working on it last weekend, and will be able to show some preliminary pictures soon. Having in mind how small my offered painting service is, I must assume in advance a limit to the number of commissions that can be taken without collapsing --or delaying deliveries beyond acceptable deadlines. I'll do my best at regard with professionalism and good faith.

1:72 scale BA-6 armoured car

For those of you not knowing the BA-6 armoured car from Pegasus Hobbies yet, this is what the model kit looks like once built:

We are now going to keep in our website a permanent stock of this beautiful fast assembly model, that so well complements our own Spanish Civil War range. Pegasus Hobbies is an American brand not as spread over Europe as it undoubtedly deserves, so we also expect to make our listing grow gradually with more kits from them!

Data Policy update

As many of you have probably noticed, a new EU Regulation about Data Protection (populary known as GDPR) enters into force tomorrow 25 May 2018. Accordingly to its provisions, I've thought it fair to update Minairons Miniatures privacy policy so as to renew my personal commitment to it.

If willing, please take a look to Minairons Miniatures updated Privacy Policy.

All the best, Lluís.

18th Century Spanish Man-of-war flags

We've released our first 1:600 scale 18^th Century Naval flags set, devoted to Spanish warships between 1701 and 1785 --roughly, the lapse of time between the War of Spanish Succession start and the American Revolution aftermath. Under rule of the new Bourbon dynasty, Spanish flags at sea changed quite drastically with regard to previous centuries, now showing the royal arms on a plain white field --for white was the Bourbon livery.

Here above you can see a couple of flag sets used on a frigate and a brig from Peter Pig (painting by myself).

New 1:72nd scale L3/33 Carro Veloce

I'm happy to show you our latest 1:72 scale Spanish Civil War fighting vehicle, the Italian CV-33 or L3/33 Carro Veloce. This is a fast assembly, all-resin model kit that consists of just 8 parts cast in a high quality, resilient resin. The sample you're watching in pictures has been kindly painted by Ferran Vilar, a member of FOW Tarna wargaming club of Reus town (Catalonia).

We have for once released this new model kit under the "reinforcements" program first (that is, as a single model sold in pack), prior to launching its 2-models boxed version. This is due to some delay experienced during Winter by the Italian tankers intended to accompany the boxed set. Good news though: this is their current sculpting status, right today:

A customer's Dutch fleet

A customer and mate hobbyist has kindly shared with me some pictures of his recenty built Dutch fleet, consisting of two large war galleons from Minairons, as well as a smaller 'race-built' fast galleon from Skytrex --all them at 1:600 scale. Here you can see what they look like:

He chose not to use the Dutch flag sets I published, but to paint some of his own instead. Bases are clear plastic rectangles textured by means of a clear silicone layer. Also, he glued a small magnet at bases bottom, for higher safety when carrying them.

Man-of-war WIP

Work on what is going to be our third 1:600 scale Age of Sail range model has already started. Now we're planning to do a man-of-war, loosely based on the plans of an early 1700s Russian warship.

At so an early design stage, many features are quite provisional, some of which are to be refined step by step, or even modified. What I can say right now is that further detailing is to include open artillery ports, mizzen mast re-design, as well as fore and main masts re-sizing. Hull is going to be around 8 or 9 cm long. So there's still a lot of work ahead!