Naval Flags Poll Results

The poll we placed some weeks ago, with the aim to know our readers opinion on a future Naval Flags range priorities, is over now. Let's analize its results and make a few first decisions:

Poll consisted of two linked questions; the first one asked what period would users like better we started with. As it can be seen by the image attached at left, results here are straightforward: we are required to start with 17^th century (17 votes, against 10 for 18^th century). However, the number of votes requesting a development of both periods is significant enough to make us think that, despite giving higher priority to the period having won, the second one shouldn't be put aside. Somehow, we'd better to start developing this latter shortly after having started the first period.

As for the second poll, this one asked for users priorities among diverse seafaring nations --where several responses were allowed. Results here are fairly clear, with English men-of-war flags an absolute winner with 20 votes! Other options can be grouped into three groups: those closely following the winner (14 to 12 votes), those not prioritary but inspiring some curiosity (8 to 5 votes) and the not so favoured queue (4 votes or less).

SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THIS?

First of all, results have been inserted into Minairons Wishlist, so as to allow you to still influence scores and priorities (no matter if you already voted in the poll; what I'd like to foresee now is amount requests). Thanks to this, everyone can also request another projects not listed in the poll --just as I've done myself by adding Emanuel Wynn pirate, Jerusalem trucial trader, Russian man-of-war or Papacy ships!

As already explained in a previous post, we already projected another 10 flag designs besides of those in the poll. All them were inserted in pipeline prior to the poll, and even a few have already been printed. These 10 designs fall into two categories: flag sheets belonging to Iberian Peninsula nations (that aren't going to be affected by the poll results), and French and Ottoman sheets (whose releasing will be alternated with those best scoring in the poll; so in the next few days, pipeline will be modified with the insertion of English man-of-war flags and will start their production too).

Q - And what about 18^th century naval flags?
A - Soon, news about them coming soon too; I'm not going to forget these.

1/600 Spanish Galleon last steps

Unless something starts going seriously wrong, I expect this will be my last update on our Spanish galleon designing project, before we plunge into the process of tooling it for production.

After all, as you can see by the image above, we have designed the model with two alternative bows and sterns, to reflect the design changes suffered by the ship over the centuries. Thanks to this artifice, we shall be able to launch not just one but two different galleons (sharing a central hull, but with interchangeable bow and stern pieces, in order to facilitate the construction of hybrid models).

In the end, this is the shape our upcoming 03NAV001 Early Galleon is going to take:

And this is what the 03NAV006 Late Galleon following afterward is going to look like:

That's not all though, because we have also designed each mast in two different configurations: with either fully unfolded and partially furled sails. As both kits' masts will be interchangeable too, this will allow for even more customization and variations.

Worth to confirm that ultimate model kits will be waterline (despite drawings above are showing hulls complete to keel).

POLL REMINDER

As already announced, we shall start releasing soon a collection of naval flags suitable for this upcoming ships range. Our first releases are to comprise ensigns, jacks and pennants for Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, French and Ottoman ships (either men-of-war and merchants/privateers); but we've also set recently a poll to help determine real priorities in this matter among users. Please help us decide by answering it!

1:600 Naval Flags project, and Poll

Now that our Spanish Galleon project is closing to a hopefully happy end (whose results will be shown soon), it comes the time to start thinking of a 1:600 scale accessories range, that in my mind should unavoidably begin with an appropriate set of 17^th and 18^th centuries Naval Flags --so as to allow each one to further customize and decorate his/her ships --either those we're gradually going to release, or from other brands as Peter Pig's 1:450 sailing ships range for instance.

Consistently to the already existing collections of SCW 1:100, 1:72 and 1:56 flags, this new range will be printed as separate DIN A7 paper sheets, each one devoted to one particular ship type and nation. Each sheet will include one ensign, two alternative (or complementary) mast flags, one bow jack and one triangular or swallow-tailed pennant, following the general pattern shown below (using a fictional sample, BTW):

According to Minairons commitment toward Iberian Peninsula nations History, we have already designed and printed some first sheets devoted to Spanish and Portuguese galleons (such name deliberately standing for either merchantmen o privateering ships), as well as for a French Indiaman --not an Iberian nation, certainly, but one whose history is inextricably tied to those.

