Sadurní tank painted samples

While still awaiting for the Trubia-Naval tank decals to come, I've taken advantage of the spare time I had for assembling and painting some IGC Sadurní tanks for my own collection. Not any master pieces actually, but I think they still look pretty nice anyway.

I haven't assembled them just as they were, but have drawn out some pieces form my spare parts box so as to customize all them at some degree. They all have been added mudguards, for instance (either coming from its tractor version, or from a cannibalized T-26 kit from Mirage. Or I have also tried equipping them with headlights in varying positions, as you can see.

Also, I was curious to see if this tank could have been actually improved by a better armament, so I replaced the MG of one for a small gun (a 37mm or so perhaps). Then I realized this would leave barely any room for the 2^nd crewman and gun altogether, so I enlargened its internal space rearwards. Well, there is room enough now, but no chances for a third crewman either. Well, at least I had some fun at trying!

New releases, and Wishlist update

NEW RELEASES

The piece of news of today is intended at acknowledging you about two different matters. Let's go for the new releases first: we're relieved and happy to publicly announce that our newest 1/72 IGC Sadurní tank started yesterday at last to be shipped to all those who had pre-ordered it.

Also, we have just released another 1/100 textured flags paper sheet (=15mm); this time, one devoted to the People's Republican Army. As with former sets, sheet consists of three detailed historical flags:

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WISHLIST UPDATE

Secondly, we would like to briefly explain you a few updates made between yesterday and today, at both our Pipeline page of this blog and the Wishlist section of our main website, www.minairons.eu.

Quite shortly not to bore you: the first two models of our recently announced SCW aircraft (I-15 and CR.32 fighters) have been pushed into Pipeline; the one at 1/100th and the other at 1/144^th scale. This is aimed at reflecting our purpose of making them at both scales --more or less alongside.

As for the Wishlist, it has been increased with a few novelties suggested by users at different forums and fairs: Bréguet XIX, Nieuport-Delage NiD-52, McClean 37mm gun, Barbastro tank and GMC/Chevrolet 1.5ton truck --this latter has been pushed into the list by ourselves for strategical reasons, and must say that its design has already started! Let you also know that design of some other models else in the list is about to start, too! Otherwise, we've had no other chance than temporarily push Schneider CA-1 tank back, after having seen frustrated our expectations to have it designed in the short term.

Not all news could be that good. We expect to restore Scheneider CA-1 status in the list pretty soon. Of course, there have been some suggestions else --not all were kept in mind by me, apologies for it!

Please send (or re-send) me such suggestions, we'll do our best for fulfilling your wish!

1/72 Sadurní tank available for pre-order

While waiting for its box to be printed, we have decided to put our IGC Sadurní Tank on pre-order, so that those users willing to be first ones at being delivered it can reserve theirs own. So you already can pre-order yours from our website right now!

As you can see by the photo below, this is to be a pretty simple, easy-to-build kit that consists of just 3 main parts --hull, left and right tracks sets. Besides, it will include 2 alternative Hotchkiss MG barrels; resin or plastic at choice, depending on the use each one deserves to the model.

Also, the kit will be accompanied by a decals sheet including markings for all variants of this obscure, ill-known tank, as well as for other armour produced by IGC Board ("Comissió d'Indústries de Guerra de Catalunya", or War Industries Board of Catalonia); and a couple of more generic Spanish Republic markings. Finally, we've thought it nice to keep offering some what-if markings suitable for Very Civil British War (*), just as in previous releasings.

Actually, the real-life tank didn't see any action, for all it is known; only two prototypes were built for approval in the first months of 1937, being rejected by the Republic due to its poor weaponry and the lack of turret forecasting, in spite of their admitted mechanical reliability. However, nothing is known about these prototypes ultimate fate. As the factory where they were built was in hands of CNT trade union, it wouldn't be that unlikely both were discretely diverted to Anarchist columns in the Front of Aragon, where the lack of armour was dramatic. Or were they perhaps re-converted into their more successful Tractor variant?

(*) As many of you already know, Very British Civil War (VBCW) is a trademark owned by Solway Crafts & Miniatures and used with their kind permission.

Some unavoidable delay

It seems that we'll have to conform to an unavoidable delay of IGC Sadurní light tank releasing. A first batch of about two hundred models is already coming out from the workshop, as well as the appropriate decals for it. However, box art is still far from being finished up, so we'll have to keep patient for a short while and wait a couple of weeks, before all the kit components are finally ready.

Meanwhile, I can just offer you a couple of shots on one of the model prototypes, little before being painted.

