Good news for 20mm SCW gamers, for our former range of white metal figures are now being gradually re-released by their sculptor --so that they now begin to show in the sculptor's own website, Xan miniatures.
As said, this is going to be a gradual process and not all troops in the range are available right now, because Xan is checking and revamping them one by one. As he told me recently, it's also likely for some new figures to be added to the range.
Minairons miniatures will definitely cease to exist as a brand in March 2026, when the current minairons.eu web hosting and domain name contracts expire. However, commercial activity will come to an end long before, because I'm going to shut that website down permanently in October 31st, 2025. There is no turning back here.
The good news for our dear customers is that most of our 20mm SCW figure range is going to resurface to market pretty soon, under the management of Xan miniatures --which is the brand owned by the sculptor of said figures. I haven't learnt a timeline for such relaunch, but it will likely happen over this month or the next one --depending on their own logistic needs. A few sets lay aside of this agreement, though: namely, Militiawomen, Nationalist horse, Foreign Legion and Moroccan mortar and cannon teams, which are still my property. Same for my incipient 1:72nd scale WSS range, too.
Nothing is carved on stone yet about our 1:72nd and 1:100th scales vehicle ranges, but there is a real chance these can survive too, under another brand's name. It's too early for disclosing anything else at regard, but I shall keep you all acknowledged using this very same minairons-news.blogspot.com blog --which by the way is going to be still alive for a long time, unlike the webshop itself.
As for the 1:144th scale SCW & WWII aircraft ranges, I have been making and selling them so far as an authorized dealer of Plane Printer creator via Patreon sponsorship. When the next month I cease to operate as such, our customers will be able to still find these models in one of two ways: if enjoying themselves 3D printing skills and hardware, they can apply for Plane Printer membership and download the models from Patreon. Otherwise, customers can get in touch with Caliga accesorios, who are also authorized dealers for this range and can print them for you.
Regrettably, I've found no perpetuation chance yet for our 1:600th scale Age of Sail ships range --and this makes me feel quite sad, because I was really proud of it. Therefore, I'm most likely going to keep selling them until they come out of stock, and afterwards will keep the STLs for my own use. There were a couple of contacts from third parties to acquire the range, but they retracted at the last minute. However, I'm still glad to discuss proposals at regard.
Other ranges not mentioned here are most probably going to be dropped --particularly, the 1:56th scale vehicle range, which I've been admittedly neglecting for a long while now. Flags and decals will be available still for a long time, though.
Last but not least, this minairons-news.blogspot.com blog is going to stay alive for long, in order to keep Minairons' friends duely informed on what future is deserved to each particular range, as well as to let them know whom to address to in every case.
As already stated at some point before, it was exciting while it lasted. Thanks to you all for your kind support!
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.
I'm happy to acknowledge our readers that our upcoming set of 1/72 scale SCW figures is ready now. The set will consist of two Republican dispatch riders along with their Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Unlike their 1/100 scale counterpart shown below (where bike, rider and stand are cast in a single piece, with only handlebar and arms apart), the 1/72 scale version has separate motorcycles, figures, handlebars and stands (so allowing multiple customization chances).
(15mm version)
As you can see, the first figure of this new set shows a man leaning on his right foot, as if he was talking with someone else, or watching something perhaps.
The other one represents a rider seated on his bike --which is obviously supposed to be running.
In the next few days we're going to take them to foundry for production.
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:
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).
Hi, just a short note with presumably good news for those fond of WW2 gaming --or, at least, for those equally fond of this period and Spanish Civil War altogether!
From now on, Minairons website will start retailing the models from Steel 72, a small company recently founded by Xan along with an associate partner. Incidentally as some of you are already aware, Xan has been so far the main sculptor of Minairons' own range of SCW figures.
Well, the thing is that I'm introducing Steel 72 current list of products into Minairons website database. These fall into two main categories so far: on one side, complete resin model kits with some white metal minor parts and driver; and on the other side, Armourfast model improvement kits --these consisting of an Armourfast sprue complemented by stowage, tank commander and other goodies. Here you can check their product listing.
In the next few days I shall complete this listing by adding Xan's own WW2 figures (Germans and Soviets, currently).
The boxes for our forthcoming set of SCW 20mm figures have just come from printshop, right today. On his side, our sculptor Xan has kindly shown some pictures on his recent work on our Requeté Militia. A few minor details must still be finished, but otherwise work can be considered virtually complete, so I'm proud to show them:
Carlist Requetés are now almost ready for conquering the tabletops! As soon as greens are handled to foundry, I'll put the set on an available for pre-order status at Minairons website, so that anyone can reserve theirs own in advance.
After a lapse of frantic activity time either re-vamping the miniature ranges of his own, or launching a new WWII 1:72 models and accessories company christened as Steel 72, our sculptor Xan has finally met the time for sculpting a new set of Spanish Civil War figures for Minairons. Such new set is devoted to Requete militias and will consist of 18 figures, comprehensive of NCOs and officers, an LMG team, flag bearer and christophore. Here below you have his preliminary sketches on it:
It's soon still to give an ultimate deadline for them. It depends not just on sculptor's own speed at making the greens, but also on other factors to be kept in mind: boxart progression, packaging design and printing... However, my overall feeling is that we'll be able to release them reasonably soon.
I've been taking advantage of this long Summer season for pushing forward some projects for my own collection. One of these is a Henschel type 33 truck, painted for Condor Legion service with some German crewmen of Xan Miniatures replacing the default Spanish driver. Not any master piece of work, but it will do nicely on tabletop.
Here you have the original article in my personal painting blog (Catalan language only, sorry)
This is the second set of infantry support weapons we had announced some time ago. Following the release of a Nationalist Valero 81mm mortar and crewmen three days ago (cf. posting below), now we're glad to show you a Stokes-Brandt mortar, also 81mm, along with its Republican crew.
New set retails at €4.95 and is available right now from our website.
Hopefully available soon from our international main stockists too!
Here you have the latest addition to our ever growing 20mm SCW figures range. This time, it's been the turn for a 81mm Valero mortar along with its Nationalist crewmen.
New set retails at €4.95 and is available right now from our website.
Don't forget to stay tuned, for this very same week we're going to release another infantry support set --a 81mm Stokes-Brandt mortar with Republican crew!
We have now ready the greens for our two next SCW figure sets --a couple of heavy mortar teams, one for each side. Here below you can watch what looks like the Republican one --these, using a Stokes-Brandt 81mm weapon:
And now some captions on the Nationalist crew of a valero 81mm mortar:
We expect to have them available in about two weeks' time, once the first sets start coming out from foundry.
