On Minairons' future

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 31^st, 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 1:72^nd scale WSS range, too.

Nothing is carved on stone yet about our 1:72^nd and 1:100^th 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 1:144^th 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 1:600^th 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 1:56^th 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!

New 1:144 Fieseler Fi-156 'Storch' & orders from USA

Perhaps some of you weren't aware that the otherwise renowned WWII German reconnaissance plane Fieseler Fi-156 Storch (=Stark) was already present in Spanish Civil War, albeit in very limited numbers. About 6 of these STOL aircraft were dispatched to Spain in 1938, for their use by the Condor Legion. As such, they displayed the usual green grey livery with Spanish Nationalist markings. Our model kit is 3D printed, so it needs no assembly, and has been designed by PlanePrinter as usual.

Besides of the orders traffic jam (over 100 of these in a couple of weeks!) experienced lately, that I'm steadily diluting, there is another issue affecting my American customers. A few days ago, all European postal services resolved to temporarily suspend shipments to the States while awaiting more clarity on the new USA issued tariffs. As a consequence, I'm compelled to also temporarily withhold USA orders processing, until all this f*cking mess is ultimately fixed. My most sincere apologies for this unexpected inconvenience.

Shipping delay & new 1:144 PZL P.24 fighter

To all my dear customers, please accept in advance my apologies for the delays shipping process is experiencing - mostly due to a real avalanche of orders during our reopening first week. Orders have been received at a pace far faster than my humble ability to process them. Please take a little patience with me; I reassure you that your orders haven't been forgotten!

On the other hand, I've just released today a new 1:144 scale WWII fighter: the Polish PZL P.24, an aircraft also used by Greece, Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria. Due to tightening deadlines before ultimate closure, I haven't been able to provide for a decent box art for this new model. Apologies again!

Facing the inevitable

Minairons miniatures will definitely close doors before Year's End. It has not been possible to reach an agreement that would allow its survival, and at this point it makes no sense for me to continue struggling to keep the website open, despite being retired and with current family health problems.

Consequently, Minairons.eu will close for 60 days starting from June 18; time necessary to address the aforementioned health problems. After that, I will briefly reopen the website to liquidate stocks and that will be the end of it all.

Orders currently in progress will be processed normally, and we will continue to respond to your queries or requests by email at info@minairons.cat. It has been encouraging and exciting while it lasted. Thanks for your kind support.

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.

Minairons' status update

Some of you having recently visited Minairons miniatures website may have eventually noticed this was shut down for a period of time --one or two weeks, usually--, allegedly due to family health reasons. Such closure has happened two or three times in the last two months, and I must say it to be expectable for several months else, while Minairons miniatures still goes under my management.

The reason behind these intermittent closures is my wife's health; she's affected by a serious disease requiring both oncological and physiotherapeutic treatment, so that her full rehabilitation is probably going to take a long time. Therefore, the fraction of my time currently available for Minairons business has decreased significantly --enough for making me decide to close the website from time to time, if eventually overwhelmed by the amount of orders, in order to keep taking care of her as well as household stuff as a priority.

The current situation also affects our new releases schedule, as still shown in our blog's pipeline page. I'm not going to release any new item for a while, maybe one or two months; so everything in pipeline stands there in some kind of standby, even those items potentially ready for an immediate launching. Hopefully things may start to run better soon, as while as my wife's health starts improving and I become able to retake halted projects and serve customers as they deserve.

On the other hand, I recently started a conversation with someone interested in taking over the management of Minairons miniatures, now that I am actually retired --I hope to bring great news about Minairons survival soon!

Minairons' website, temporarily closed

Minairons' online shop is temporarily closed until August 21, due to logistical reasons: most of our service or product providers have started Summer holidays, basically. But also I wanted a little time to rest and start figuring out my future after having retired.

Those few orders still in course will be processed normally, and users will be acknowledged of eventual status updates as usual. Also, I'll be still there to assist eventual questions or requirements at info [at] minairons [dot] cat; however, until the date above no new orders can be placed.

Retiring, finally

Well, retirement is a river everyone must cross, one day or another - and such day has arrived for me. I am (sad? pleased?) to announce that I'm going to retire from active work next weekend, after reaching 64 years old.