We are now completing the series with some sheets else devoted to warships of the above mentioned nations, as well as to both civilian and military galleons of Catalonia and the Ottoman Empire --another powerful nation whose naval history must be taken into account. Please have a look at what the first three sheets look like:

THE POLL

Beyond our commitment with Iberian History though, we believe that our highest priority must be given to your own will, so as to allow you decide what maritime nations flag sheets should be designed next. In the end, it's you who are going to game this or that setting, so that we must comply your wishes and/or needs!

This is why I've decided to place a complete poll consisting of two related questions, which I invite you to answer. While the first question pretends to know your preferred period (thus allowing only one answer), the second one is aimed to establish a priority order among several nations --thus allowing multiple answers. As it's always possible that some user would suggest an additional option, I don't discard to set a further poll to accomodate to such eventual suggestions.

Poll will remain open all long July month. After this, results will be published and printers will start working hard!

Three new SCW 28mm flag sets

Just as announced some weeks ago, we've just launched three new flag sheets at 1/56 scale --that is, for 28mm gaming. This time we've chosen the Spanish Foreign Legion as well as Republican and Nationalist Armies. As usual, each DIN A7 format sheet comprises up to three historical flags each, slightly textured so as to simulate waving effect. After this triple release, our SCW flags collection at this scale has now expanded up to 4 different sets.

As for the poll where I requested users' opinion on a future flags sheet devoted to the International Brigades, it was run between 20th and 30th January with the participation of 37 users. Ultimate results were as follows:

So accordingly to your votes a decision is taken. Our next International Brigades set will be devoted to the 15th IB, British Battalion, followed by the Thälmann 11th IB some time later.

13th International Brigade flags, and poll

I'm proud to show you our latest release: a Spanish Civil War flags sheet in all three scales altogether (1/100, 1/72 and 1/56). This means that we've already started reproducing our sheets in this latter scale too, and the unit chosen for such landmark is the XIII^th International Brigade, also known as Dąbrowski Brigade (or Dombrowski, once transliterated into Spanish phonetics). This unit was formed by Polish subjects mainly, but also by volunteers from other Baltic countries and a significant portion of Eastern European Jews. Their flags letterings and mottos used to show a concurrence of Spanish, Polish and Yiddish languages, as you can see below.

BTW, all three sets can already be purchased from our www.minairons.eu website.

I'd like to take advantage of this new multiple release for starting a poll among our customers and friends: if going to make another set of flags devoted to one particular International Brigade, which one would you like to be first? (see poll at right)

First poll closed

Well, our first orientative poll is already closed, after 7 seven days open to users opinion. There weren't as many votes cast as to give us an unequivocal guide on trends, but they allow us to get a broad confirmation of our previous intuitions --with some latest hour surprise, as it will be seen.

A total of 37 votes have been cast, of which: - 17 asked for the PzKpfw I A in 1/100^th scale,
- 14 would like to see a Republican AFV instead,
- 4 would prefer the PzKpfw I A in 1/56^th scale, and
- 2 asked for another Nationalist AFV.

Worth to be noted that all the 4 votes for the 1/56 version have been lightning-like cast in one single afternoon, after having been announced the birth of our firm at Lead Adventure Forum. Most of the rest have been dropped along the week, likely coming from The Miniatures Page and Wargames Spain mainly.

So what, now?

As said, these are actually few votes --quite a logical response for a just born firm. However, thanks to them we cant now feel assured enough in our forthcoming planning, that is:

- First of all, let's schedule releasing of the 1/72 version of Panzer I A for mid-October.
- Next, the 1/100 version of Panzer I A will be released by Christmas. Its design is already under study by the mould maker.
- The ubiquitous T-26 has already been entrusted to our designer. Which scale to be produced first, yet to be decided.
- Our initial prejudice toward 1/56 range will be revised thoroughly (again, it's a matter of demand; mould making is so expensive than you have no other chance than refrain yourself until getting assured. Apologies for such an excess of caution).

BTW, some eye candy coming soon. Please spread the word and help our fans list grow!