On Minairons' future

Minairons miniatures will definitely cease to exist as a brand in March 2026, when the current minairons.eu web hosting and domain name contracts expire. However, commercial activity will come to an end long before, because I'm going to shut that website down permanently in October 31^st, 2025. There is no turning back here.

The good news for our dear customers is that most of our 20mm SCW figure range is going to resurface to market pretty soon, under the management of Xan miniatures --which is the brand owned by the sculptor of said figures. I haven't learnt a timeline for such relaunch, but it will likely happen over this month or the next one --depending on their own logistic needs. A few sets lay aside of this agreement, though: namely, Militiawomen, Nationalist horse, Foreign Legion and Moroccan mortar and cannon teams, which are still my property. Same for my incipient 1:72^nd scale WSS range, too.

Nothing is carved on stone yet about our 1:72^nd and 1:100^th scales vehicle ranges, but there is a real chance these can survive too, under another brand's name. It's too early for disclosing anything else at regard, but I shall keep you all acknowledged using this very same minairons-news.blogspot.com blog --which by the way is going to be still alive for a long time, unlike the webshop itself.

As for the 1:144^th scale SCW & WWII aircraft ranges, I have been making and selling them so far as an authorized dealer of Plane Printer creator via Patreon sponsorship. When the next month I cease to operate as such, our customers will be able to still find these models in one of two ways: if enjoying themselves 3D printing skills and hardware, they can apply for Plane Printer membership and download the models from Patreon. Otherwise, customers can get in touch with Caliga accesorios, who are also authorized dealers for this range and can print them for you.

Regrettably, I've found no perpetuation chance yet for our 1:600^th scale Age of Sail ships range --and this makes me feel quite sad, because I was really proud of it. Therefore, I'm most likely going to keep selling them until they come out of stock, and afterwards will keep the STLs for my own use. There were a couple of contacts from third parties to acquire the range, but they retracted at the last minute. However, I'm still glad to discuss proposals at regard.

Other ranges not mentioned here are most probably going to be dropped --particularly, the 1:56^th scale vehicle range, which I've been admittedly neglecting for a long while now. Flags and decals will be available still for a long time, though.

Last but not least, this minairons-news.blogspot.com blog is going to stay alive for long, in order to keep Minairons' friends duely informed on what future is deserved to each particular range, as well as to let them know whom to address to in every case.

As already stated at some point before, it was exciting while it lasted. Thanks to you all for your kind support!

New 1:144 Avia S-199 fighter

This one is probably going to be the last release from Minairons miniatures. Today's subject is a new 1:144^th 3D printed aircraft model --that of the Czechoslovak Avia S-199 fighter, produced in postwar times using the Messerschmitt Bf-109 G airframe. It was powered by a Junkers Jumo 211F engine instead of the original Daimler Benz DB605 one.

This aircraft was notable as the first fighter obtained by the Israeli Air Force (IAF), and was extensively used during the first stages of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Although officially nicknamed 'Sakeen' (=knife in Hebrew) by the IAF, israeli pilots used to call it 'Messer' instead (this word also happening to mean knife both in Yiddish and German).

Upcoming update: Later this week I'm going to post a thread explaining the timeline for Minairons miniatures shut down, as well as the destiny deserved to each of their main ranges, the website itself and this very blog too. Stay tuned!

New 1:144 HA-1112 'Buchón'

As stated some time before, I am committed to a few releases before Minairons ultimately shuts doors down. These were projects already in pipeline before the events leading to closure, so I think it fair to give them a chance. Such is the case of this one release, the Spanish post-war fighter Hispano Aviación HA-1112 M Buchón (=Pouter), that we've just released as a 1:144^th 3D printed model, designed by PlanePrinter for us.

Spain had obtained in 1942 a German license to build the Messerschmitt BF-109 G, with some components to be supplied by Germany. As WWII progressed though, Germany became increasingly incapable of meeting such needs, so Spanish engineers started using local components --such as a 1,300 HP Hispano-Suiza engine replacing the original Daimler-Benz 605A, so giving birth to a transitional model which was named Bf-109 J at first and later renamed HA-1109.

After WWII ended, Hispano Aviación created the HA-1112 K, which was powered by an Hispano-Suiza engine while the international embargo against Spain was in force. Such engine was replaced by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine in 1957 --thus giving birth to the final HA-1112 M version, with its characteristic Spitfire-Messer hybrid look.

New 1:144 Fieseler Fi-156 'Storch' & orders from USA

Perhaps some of you weren't aware that the otherwise renowned WWII German reconnaissance plane Fieseler Fi-156 Storch (=Stark) was already present in Spanish Civil War, albeit in very limited numbers. About 6 of these STOL aircraft were dispatched to Spain in 1938, for their use by the Condor Legion. As such, they displayed the usual green grey livery with Spanish Nationalist markings. Our model kit is 3D printed, so it needs no assembly, and has been designed by PlanePrinter as usual.

Besides of the orders traffic jam (over 100 of these in a couple of weeks!) experienced lately, that I'm steadily diluting, there is another issue affecting my American customers. A few days ago, all European postal services resolved to temporarily suspend shipments to the States while awaiting more clarity on the new USA issued tariffs. As a consequence, I'm compelled to also temporarily withhold USA orders processing, until all this f*cking mess is ultimately fixed. My most sincere apologies for this unexpected inconvenience.

Shipping delay & new 1:144 PZL P.24 fighter

To all my dear customers, please accept in advance my apologies for the delays shipping process is experiencing - mostly due to a real avalanche of orders during our reopening first week. Orders have been received at a pace far faster than my humble ability to process them. Please take a little patience with me; I reassure you that your orders haven't been forgotten!

On the other hand, I've just released today a new 1:144 scale WWII fighter: the Polish PZL P.24, an aircraft also used by Greece, Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria. Due to tightening deadlines before ultimate closure, I haven't been able to provide for a decent box art for this new model. Apologies again!

New 1:35 Landesa tractor

Our friends of ResinLab have surprised us with a previously unexpected novelty: the 1/35^th scale version of the SCW artillery tractor Landesa, one sample of which is already in our hands. It consists of a resin cast hull complemented by two also resin track sets as well as a good number of 3D printed accessories.

Also, just to recall we are going to briefly reopen Minairons website this midnight (23:00h London time) for a final clearance sale. Don't miss it!

No news on Minairons' eventual survival, sadly. Some have shown interest in acquiring this or that range, but nothing can be set for granted yet.

Upcoming 1:600 Late galleass

As said a few days prior, there's still a number of finished but unreleased projects that I'm willing to share right before closure.

This one of today is another of such cases: a 1:600^th scale large galleass --not of the type used at Lepanto, but a later model dating back to the second half of 17^th century to early 18^th century. Those late galleasses did no longer constitute the backbone of any Mediterranean navy, but were still widely used either for commerce or as prestige vessels.

The current model kit has been designed according to one precise Venetian galleass, but several others of this period are known and are quite similar, used at least by France and the Ottoman Empire too.

Prior to our current family health issues, I was assembling and painting a sample model; however, I'm afraid I won't be able to complete it in time to provide you a decent boxart. So this one above is most likely to be the model kit's box ultimate look.

Vallejo products sale

Just as with products from other brands, when I temporarily reopen Minairons miniatures webshop again in a couple of weeks, I'm going to offer a 50% discount offer on all products from Acrylicos Vallejo that I currently still have in stock.

Such promotion applies both to their Model Color paints and Toray synthetic brushes, until end of stocks.