T-26 production design

Glad to acknowledge you all that designing of our T-26 light tank is already finished. As new features with regard to the Panzer I Ausf. A we released shortly ago, this our second model enjoys two significant improvements, as you will see through the images below (please click on each one to see it larger):

First of all, a turret hatch can be opened. And secondly, the sprue will include the torso of a tank commander. The figure itself is inspired in several contemporary photos showing Spanish republican tank crews, wherein the vehicle commander used to wear an officer cap. Both turret hatch and crewman features can be understood as our response to feedback received by users.

Also, following the trend started with our Panzer I Ausf. A, this new model has been designed as to be built either the 45mm gun armed "B" version, or the twin turreted "A" version, as shown below:

Minairons Miniatures' T-26 will have around 10 parts --and these include those optionals needed for the "A" version indeed. This way, our second Spanish Civil War tank clearly follows the path we were committed to --no other than producing accurate scale, fast assembly miniatures, sturdy as well as detailed enough to satisfy wargamers' requirements.

These nice tanks are to be sold in box as well, just as the Panzer I Ausf. A. Also, they're to be complimented by a decalsheet too, including national markings for some of the nations that used it.

So, what's going on with us?

Things not always run as smoothly and fast as expected, no matter how much care you put at easing it. So that, sadly, I'm afraid we shall experience some unavoidable delays --nothing to panic about, seriously; but an always annoying issue for a newly born company indeed, because this uses to perceive itself as dramatically needed of a catalogue expansion...

However, while some things seem to inexplicably delay, some others get speed when least we expected them to do so. Such is the case of our re-scaled to 1:100 Panzer I A. Its mold making is advancing fast enough to allow us to present you the very first injection shots of the thing:

As you can see, there are still some injection flaws preventing a correct flow of plastic within the mold, so that the tracks haven't been formed, the hull still shows a gap or the Breda gun seems unfinished. Nothing to worry about, that's normal. First shots are done precisely for detecting such flaws and fixing them before real production starts.

About the plastic colour: Please don't panic! Again, it's just a test shot where the less important thing was choosing a colour for the sprue. Ultimate sprues will show the scary dark grey you all expect...

New Deals in Poland, Germany & France

The Minairons' distributors and retailers net keeps extending --at a slow albeit constant pace. The renowned Martola hobby shop in Poland have recently confirmed their commitment to carry our models as a retailer, for instance; as it has done too Le Lancier Bleu, a gaming shop in France already listing our 1:72 Panzer I Ausf. A in their website.

A third significant deal has been agreed with Heer46 in Germany, so that this firm will become a privileged distributor in their country of Minairons' 1:100 scale range products, as soon as the first model in such scale is released. That should happen this very month of December, or next January perhaps.

Besides, conversations have just started with a hobby shop in Belgium and an Australian distributor. Quite oddly to me though, no distributor in the USA have shown any interest in our fast assembly models so far, apart from the maker Historical Products Company (HPC) --who, quite logically, are showing their main interest in our 1:72 scale models.

First previews of Befehlswagen I B

Happy to be able to show you some first shots on another of the models we're currently designing. This will be Panzer I Ausf. B with Befehlswagen (or command vehicle) option. Here below you can see some renders on how will the command superstructure look, according to our design:

This one will be a mixed resin-plastic model kit, taking some advantage of those plastic parts already designed for our Panzer I Ausf. A; along with a number of totally new parts that are to be produced in resin. Thanks to such combination, you will be able to build either a regular Panzer I Ausf. B or a Befehlswagen command tank.

Panzer I Ausf. B will be released in 1:72^nd scale first, to be re-scaled later into 1:100^th and 1:56^th too.

Some of a Wishlist

I've just created a new page in this blog, quite significantly entitled as Wishlist. It has no other purpose than keeping a provisory register of what our customers and fans would like us to make, while awaiting the complete Wishlist Program we're planning to install in our final website, www.minairons.eu --whose development is about to conclude, thanks to the Gods of Olympus!

Please feel free to check contents of this admittedly primitive Wishlist and make the suggestions you esteem necessary. Naturally, you can also place a submission, if desired.

T-26 design, almost ready

This is the overall look of our T-26 tank after the designing desk. Naturally, it can't be taken as an ultimate model yet, because opinions and suggestions of both mould maker and plastic factory manager must be heard before --and some will likely mean going back to desk. But it allows us to consider the designing work as nearly finished, very close to a (happy) end.

Your thoughts?

Retailers in the USA and Germany

I'm glad to confirm to you all that some new agreements have been reached for allowing Minairons Miniatures models to be fluently spread into a much wider geographical area, beyond that of the distribution deals already announced a few days ago.

Such is the case of Germany for instance, where our 1:72^nd scale range will be found pretty shortly at the well-known BB-Toys shop, while a second company whose name can't be told yet has shown a strong interest in our 1:100^th scale models.

Minairons Miniatures are close to land in the United States too, thanks to an upcoming deal with Historical Products Company (HPC) for carrying our 1:72^nd scale vehicles range, that matches so well with theirs own renowned metal SCW figures.

Some further talking has already started with French, Australian, Italian and Turkish retailers and distributors as well --although none of such possible deals can be confirmed yet. Except for the particular agreement with Caliver Books for an exclusive distribution in the UK by them, no other exclusivity conditions are currently contemplated yet, so that any further request is still welcome.

Please check our current retailers & distributors list on this page.

15mm "Bilbao" Armoured Car first previews

This is one of the very first testing shots of our upcoming "Bilbao" Armoured Car in 1:100^th scale, that have been cast for testing purposes as well as some artwork to be done on them by Rubén Torregrosa of Heresy Brush. Note below the scarce number of parts and the overall neat lines.

Model is expected to enter production into the next two weeks, after some minor issues are ultimately fixed --such as the small holes that should attach the front wheels to their axles, for instance. Here below you can see a complete, 4-sided preview of the model:

Another issue to take a decision about is the machine gun. As a first trial, we chose to oversize it with the aim of testing results. However, I sense it keeps being a better solution to provide for it a regular sized metal MG. Your thoughts?