1/72nd IGC Sadurní tank prototypes

Coming out from workshop the very first prototypes at 1:72^nd scale of the ill-known IGC Sadurní Catalan tank, in all its three versions: assault tank, universal carrier and artillery tractor --this latter, carrying a 155mm Schneider gun.

In spite of sharing some features, such as running gear and lower hull, the amount of parts exclusive to each variant has persuaded us not to make with it one single multi-option model kit; but three different, separate kits instead. The first one to be released is the Assault Tank version (20GEV001), whose releasing is scheduled for September 11^th, Catalonia's National Day.

Here below you can see them compared to all three Panzer I versions alongside. Anything but a huge piece of armour, isn't it?

Apologies for the pictures quality, we definitely should take some lessons on it!

More Sadurní Tank variants

As said on our latest post, the IGC Sadurní d'Anoia tank wasn't approved for mass production, but its concept served for producing two more successful variants: a general purpose carrier and an artillery tractor. Quite logically, both are being designed alongisde with the main tank prototype --and will be brought to production within this year too. Here below you can see all three altogether --the tractor at front, the tank in background and the carrier at right.

From the very first design stages, we realized there would be too many version-specific parts for one single, multi-option model kit. As a consequence, we've finally decided to release separately each one of them, under the respective references of 20GEV001 (tank), 20GEV013 (carrier) and 20GEV014 (tractor) --all at 1/72 scale first.

It must be noted all three model kits will share the same decals sheet including not only real insignia and mottos historically applied on each vehicle, but also a few hypothetical markings else, aimed at giving an option for alternative, pulp-ish or dystopic settings such as VBCW (*). This is what the sheet will look like --the pink colour you can see is no colour at all, but just the varnish layer area depiction:

There is more, though. The artillery tractor version will include white metal pilot and co-pilot, as well as a Schneider 155mm gun! On the other hand, the general purpose carrier will include not only the above mentioned crewmen, but also four Republican soldiers as seated passengers!

...and no, the series isn't finished yet.


(*) As many of you already know, Very British Civil War (VBCW) is a trademark owned by Solway Crafts & Miniatures and used with their kind permission.

Our next 1:72 model!

We're excited to present you the next SCW model tank we shall release in 1:72^nd scale --pretty soon. It's the IGC Sadurní d'Anoia assault tank, commissioned in late 1936 by the War Industries Board of Catalonia (IGC) to a small factory in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia town, so far well-known by their renowned Benach civilian tractors. The factory --by then held by CNT trade union-- responded to the commission with two prototypes of the turretless tank whose images you can watch here.

Both prototypes were shown to Presidents Azaña and Companys in late January 1937, along with some other original designs. In spite of their excellent mechanical features, prototypes weren't approved for mass production due to poorly armed, as well as (even worse!) not having foreseen a rotating turret capable of sustaining heavier weaponry. However, that first experience proved to be valuable enough for encouraging later the production of an artillery tractor using the Sadurní chassis --naturally, not before the factory was taken off CNT hands by the Republic Government...

Model itself will be about 5.0cm long and 2.5cm wide, approximately. It will be all resin, except for a hard plastic Hotchkiss machine-gun. IGC Sadurní d'Anoia tank will be sold by the one in a small-sized box, like that of Pz. Befehlswagen I B, and will be of course accompanied by a complete decals sheet including IGC and CNT insignia, as well as generic Catalan, Spanish Republican and VBCW(*) Scottish markings. We expect to have it ready within July.


As many of you already know, Very British Civil War (VBCW) is a trademark owned by Solway Crafts & Miniatures and used with their kind permission.

Mystery 1/72 model unveiled

Now that the thing is at an advanced enough state, let me acknowledge you what will be our next 1:72^nd scale SCW model: this is to be no other than the Catalan made IGC Sadurní d'Anoia assault tank, carrier and tractor, a model ever before released in any material --either metal, resin or plastic--, except for a hobby shop in El Vendrell town that dared, a lot of years ago, to make it as a vacuform model.

Here below you can see what does its assault tank version look like:

In spite of some advanced features, as well as it high mechanic reliability, the assault tank version was never approved for production, due to its designers not having foreseen a rotating turret capable of carrying a heavier weaponry than the standard-designed front machine gun. However, both its carrier and artillery tractor versions were produced in some numbers and delivered to the Aragon Front, where the Republican lack of armour was dramatic. A number of them were still active at the start of the Ebro Battle.

IGC Sadurní, assault tank version


IGC Sadurní, universal carrier version


IGC Sadurní, artillery tractor version

The artillery tractor version will come with a 155mm Schneider gun and crew.