Then, an unavoidable question arises now for sure: what is going to happen to Minairons miniatures, once I am retired? Believe me that I've been asking to myself this very same question for several months now - and I'be been plainly unable to extract an ultimate answer yet.

Ideally, I'd love to see Minairons miniatures perduring in other hands, so I'm stating now my willingness to discuss the matter with any reliable third pary out there, with no preconditions. On the other side, I'm aware to have been cultivating a number of niche settings that not many other brands would happily assume as own. So I well-foundedly presume it as likely to receive few, if any, offers for our existing ranges.

Whatever the case, what I can assure you is that, in the short term, no one will notice the difference. As while as Minairons miniatures keeps staying in my retired man's hands, I'll be running it normally still for as long as necessary. Take it for granted, at least, for all what remains of 2024, with a strong chance for everything to stay the same well into 2025 - unless a convenient agreement with a third party is met first.

Not only this can be granted, but also the continuation of all projects scheduled for a next release (such as the SCW Foreign Legion, for instance), as well as those many already on the workbench.

Besides, both our minairons.eu main site and the affiliated minairons-news blog will be maintained and running normally too - and in fact I strongly recommend to all our friends to bookmark the forementioned blog, where I'll regularly keep posting forecasts, releases and news as usual.

So, despite my own imminent retirement, Minairons miniatures future is assured at a medium term. Stay tuned to minairons-news blog for upcoming, exciting news!

Black Friday discount

Black Friday 2022 is nearly here!

We at Minairons miniatures have just made available a 10% off sale which is valid for all week long - that is, since right now until Friday 25^th midnight (GMT+1). This sale does apply to all products in stock. You only need to enter code BLACKF2022 when checking out.

Come and visit us at minairons.eu! Sure you'll find there what you need.

Holidays week

Minairons miniatures website will be closed for holidays since today 12^th until Friday 21^st of October.

Apologies for eventual inconveniences, but this is a much needed vacation! - the only one we're going to enjoy this year...

Nevertheless, this Saturday 15^thwe'll be attending the X^th Napoleonic & Black Powder Open of Montmeló town (Catalonia), where we're going to run a couple of demo games, as well as setting a small sale stand with some of our Black Powder era products.

This year favourites for a demo are Galleys & Galleons and (despite a bit out of period) Bag the Hun with SCW aircraft.

After this event, my beautiful wife and I are going to discreetly vanish for some days amidst the Pyrenees range steep valleys, in some place only known to minairons, dones d'aigua and other fairy beings ;)

Coming back soon!

Closing for holidays

Minairons' online shop (www.minairons.eu) will be closed for a few days, since today 15^th until saturday 25^th of September, due to I'm taking these for some much needed holidays. Our eBay store (www.ebay.es/str/minaironsminiatures) is already partially closed too, so that orders can't be taken there.

I'm going to spend these days at an undetermined location, plentiful of high peaks and forest. If anyone knows where this traffic signal is placed, then he'll have a good clue where I am roaming about :)

Re-opening and new releases

I'm going to re-open Minairons webshop tomorrow Thursday at noon, so as to let users eventually interested in placing an order to do so normally. Please have into account a couple of things, though: first of all, that not all products are at good enough stock levels, because of the general shutdown ordered by authorities by well-known reasons. Secondly, that mail services all around the world may be experiencing some difficulties, so that delivery times might widen a bit. Please accept in advance my apologies for all this - and do not lower your guard against Covid-19. Keep staying safe!

So as to celebrate our re-opening, I'm happy to share our latest releases: three new sets of 1:600^th scale Naval Flags from both 17^th and 18^th centuries.

As you can see in the photo above, these three new sets are devoted to privateering and piracy: Dutch West Indies Company (1621-1660), Barbary Corsairs (1580-1780) and Bartholomew Roberts (1719-1722) (a renowned pirate also known as Black Bart). All three sets will be available for purchase right tomorrow!

Covid-19 update

Following orders issued yesterday March 29^th 2020 by the Spanish Government regarding confinement and non-essential activities shutdown, our www.minairons.eu website will remain temporarily closed for 2 weeks' time, as our eBay store as well.

We expect to reopen next April 10^th 2020 - gods willing! In the meanwhile, please keep in touch and stay safe.

Any further change will be eventually announced right here, in this blog.

