A further Foreign Legion preview

A few months ago I shared with you our first steps on a projected new 20mm figure set for Spanish Civil War - the Spanish Foreign Legion, a first batch of which was already shown in this installment. Their sculpting is complete now with a second batch making up for a full 15-figure set in total. Here you have a preview on these new greens:

While the first batch consisted entirely of fusiliers and a couple of NCOs, this second batch comprises two MG-13 Dreyse LMGs along with their crews and a few fusiliers else, a couple of which are prone.

Worth to be pointed out that, after some thought, in the end we decided to spare the tripod mounted MMG and gunner for a later set; thus replacing these with another kneeling figure firing a bipod mounted LMG instead - as you can see below.

This new 15-figure set is scheduled for release at some point between mid April and early May. However, I'm pondering whether to put them on sale before, in a pre-order regime with a bonus discount reward for early supporters - so helping me finance skyrocketing production costs. If so, would you support such pre-sale?

Legionaries preview

Minairons miniatures' Spanish Civil War 20mm figure range has been finally resumed!

The first set we're approaching consists of 15 Foreign Legion figures in box; a first half of which are in an advanced sculpting stage already, as it can be seen by the picture above. This first handful of figures depicts two NCOs sporting SMGs and five riflemen in various fighting poses.

For this range to relaunch it has been required to find a capable and willing sculptor - the same one who already created our WSS range - replacing our previous sculptor, Xan Bautista. Due to this, some minor style differences can be expected, although we're committed to keep the highest internal consistence possible.

As a proof of this, here below you can see the upcoming sculpts compared to a couple of already existing Moroccan Regulars:

Hope you like the new sculpts!

Japanese warship preview

Minairons' upcoming Age of Sail model kit will be the Atakebune, a fearsome Japanese warship widely used during the convulse Sengoku Jidai and early Edo periods. Atakebunes can be considered floating fortresses rather than true, seaworthy warships, so they were used mainly in coastal actions. Although provided with sails, they were actually powered by oars in combat - and we're going to foresee both propulsion methods, as it can be seen below.

Model itself will consist of a hull main part, which is going to be resin cast, complemented by a number of optional accessories such as two alternative deck housings, both sitting and standing masts, and two oar rows. This will allow eventual users to personalize to taste their ships, as well as giving to them either a seafaring or fighting configuration.

For instance, here you have two alternative propulsion configurations using the same on-deck housing.

We expect to release the Atakebune at some point this Summer.

1:72 Barbastro tank preview

I'm excited to share with you a sample of what's going to be our next Spanish Civil War 1:72^nd scale AFV - the obscure, massive Barbastro tank!

Despite its larger than average size for a lightly armed tank, model kit is consisting of just six main parts, so standing still as a fast assembly one. Model is complete now, only awaiting before release a decision about weaponry to be taken.

The upcoming release of this new model will serve us to celebrate Minairons 10^th Anniversary, that happens to be this very Summer! A huge thank you to everyone who has placed their trust in us. We hope to keep deserving that trust.

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.

1:600 scale Polacre sneak peek

I'm pleased to share what is going to be our next Age of Sail ship model, an 18^th century polacre (also known as polacca). These ships were kind of an evolution from xebecs, primarily designed to outperform these. Polacres most tipically displayed a lateen sail on fore mast while full rigging on main and mizzen masts.

Our polacre model is to have the high quality resin hull you can see in pictures, complemented with white metal masts and sails (pictures just show their 3d-printed masters, that are going to be brought to foundry soon).

1/144 scale WSS flags

Just as promised some time ago, we're going now to push forward the 1/144^th scale version of our War of Spanish Succession infantry flag ranges, that already exist at 1/100^th, 1/72^th and 1/56^th scales.

This new range of flags is suitable directly for 10 to 12mm figures, in DIN A7 sized paper sheets with room for 6 flags belonging to 3 different regiments of foot (King's and Colonel's colours).

Two sets are already available right now, devoted to Late war Catalan infantry; they're going to be followed soon by Bourbon Spanish and Portuguese sets too. Hope you like them!

Video sneak peek on our upcoming Xebec

Here you have a full video about our upcoming Age of Sail xebec assembly and painting job. Enjoy!

1/600 Xebec preview

Our range of 1/600 scale Age of Sail ships will keep growing over 2021, with at least two or three new model kits. The next one we've forecast is the beautiful mediterranean xebec whose 3D printed prototype you can see here.

