New L3/33 Carro Veloce boxed set

We've got already available a further 1:72 scale SCW boxed set, that of the italian L3/33 Carro Veloce tankette. It can be found at the following page of our website: https://minairons.eu/en/1-72-scale-vehicles-spanish-civil-war/1234-172-l333-carro-veloce-boxed-set-8436545321874.html

Each box contains two resin AFV model kits --the one destined to build as a regular tankette with twin MGs, while the other intended to build as a flamethrower tank, with its propellant trailer; besides, set also contains the two crewmen you can see in pictures, sculpted by Xan.

Both vehicles can also be acquired separately as "reinforcements", under codes 20GER011 and 20GER044.

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:

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:

1:72 L3/33 Carro Veloce tankette

I am pleased to acknowledge you that our projected CV33 Carro Veloce has already entered into production stage. Please watch what its production master model does look like:

Most of this new model parts are to be cast in high quality resin, except for a few --i. e. machine guns. After having evaluated tooling costs, I am now fully persuaded we'll be able to keep for it a pricing right similar to that of previous AFV models from us (honestly, I was a little doubtful about it some weeks ago).

Besides, I am happy to confirm you in advance that the ultimate box set will also include a couple of Italian crewmen, as recently agreed with our usual collaborating sculptor, Juan G. Bautista (Xan Miniatures).

Minairons Plans for 2016 (II)

As a second part to the 2016 plans review written some days ago, I'd like now to let you know those other plans regarding 1:72 scale. I must admit these are our most extensive and ambitious plans; and this shouldn't catch anyone by surprise, for it is 1:72 stuff what actually keeps Minairons standing and holding the line. So that we are going to expand our Spanish Civil War range even further in 2016 - this involving both new white metal troop types and high quality resin vehicles.

As for figures, we'll go first for the Foreign Legion - this implying not less than two boxed sets, and quite probably up to three: legionary infantry, command and PaK 36 AT teams. Such will take us the first four to five months of 2016, likely. Once the Legion is done, it will be time to choose between the two best positioned sets behind: either Assault Guards or Requetes - or whatever is adviced by our wishlist status. BTW, I'm saying nothing about Militiamen because this is an upcoming set to be released very soon, still within 2015:

Going now for SCW vehicles, we are working hard to release Trubia-Naval "Euzkadi" tank soon, as already explained in a recent thread, so this will likely be our first AFV release in 2016. Other SCW vehicle projects in portfolio for 2016 are CV-33 Carro Veloce tankette and its Lanciafiamme version, Lancia Ansaldo IZ/IZM armoured car, Fiat-SPA Dovunque 33/35 truck and BT-5 fast tank; except for the truck, all of them are currently at various design stages. I'd also like to take a decision regarding BA-3/6 armoured car - a decision that must compulsorily have into account the excellent model already produced by Pegasus, which is nevertheless little known in Europe.

As for other ranges, we shall keep dropping a few WWII and Interwar models amidst, such as a Landesa improvised tank, or a OT-130 flamethrower version of T-26 tank, for instance - but we don't expect these ranges to grow significantly yet, for SCW is to be prioritary still for a long time. One important exception to this rule is our range of 1938 Grand Prix racing cars, that will be expanded further during 2016 with new racers, a ruleset and probably racing circuits too. At present, the British ERA type B car is already being designed at both 1:72 and 1:100 altogether.

A possible new range we are still pondering is related to War of the Spanish Succession - although little can be explained about yet, for it is currently at a very preliminary stage. In any case, it's in our mind to produce some 20mm items complementary to the plastics 1/72 GNW range already launched by Zvezda. Logically, we would then focus on the Peninsular theatre of WSS, making those troop types not covered by Zvezda plastics --such as southern European grenadiers, Spanish and French dragoons, Catalan Mountain Fusiliers, mounted personalities and so. Nothing at regard can be considered as final, though --not even year 2016 as a start.

Some shots on CV-33 tankette

Here below you have some shots on the CV-33 Carro Veloce tankette we're currently designing:

If everything runs smoothly enough, ultimate model will be released at 1/100 and 1/72 scales (more or less altogether) after the Summer parenthesis.