Brand new website and SCW figures

Finally, works to update and improve our www.minairons.eu website are over. It has been some of a pain and a lot of money, but I believe it has been worth the effort. SSL protocols, cellular friendly software, non-registered visitor carts and, above all, the open chance to easily improve it furthermore - all this in!

Any software change uses to leave some path behind though, like a slug: user profiles of newly registered customers (from the last 3-4 weeks) might have got lost, for instance. Also, orders history of old customers having ordered recently might not show the orders processed over that 3-4 weeks period (despite all them have been actually processed). But that's all; website is running fine and smooth now - like an Hispano-Suiza. Please feel free to visit it and check how it works now.

So as to celebrate the event, we've made available a new SCW figure set right today. It consists of a pair of 20mm Republican dispatch riders on Harley Davidson motorcycles - all in white metal. They can be found right now at our website, naturally.

Website redesign

Minairons miniatures is going to close temporarily its website for a thoroughful redesign, software update and security improvement. Works on it are scheduled to start next Monday 23^rd and should last some 2-3 weeks depending on eventual incidences. Due to it, it is possible that the website can remain unavailable for hopefully short lapses of time, while backup copies are performed or some key pieces of software are introduced.

Our activity isn't going to stop for this, however. We'll be keeping you acknowledged from our blog, from which it can be now downloaded an updated listing of our products.

If our website happened to go offline for some days and you eventually wished to place an order, you can e-mail it to us, or you can use our eBay store.

We're moving!

It's been an unusually long time since our last news update, I must agree. There is a reason for such silence, though --and this is no other than Minairons miniatures moving their headquarters to a more convenient place. No need to hide why we're moving, for a sudden rent raise has persuaded me to choose between accomodating to that increased expense, or enjoying earnings room enough to impulse new projects. That simple. To a passionate of miniature modelling and gaming (as I am indeed), the choice was obvious.

Those of you eventually interested, please note our new address is:

Minairons miniatures
Avinguda U, 139
08794 Les Cabanyes
Catalonia, Spain

The moving process itself will still take me all long February. Both the webshop and my e-mail server will keep up and running at full in the meanwhile; however, it's not unlikely that for this short lapse of time my e-mail responses, or even orders processing, can speed slow down noticeably. Please have a little patience to us in the next few weeks.

Data Policy update

As many of you have probably noticed, a new EU Regulation about Data Protection (populary known as GDPR) enters into force tomorrow 25 May 2018. Accordingly to its provisions, I've thought it fair to update Minairons Miniatures privacy policy so as to renew my personal commitment to it.

If willing, please take a look to Minairons Miniatures updated Privacy Policy.

All the best, Lluís.

Black Friday at Minairons

Free shipping worldwide for all orders equal or over €50.00 EUR, since Thursday 23rd until Thursday 30th November 23:59PM (UTC+1).

This Black Friday promotion applies to all the ranges on our website and currently in stock. If doubtful about any product availability, don't hesitate and write to us.

Shipping fees drop to UK customers

I'm sad to announce that The Plastic Soldier Company is no longer going to carry and distribute Minairons Miniatures stuff. They haven't formally acknowledged me over yet (something I would have greeted anyway), but all clues and indications do confirm this is irreversible. This circumstance saddens me even more if recalling that I had always taken PSC as a model to follow.

However, setbacks along the way should not make us stop, look back and regret. Nothing is gained like this. This is the reason why, after some thinking, I've chosen to be proactive and decide the following: as while as Minairons Miniatures does not achieve a trade deal with another UK company replacing PSC as distributor or even retailer, I've dropped all order shipping fees to individual British & Irish customers to local rates (the same ones enjoyed by Spanish customers), as if Minairons was based in the UK.

No need to add that every UK & Ireland local shop is warmly invited to get in touch with us and purchase Minairons stuff directly from us, so avoiding intermediaries --as other shops in Spain, EU and USA are already doing. Please find here our general terms for retail.

Strike End

Not having been issued any slogan for a strike elongation by controlling trade unions (CCOO and UGT), civic associations or political parties of Catalonia (except some minority unions still claiming for an indefinite strike), I am happy to end Minairons strike too.

Therefore, our website will be operational again by midnight of today, Tuesday 3/10/2017. That is, in about half an hour's time.