Most likely, ultimate model will be entirely made of white metal - not just masts and sails, as in previous models of his range, but hull too.

We're going to bring it into moulds in the next weeks, so it can be reasonably expected to be ready by late Winter or early Spring.

Hope you like it!

Going for an early frigate now

Our small Age of Sail ships range keeps growing steadily; this in pictures is our upcoming release: a mid-17th century frigate, a boat design laying mid way between 16th century 'fast galleons' and 18th century proper frigates --or so it seems to me, at least. Swift and maneuverable, this is the kind of ship one would choose for naval scouting or privateering.

Model itself consists of 10 parts in total, with a hull resin and white metal rigging. Ultimate model kit is to be sold in box along with an appropriate flag sheet.

The assembled sample model you can watch in pictures has been slightly modified by adding two pieces of wire for flagstaffs - one at stern, the other on mainmast.

1/72 Trubia A4 tank, almost ready!

I'm delighted to announce the upcoming release of a new Spanish Civil War AFV in 1/72 scale: 1926 Trubia A4 tank. Model tooling is finally complete, so we're just awaiting boxart and package printing now.

As you can see by the picture below, main hull, tracks and turret sections are resin cast, while MGs and other accessories are white metal cast - 13 parts in total.

We expect to release this new model in around 2 weeks' time. Stay tuned!

20mm SCW dispatch riders preview

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.

War of Spanish Succession flags

Those of you fond of 18th c. gaming know that several brands are already offering quite comprehensive ranges of flags in virtually all the scales this period is gamed in. Would it be any room for another one, then? So I think, indeed. The reason why is that very few of the existing collections (if any) do include the armies of the peninsular theatre itself: either the flags own to Philip V and Charles VI, or even the Portuguese ones.

Helping to fill such huge gap is my intended goal. Therefore, following the request of a customer, Minairons is about to start editing a thoroughful range of War of Spanish Succession (1701-1715) military unit flags.

We are planning to produce such flags as small DIN A7 sheets (as customary amongst us) comprising two flag designs --the King's colour and the Regiment's colour of one given unit each. Sets will be designed primarily for 15, 20 and 28mm altogether; with a door open to edit them later for 6 and 10mm too, depending on demand.

Once a given set is designed and edited, its 28mm version will be immediately taken to printshop and made available. Otherwise, the 20 and 15mm versions of it will be put in webshop under pre-order status, awaiting user orders on them; so that a range will be printed when is met a minimum number of requests on the sheets belonging to it. Provisionally, I've set that minimum to hundred (100) units.

If eventually a given range (15 or 20mm) does not meet such minimum after a period of time, then I'll resign taking it to printshop; anyway, I'll make the affected sheets available alike, but as a downloadable PDF instead. Let's suppose provisionally a 3 months' term for doing so.

As already commented above, I'm planning to leave room for reproducing the range in 6 and 10mm too, depending on your requests. On this matter, there are still some decisions around to be taken, affecting product format (printed paper? PDF? 6-10mm versions separate or combined? and so). Let's take some time to keep thinking around, still. Your comments at regard can be decisive.

Resuming SCW figures creation

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:

Upcoming Ship of the Line

I'm happy to show our upcoming 1:600 scale Ship of the Line, work on whose ultimate desig is over now.

Loosely based on the plans of an early 18th century Russian real ship, this new model can stand on tabletop as a 3rd or even a 2nd rate man-of-war --so being ideal for War of Spanish Succession, GNW, Turco-Venetian Wars or even golden age of piracy settings!

In the next weeks we'll 3d-print the design and start prototyping a master model --a job to include levelling it down to waterline, of course.

1/600 Late Galleon artwork

Please allow me some minutes to introduce our next 1/600 scale Age of Sail ship, a Late Galleon, a sample model of which was recently built and painted by Model J Ship naval workshop along with her earlier sister, as you can see by the pictures in this thread.

Model kit will come in box, complemented by a flagsheet with a 17th Century Catalan ensign, flags and pennant --those very same you're watching in pictures here. This new 03NAV006 Late Galleon is schedueld for release in April 3^rd, but eventually interested users can already pre-order her from this web page.

Also, some will perhaps find useful the collection of 17^th century Ensigns we are developing, currently covering either naval, merchant and privateer flags of Spain, Portugal, Catalonia, France, Ottoman Empire, England and United Provinces, with more on the way devoted to Venice, Malta, Sicily, some Indies Companies and a handful of pirates.

She's priced the same as her earlier sister --that is, €15.95.