No partnership

Sadly, our conversations with Falcata Miniaturas haven't resulted in the durable partnership agreement we'd have desired, due to a latest hour disagreement. However, neither of both firms has desisted from an eventual, looser kind of co-operation deal in a future. In spite of this rather unexpected setback, we at Minairons Miniatures still keep our own production schedules at full, as well as Falcata Miniatures also does --so that exciting news for you customers are expectable from both firms, in the short term.

As an evidence of such commitment, I'm pleased to confirm to you all that a new range of resin vehicles, 3D-designed by ours own, has just been started. This resin range is aimed at complimenting our regular plastic ranges, following a style consistent to these and using their very same scales. Thanks to such, we shall be able to produce rare or short-run AFVs as desired --by our own, with no subjection to third parties.

Our first model in this new range will be the charismatic Bilbao armoured car --to be released in 1/100^th scale first. We're already designing it!

Also, we have just opened a new section in this blog, under the quite explicit name of "provisory catalogue" (click for a glance). This is intended to permanently show our current releasing expectations --as well as serving as some prequel to the future wishlist & working progression page we shall install in our final website, www.minairons.eu.

As for the mentioned website, work on it has taken speed lately, so that I can reasonably expect now to have it working just in time for our first release --that is, around mid-October.

Partnership announcement

I am happy to publicly announce that, after several weeks of intense, stimulating discussion, Minairons miniatures has just concluded a durable partnership agreement with Falcata miniaturas, a well-known Spanish-based manufacturer of white metal miniatures.

By the terms of such agreement, from now on Falcata will manufacture Spanish Civil War metal figures and resin vehicles in exclusive for Minairons, in those same scale ranges we are going to produce in plastic.

Not necessary, in my view, to detail the easily imaginable benefits achieved by both firms through such an agreement (you know: production costs, regular income, etc). Inversely, I would like to point you out the advantages it will report to the gaming community as a whole.

First of all, you'll experience a faster catalog growth rate than expected if production had been restricted to just plastic. Thus, Minairons miniatures will be able to surprise you (pleasantly, I guess) with new releases nearly every month. Either plastic or resin vehicles, or metal figures, even accessories and scenics!

Secondly, we shall be able to take on virtually any SCW vehicle or figure, with almost no exceptions. So far, we couldn't even dream of seeing certain items in plastic --due to production costs and amounts. But now we'll become able to manufacture these in resin instead. Such is the case of the archetypal "tiznaos" improvised armour, or that of short-run tanks such as Euzkadi, Trubia, Barbastro or IGC Sadurní d'Anoia... Not to say about softskin vehicles!

Finally, a new range of metal figures will be added to those existing so far. We honestly believe it positive to the gaming community as a whole --other manufacturers included! Because both the 15mm and 20mm already existing ranges have either experienced little evolution lately, or lacked enough representation, with too few brands in concurrence.

Fans of 28mm category might still feel a little disappointed after noticing our rather limited mention to them in this announcement. I beg you to understand, however, that these are also good news for them, because it makes a huge step forward in the consolidation of our humble firm. Such consolidation will allow us to feel ourselves strong enough to extend to 28mm too in a near future, as our intention still is.

Some eye candy

Rubén Torregrosa, who is the talented painter behind Heresy Brush painting service, has dropped on Wargames Spain forum some pictures of the three 1/72 Panzer I A prototypes he was commissioned for painting. These can be watched on the following thread:

http://www.wargames-spain.com/foros/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=19773.

Don't miss the opportunity to glance at his masterly work!

He performed an excellent work with them not only at painting, but at taking a complete set of pictures of the models too --either alone, by couples and all together; on a sky blue background as well as on some scenic artwork. Here you are another one such scenographic examples, displayed as a box-art test:

Some of the several pictures he took will be used for box-art, others are to be used for promotion purposes --either by Heresy Brush or ourselves, and even some else will be shown inside already commissioned painting tutorial articles of wargaming magazines.

Panzer I A decals sample

Some users have asked us whether our boxed sets will include a decals sheet for the models. The answer is "yes, they will". Each boxed set will have a small waterslide decals sheet with markings for each one of the tank versions. As for our 20mm Panzer I A, markings are to be those below:

...OK, I'm anything but good at pictures taking! This is the sheet concept design:

As you can see, the idea behind is to provide the user with a basic national markings sheet, suitable for building all the models in box as of the desired Nation --and still having a few left, for you'll have not less than 4 markings sets of the selected Army for the 3 models in box!

Feeding Republican prayers

Here you are a very first preview of the next AFV we're currently planning:

True that it's still a crude draft. Just for keeping you thrilled! ;)

Panzer I A painted

The so-called 2^nd generation of 1/72^nd scale Panzer I A prototypes were delivered last week to Ruben Torregrosa of Heresy Brush, for being painted and having a complete photo studio on them. One out of those 3 models is already finished, you can see the excellent work of Ruben through the pictures below:

First, the standard version with twin MGs:

And now with the "modificado" turret with 20mm Breda gun:

A really excellent job, having into account it has been done on just a resin prototype, not the ultimate plastic product! These pictures will be used for promotion purposes, as well as for box art.

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!

Panzer I A second prototypes

As explained a few days ago, a 2^nd set of 3 polyurethane resin prototypes of our PzKpfw I A was ordered. Such models would be destined to assembly testing, painting and photo studying by a talented professional painter --allow me some degree of mystery about his identity, for the moment. His work results are to be used mainly for box art designing, and secondly for promotion actions such as reviewing articles, banners, advertising and so.

Today I've been delivered the last one of these prototypes, which have been cast in black resin. I've hurriedly packed them into a parcel and sent it to its destination in Madrid, where the painter is already waiting for the models.

If curious, you can see below how do the prototypes look (sorry for the photo quality, I'm anything but good at this job):

In some days more exciting news about our 1/72^nd scale Panzer I A!

In the meanwhile, let me acknowledge you about a couple of news pieces: first of all, that the original Pz I A design has already been adapted for 1/100 scale too; and secondly we've just started our second Spanish Civil War AFV designing process...