A T-26 tank 'Open the Box' video

A French user has gently shared with me an 'Open the Box' YouTube video he's recorded --in French language. Here it goes:

Prices cutdown

We have decided to cut down prices in all our own plastic products, so that they are now as follows:

	15GEV002 - PANZER I Ausf. A 1/100 scale - 5 hard plastic models in box Old price - € 21.95 NOW - € 19.95
	15GEV005 - T-26 Mod. A & B 1/100 scale - 5 hard plastic models in box Old price - € 21.95 NOW - € 19.95
	20GEV002 - PANZER I Ausf. A 1/72 scale - 3 hard plastic models in box Old price - € 18.95 NOW - € 15.95
	20GEV005 - T-26 Mod. A & B 1/72 scale - 2 hard plastic models in box Old price - € 13.95 NOW - € 11.95
	20GEV006 - RENAULT FT-17 1/72 scale - 3 hard plastic models in box Old price - € 18.95 NOW - € 15.95

On the other side, we've had no other chance than raising a bit one model's price, due to having re-tooled gun and carriage wheels, so as to cast them in metal instead of resin:

20GEV014 - SADURNÍ Tractor & Howitzer 1/72 scale - 1 resin & metal tractor & gun Old price - € 16.95 NOW - € 17.95

We apologize for eventual inconveniences this policy change might produce.

1:100 scale T-26 tank ready!

Our long ago anticipated 1:100^th scale plastic T-26 tank is finally available and ready for shipping. It comes as a boxed set including 5 tank sprues, as well as a decals sheet with USSR, Finnish, Turkish, Spanish Republican and Nationalist markings --up to 5 sets of each!

Minairons Miniatures' T-26 obr. 1931 & 1933 boxed set retails for EUR 21.95 --that makes less than EUR 4 each individual tank sprue, after having deduced from total the decals own cost. It can be purchased straightly from us at www.minairons.eu, or from the following Distributors & Significant Retailers List.

If willing, please check this previous posting for a comparison to Zvezda's own T-26 version M.

1/100th scale T-26 tank preview

Our 1:100^th scale T-26 tank is taking shape. This is what our second testing injection batch looks like.

Here you can see some pictures for comparison. At left, our twin-turreted model A from the first batch; in the middle, a model M from Zvezda; and at right a model B from our second batch. All dimensions are consistent with those of the Zvezda model, except for the mudguards: ours are 0.5mm wider --or theirs 0.5mm narrower! So happens with tracks too.

Minairons' 1/100 T-26 tank will be released on September 11^th as a boxed set. It will include 5 plastic tanks, besides of a decals sheet with markings for up to 5 Russian, 5 Finnish, 5 Turkish, 5 Spanish Republican and 5 Spanish Nationalist tanks.

Our next 1:100 tank

After a good deal of starting doubts, we did finally take a decision on what model bringing to life next in this scale. In the end, it will be no other than the T-26 tank models A & B --already released at 1:72^nd quite recently. In hard plastic, too.

These ubiquitous tanks will be sold by the platoon box, containing each box 5 tank sprues, besides of a decals sheet with basic Russian, Fininish, Turkish, Spanish Republican and Spanish Nationalist markings --5 markings sets for each nationality! The tank basic design remains the same as its 1:72^nd counterpart --except for the tank commander, that has been entirely re-tooled.

Here you can watch a few mould captions, attesting us to be working at a good pace:

We expect mould to be finished up by the end of month, so that the first testing sprues can be shot before August holidays. In the meanwhile, decals are being printed too, and boxes are ready. If all the rest keeps going as expected, Minairons' 1:100^th T-26 tank will be available for pre-order since mid-August. Ultimate release, by the first week of September.

And... what about 1:100 stuff?

Lately, I've been acknowledging you about our first 1:56 scale model, and have also given you some teasers on what is being currently cooked on the 1:72 scale side. "Great, but what about your promised 1:100 scale models? After the resin Bilbaos and the plastic Panzers, what else should we be waiting for?" --some of you might be silently muttering right now.

Well, as some of you perhaps recall, our most likely candidate for a 1:100 re-scalation in the short term still is the Pz. Befehlswagen I ausf. B command tank --again, a mixed resin + plastic kit, just as its 1:72 scale counterpart... but we're currently working in two projects else at this scale --both in plastic!

Still doubtful about which one will be first, due to a number of both technical and budget reasons. One of the candidates is T-26 tank models A&B of course --re-scaled from an already released 1:72 version--, but the other candidate is that one you can see below:

According to our plan, the Renault FT-17 sprue would include not only an optional command version casemate, but both Berliet and Renault turrets too --any of which could be mounted an MG or a gun.

Your thoughts?

So what's next, right now?

After the huge financial effort due for releasing up to three new models in so a short period of time around Saint George's Day (1:100 Panzer IA, 1:72 Pz.Befehlswagen IB and 1:72 T-26 tank), we should better stop for a while and breath...

...but we won't, though. As our firm slowly grows and earns a reputation of its own, we've committed ourselves to keep a pace that maybe some would judge a bit slow, but otherwise is willingly a steady one –as regular and firm as we can.

What will be first, then?

Accordingly to our previous commitments, there's no way out: it's turn for our first 1/56 scale model: the stylish (and somewhat pulp-ish) Hispano Suiza MC-36 armoured truck. Masters' first pictures to follow next week, hopefully.

And what's on the workbench right now?

Hard to answer in few words –but we'll try: our T-26 tank has already been re-scaled into 1/100 . It will be our next model in plastic, for sure.

Along with it, we've started to design a new model, to be released in resin at 1/72 scale first. Please allow us to still keep some secrecy around this new AFV id. For the moment, we can just say it will be a vehicle never before produced in any scale or material. Oh, and it will include a couple of surprise accessories –for if the model itself wasn't a surprise enough...

Oh, some other designs have also been started, naturally: who wouldn't give a chance to good old Renault FT-17, for instance? Following our philosophy of allowing several assembly options for every model, we shall include Berliet and Renault turrets in sprue, as well as the command casemate version. Also, such is the case of another model we've been often asked for: BA-6 armoured truck, of course. We're still studying design as to give the model several assembling options –that might go either around the alternative BT-2 turret some BA-6 were fitted, or to allowing it to be built as an early BA-I.

Additional 1/56 models, when?

Soon, pretty soon... Some patience is still needed. Once the above commented Hispano Suiza is released, we shall see. Apologies for that much caution, but finance is a risky business nowadays...

Any other plans?

Oh yessssssss, lots of these. Up to three new period ranges, for instance. A first design will be started soon regarding one of these. Some talking has just begun on a second one, and (last but not least) a third project is currently being pondered –what about some Lace Wars, for instance?