Stocks updated for 1:100 scale

Just as already done with other scales, I've managed to inventory what number of each 1:100^th scale model I still have in stock --with a few pleasant surprises, that can be checked on the corresponding page of this very same blog.

Also, I've taken advantage of such update for setting on sale the production prototypes of two SCW models that already existed in 1:72^nd scale, but not in 1:100^th scale yet: the armoured carrier and unarmoured tractor versions of IGC Sadurní tank. Both are sold as they were cast --i.e. with no driver included. Don't miss the chance, because both models are truly unique!

Now I'm going to figure out how to keep available to public our free download PDFs.

Stocks updated for 1:72 scale

After Minairons' website closure, I've spent the week performing a thorough inventory of what 1:72^nd scale stuff was still left on shelves. Not too surprisingly, I've found out to have some more items than accounted for --mainly due to latest hour order cancellations. In accordance to what I already announced before, all these stocks have been listed on the 1:72^nd scale page of this very same blog, that will be properly updated at every eventual change.

In the next few weeks, I'm going to perform similar inventories on all our other ranges. Stay tuned!

1:100 Miller-Ford racer & status update

I'm happy to share Minairons' latest release, the 1935 Miller-Ford racing car in 1:100^th scale. Once again, this new model comes as a 3D-printed product, so requiring no assembly except for the white metal driver to be attached in cockpit.

As for our family health issues, my wife is coping well with her lung chemotherapy treatment; also, she is making visible progress in her motor rehabilitation process (she was affected by a Guillain-Barré syndrome). This is going to take a long time still, but we both are optimistic at regard.

Nevertheless, over four months have passed now since this health issue started, so I'm likely still going to need to shut down Minairons' website from time to time, in order to perform all necessary housekeeping tasks while she is hospitalized. You know, a day is just 24 hours long!

As for the desired Minairons miniatures managament transfer after my retirement, I'm happy to let you know that a preliminary talk took place recently with a friend who had also been in the wargame business for some time, with satisfactory results so far. Hopefully exciting news in this matter to come within this year.

Maserati 8CTF, now in 1:100

Maserati 8CTF is now our sixth Grand Prix racer so far, both in 1:72^nd and 1:100^th scales. Unlike its larger version which is resin cast, this new smaller version is a DLP 3D-printed model produced in one single piece - so it requires no assembly job beyond fixing a pilot to it.

Bugatti type 59 racer, now in 1:72

Just as announced some weeks ago, the 1:72^nd scale version of Bugatti type 59 vintage racer is available for purchase now.

Unlike its 1:100^th scale sister, which is 3D-printed in one single piece, this larger version is resin cast and consists of just five parts --main hull and four wheels, besides of a white metal driver.

Our complete 1:72^nd scale racing cars range can be checked on this page of Minairons website.

1:100 Bugatti type 59 racer

I'm glad to share our latest 1:100 scale Grand Prix racer release - that of the iconic Bugatti type 59 French racing car. This is our first DLP 3D-printed model in this range, so it's produced in one single piece - no assembly required, then. It can be already purchased from Minairons miniatures website.

Here below you have a painted sample from my own collection (not my best photo taking job, admittedly):

Its 1:72 scale version is nearly ready, too. Release is scheduled for within this month of July.

1:72 Bugatti type 59 preview

I'm happy to share with you the ultimate production model of our sixth Grand Prix vintage racer at 1:72^nd scale - the famous Bugatti type 59, whose releasing is scheduled for this very month of June. It consists of just 5 parts (hull and wheels, all them resin cast), besides of a white metal driver.

Its 1:100^th scale version is due for release soon, too - next month as late!

Bugatti type 59 preview

We've recently finished design stage of an iconic vintage racing car - the Bugatti type 59. In the next weeks we're going to 3D print some samples of it at both 1:72^nd and 1:100^th scales for testing purposes. While its larger version will consist of a few parts (hull, two axes and four wheels, all them resin cast), we're going to test if its smaller version can be produced as a single part just by 3D printing it.

After nearly 10 years of running Minairons Miniatures, lately I've become quite reluctant to give a precise schedule for new releases (given the high degree of uncertainties I've usually experienced before), but I think it reasonable now to expect it to be released over the first half of this year.

Maserati 8CTF racer

Here you have the latest addition to our 1/72 scale Grand Prix range, Maserati 8CTF. Just as the four previous models, this is an overall simple model kit consisting of just seven high quality resin parts (main body, wheels and axles), complemented by a white metal driver.

It's already available as a blister kit in our webstore. A 1/100 scale version of it is expected to come along this year too.

