First Naval Flags released

The three first sets of our new 1:600 Age of Sail range are already available. Each consists of a DIN A7 sized paper sheet with several maritime flags and pennant, conceived for a particular ship type and nation. The first three ones just launched are devoted to Spanish and Portuguese trans-atlantic galleons as well as a generic French Indiaman, and will be shortly followed by other sets; for it's our purpose to have a consistently large collection of flags at disposal of users at the time of releasing the first ship models.

Flags have been designed as a first instance to serve as ensign the largest, as complementary or alternative mast flags the medium sized ones, and a likely jack if needed the smallest one. I think it's also worth to advance that medium sized flags will be designed so that some can be used as ensign for smaller ships. Others will be interchangable from one set to another, so as to serve as (likely if not purely historical) rank flags or other purposes; I'm thinking of English Squadron mast flags, for instance. You will see what I mean as collection grows.

It's probable that many users aren't going to hoist all these flags on a single ship, or aren't going to use them as conceived at start --but we thought it good to give the maximum number of choices in such a small sheet. And last but not least, despite conceived to complement our upcoming range of ships (scaled to 1:600, as said), our flags will perfectly fit onto models from other makes --even those nominally larger such as Peter Pig's 1:450 scale ships, as my own experience as a gamer can attest.

New sets can be acquired from our website at the price of €2.00 each. As already commented, they'll be shortly followed by some flag sheets else, accordingly to the current schedule shown in this page of Minairons Blog --and several more awaiting a chance in Minairons' Wishlist page.

1:600 Naval Flags project, and Poll

Now that our Spanish Galleon project is closing to a hopefully happy end (whose results will be shown soon), it comes the time to start thinking of a 1:600 scale accessories range, that in my mind should unavoidably begin with an appropriate set of 17^th and 18^th centuries Naval Flags --so as to allow each one to further customize and decorate his/her ships --either those we're gradually going to release, or from other brands as Peter Pig's 1:450 sailing ships range for instance.

Consistently to the already existing collections of SCW 1:100, 1:72 and 1:56 flags, this new range will be printed as separate DIN A7 paper sheets, each one devoted to one particular ship type and nation. Each sheet will include one ensign, two alternative (or complementary) mast flags, one bow jack and one triangular or swallow-tailed pennant, following the general pattern shown below (using a fictional sample, BTW):

According to Minairons commitment toward Iberian Peninsula nations History, we have already designed and printed some first sheets devoted to Spanish and Portuguese galleons (such name deliberately standing for either merchantmen o privateering ships), as well as for a French Indiaman --not an Iberian nation, certainly, but one whose history is inextricably tied to those.

We are now completing the series with some sheets else devoted to warships of the above mentioned nations, as well as to both civilian and military galleons of Catalonia and the Ottoman Empire --another powerful nation whose naval history must be taken into account. Please have a look at what the first three sheets look like:

THE POLL

Beyond our commitment with Iberian History though, we believe that our highest priority must be given to your own will, so as to allow you decide what maritime nations flag sheets should be designed next. In the end, it's you who are going to game this or that setting, so that we must comply your wishes and/or needs!

This is why I've decided to place a complete poll consisting of two related questions, which I invite you to answer. While the first question pretends to know your preferred period (thus allowing only one answer), the second one is aimed to establish a priority order among several nations --thus allowing multiple answers. As it's always possible that some user would suggest an additional option, I don't discard to set a further poll to accomodate to such eventual suggestions.

Poll will remain open all long July month. After this, results will be published and printers will start working hard!

Manila Galleon first preview

Well, I admit there isn't much to show yet, because 3D designing of our announced 1:600 Galleon has revealed to be a little harder than expected at start. However, when designer showed me a few captions on his work progress, a few days ago, I couldn't resist the temptation to post them on blog. Ship's hull, a part of which you can see above, will measure around 70 mm long --Manila galleons were really big!-- and perhaps around 17 mm wide.

As you can see by the picture above, we're taking a lot of care about detail --even at the risk of having to reduce it later!--. Only after having 3D-printed a first prototype, we'll be able to determine parts and materials, although I'm currently considering as most likely to finally make hull in resin, with masts and rigging in white metal.

Unless something gets really wrong, ship will be released as a boxed set including a DIN A7 format paper sheet comprising not only its main ensign, but minor flags and jack as well. Here below you have a draft of such flags sheet: