1:56 Hispano Suiza MC-36 Ultimate Design

The IndieGogo crowdfunding campaign we started one moth and a half ago has come to an end. It must be admitted that results have been far below our expectations, because no more than EUR 325.00 have been collected. Several explanations can be offered for this external funding failure but, anyway, it's clear that something has been done wrong by us --and it's our fault. We'll have to examine all factors and obtain a conclusion from these.

In spite of this, Hispano Suiza MC-36 AFV will be manufactured indeed, because such was our commitment. At this respect, I'm proud to show you the beast's final design --that will be used for making our casting masters:

Deviced at 1:56^th, the model will be quite large, up to 14cm long. In order to save resin and make it lighter, we've designed its hull inside as empty. This is why it will consist of two parts, upper and lower, this last including all four mudguards.

Windscreens are to be supplied in open and closed position, as separate parts:

In the next weeks, we're going to bring the design to the prototyping company we're usually working with, so that we can hear their opinion on the matter. As for releasing schedule, we're rather optimistic in that the vehicle can be ready for release before Summer --as initially expected.

Our warmest thanks to all those who have trusted on us and dropped your funding help. In the next few days, I shall personally get in touch with you.

1:56 Hispano-Suiza MC-36 nearly finished

We are happy and proud to let you know that designing process is almost finished. All main features have already been outlined and approved by the resin caster. A few improvements were left for afterwards due to not being critical to caster analysis --such as hull rivetting, some detail on wheel tires and windshields... But, once this is done, the model will be ready for prototyping!

Perhaps some will have noted that the alternative cannibalized T-26 turret has not been shown here. But there is one such, indeed!

Please donate and help funding it! Crowd Funding campaign page: igg.me/at/minairons-28GEV008/x/2158183

Hispano-Suiza Project 3rd update

Design keeps progressing fast, after some issues detected have been solved. Please check the pictures below:

Next step will be designing turrets and other accessories, such as headlights and the pegs-and-holes system to attach parts to each other.

Please donate and help funding it! Crowd Funding campaign page: igg.me/at/minairons-28GEV008/x/2158183

Hispano-Suiza Project 2nd update

Our first 1:56^th scale beast is progressing fast. Here you can watch some captions of it:

Please donate and help funding it! Crowdfunding campaign page: igg.me/at/minairons-28GEV008/x/2158183

Hispano-Suiza Project 1st update

Just started working on the thing --and finding first issues!

In short, there are no blueprints of the beast, not even a data sheet specifying its dimensions; so we've had to use a little imagination for guessing the vehicle's main dimensions. So good that someone back in the 30s had got the idea of fitting a T-26 turret on a Hispano!! Thanks to such improvement, we'll be capable now of calculating vehicle's length and height. The rest of its dimensions will be deduced by comparing pictures showing different views of it with this one.!

Thanks to the T-26 turret, it can already be said that the 1:56 scale model will be 13.90cm long!

(Indiegogo funding campaign page)

1:56 Hispano-Suiza MC-36 Project

Well, that is. After lots of e-mails received and some time of hard thinking, we at Minairons Miniatures have finally taken the decision to launch a 1:56^th scale SCW vehicles range, alongside with those already started in 1:72^nd and 1:100^th scales.

It hasn't been an easy decision by any means. For starting a plastic & resin range can be financially considered more or less sustainable, if in one single scale; while a somehow risky but exciting business to endeavour it in two scales altogether. However, committing oneself to a third scale in parallel, at so a tender stage of our firm... well, quite far from sustainable, unless some help from requesting hobbyists themselves is provided.

This is why we've agreed to put our multi-scale commitment under crowdfunding. Not under the popular Kickstarter portal, because its use is restricted to USA and UK residents only; but under IndieGogo instead --for it allows us doing so, that simple.

We'd like to start such 1:56^th scale AFVs range with a rare, handsome and stylish armoured truck: the Hispano-Suiza MC-36, a competitor to Bilbao Armoured Car for equipping the "Guardia de Asalto" Spanish Republic's Police. Although finally lost the contest in favour of the cheaper Bilbaos, Hispano-Suizas didn't resign to lose their chance and saw action in Republican hands, in numbers of 5 – 15 vehicles, depending on sources. Some were captured by the Nationalists, and at least one of them experienced some improvement thanks to a cannibalized T-26 tank.

Please take a glance at our 1:56 Hispano-Suiza MC-36 Crowdfunding Project and support it!

If not Kickstarter, then... what?

We had recently started going around the possibility of bringing into Kickstarter some of our most significant projects in the pipeline. However, when accessing to there we've had the unpleasant surprise of its use to be restricted to US and UK citizens and companies solely. As we belong to none of both countries, we have no possibility of obtaining crowdfunding through that popular site.

So what would you advise to do instead? what crowdfunding alternatives do we have available?

Our plans at respect consisted of having part of our molds' cost crowdfunded through one such portals. In exchange, contributors would be granted a Minairons' goods value equal to their invest plus shipping expenses, at their free choice regardless of the scale. Such reward might be claimed for immediately after the project was approved –or might be kept for a relatively long period of, let's say, some 1-2 years, until the models range of their preferred scale had grown enough.

Thanks to such funding system, we would be able to expand our ranges faster and accordingly with expectations created, without getting submerged into a too risky financial stress.

Your thoughts about the thing?