A load on the way to PSC HQ

British friends of Minairons miniatures will perhaps like to know that a load of our stuff is right now on its way to the HQ of The Plastic Soldier Company --who are our distributors in the UK. Packages include not only a wide selection of 1/100, 1/72 and 1/56 stuff including our latest novelties, as 1/72 BT-5 fast tank for instance, but also a sample of our upcoming 20mm Requeté Militia figure set (which BTW is already available and shipping right now, only that I haven't had time for announcing it yet!).

New release: ERA racing cars

We are happy to announce release of a new 1938 Grand Prix item, at both 1:72^nd and 1:100^th scales altogether. This new addition to range is ERA racer --an acronym standing for English Racing Automobiles.

Model kit is extremely simple at both scales, as you can see by the images below --first, the 1:72 version, that has been superbly painted by Carlos Vidal in Siamese livery:

And now its smaller 1:100 version, painted by myself. Well, not any master piece unlike the one above, but it will do nicely on a racing circuit anyway. Please do not take it as a suitable model of English livery, but choose a quite darker green for it instead --I admittedly mistook the shade!

ERA racers are already available from our website, if interested please follow the links: 1:72 version here and 1:100 version there. True that we had planned first a combined release in a 2-cars boxed set; but at one point we've found ourselves with ERA cars at both scales already cast, while the second car (a Bugatty most probably) hasn't ever started to be designed. So we've thought it better not to make you wait.

1938 Grand Prix ERA type B racer

Our 1938 Grand Prix next set is progressing fast and easy. We have now completed the making of the first racing car such set is to include, the British ERA Type B racer. We have designed and produced it at 1:72 and 1:100 scales altogether, so as to be able to launch them both in a short lapse of time between them.

As customary in Minairons, these models are willingly easy to assemble while retaining the most possible detail: just one part for hull, four wheels, two shafts and driver. This is what its 1:72 scale version looks like once assembled:

And this is what both scales cars look like side by side (the 1:100th one is already primed too, this is why of their differing shades of colour):

ERA Type B racer preview

Following the success of our former 1938 Grand prix racing cars set, we've thought it wise to start preparing a new batch of vintage racers, the first one of which is the English made ERA Type B. This is the look it is currently taking:

Just as other models in this range, kit will be quite easy to build, because it will consist of just one resin main part for hull, four also resin wheels and two white metal shafts. Ultimate model kit will be inclusive of driver as customary.

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.

1938 Racing Cars, now at 1:100th scale

Just as promised when launching, a few months ago, a brand new series of Grand Prix racing cars at 1:72^nd scale, we have now re-scaled them into 1:100^th too.

As it can be seen on the picture above, set includes 3 different racing cars: Mercedes Benz W154, Auto Union type D and Alfa Romeo c12/312. Just as their 1:72 sisters, each model consists on a single part resin hull, two white metal shafts, four resin wheels and a white metal driver. Set is completed too by a decals sheet with number serials in white, black, blue and red.

Priced at €21.95, this new Minairons set is already available at our website, and hopefully soon from our main distributors and retailers too.

New 1938 Racing Cars!

We are happy to acknowledge you all about our latest release before Christmas - the first set of a hopefully successful new range, one devoted to 1938 Grand Prix racing cars, that we expect to make at 1/72 and 1/100 scales altogether.

As it can be seen on the picture above, this first set includes 3 different racing cars in a box: Mercedes Benz W154, Auto Union type D and Alfa Romeo c12/312. Each of them consists on a single part resin hull, two white metal shafts, four resin wheels and a white metal driver masterly sculpted by Xan Miniatures for us. Besides, the set is completed by a decals sheet with number serials in white, black, blue and red.

This new set of 1/72 scale 1938 Racing Cars is fully available right now at our website, as well as the Interwar period Benach M1935 fast tank pre-announced some days ago, too.

1938 Grand Prix racing cars

Time for a new venture, I told to myself one day - and this below is the result, after being painted by HeresyBrush as usual:

Those you can see now are Mercedes Benz W154 (silver), Auto Union Typ D (blue) and Alfa Romeo c12/312 (red) 1938 Grand Prix racing cars, that have been manufactured at both 1:72 and 1:100 scales altogether. Those you can see here are their 1:72 versions, BTW.

These new civilian racing cars will be released all together in a single box (1 of each in the 1:72 version, and 2 of each in the 1:100 version), that will also include a decals sheet with numerals in white, black, blue and red, and also as many white metal drivers as cars in the box!

We expect to start releasing them on next January --if not before.