1:56 Hispano-Suiza MC-36 Project

[Lluís of Minairons]

Well, that is. After lots of e-mails received and some time of hard thinking, we at Minairons Miniatures have finally taken the decision to launch a 1:56 scale SCW vehicles range, alongside with those already started in 1:72 and 1:100.

It hasn't been an easy decision by any means. For starting a plastic & resin range can be financially considered more or less sustainable, if in one single scale; while a somehow risky but exciting business to endeavour it in two scales altogether. However, committing oneself to a third scale in parallel, at so a tender stage of our firm... well, quite far from sustainable, unless some help from requesting hobbyists themselves is provided.

This is why we've agreed to put our multi-scale commitment under crowdfunding. Not under the popular Kickstarter portal, because its use is restricted to USA and UK residents only; but IndieGogo instead --for it allows us doing so, that simple.

We'd like to start such 1:56 scale AFVs range with a rare, handsome and stylish armoured truck: the Hispano-Suiza MC-36, a competitor to Bilbao Armoured Car for equipping the "Guardia de Asalto" Spanish Republic's Police. Although finally lost the contest in favour of the cheaper Bilbaos, Hispano-Suizas didn't resign to lose their chance and saw action in Republican hands, in numbers of 5 – 15 vehicles, depending on sources. Some were captured by the Nationalists, and at least one of them experienced some improvement thanks to a cannibalized T-26 tank.

Please take a glance at our 1:56 Hispano-Suiza MC-36 Crowdfunding Project and support it!

[Arlequín]

Clever move! An opportunity to put our money where our mouths are! 

[pocoloco]

Splendid! Even though I don't play (at least yet) SCW, I am already more than tempted to purchase one or few of these.

[Lluís of Minairons]

Just started working on the thing --and finding first issues!

In short, there are no blueprints of the beast, so we've had to use a little imagination for guessing the vehicle's main dimensions. So good that someone back in the 30s had got the idea of fitting a T-26 turret on some Hispanos!!

The rest of dimensions can be deduced from this one, after comparing pictures showing different views of it. We can say right now that it will be 13.9cm long at 1:56!

Indiegogo campaign page

[Durutti]

ingenius solution to the plans problem

I had the same hassle trying to find some decent plans for this



 

[Lluís of Minairons]

PROJECT UPDATE - Some preliminary renders of the beast, as we're designing it:









Still a lot of work to do, as you can imagine. But it's started to take shape...

[Lluís of Minairons]

PROJECT UPDATE - Design keeps progressing fast, after some issues detected have been finally solved. Please check the pictures below:

Next step will be designing turrets and other accessories, such as headlights and the pegs-and-holes system to attach parts to each other.

More captions can be watched at this post on our blog: http://minairons-news.blogspot.com/2013/02/hispano-suiza-project-3rd-update.html. Click on each picture to see it larger.

Cheers,
Lluís
www.minairons.eu

[pocoloco]

Nice progress, will be quite a beast! 

[former user]

good job!

one naive question - since You are digitally designing already, why not print it in 3D on demand?

[Lluís of Minairons]

Good point, former user.

I'm already exploring such. Right now, however, I'm still more confident of regular casting/injecting ultimate results.

3D printing will be used for obtaining the master to be cast. Producing small batches from resin casting is not that different from what you suggested.

True that you must cast some number of models in advance, but your stocks keep being quite smaller than if produced in injected plastic. Anyway, you're going to use most of that first batch for marketing --sending samples to distributors, shops, magazines and so. If the model proves successful enough, you will then need to produce further batches.

This is what has happened with our 1:100 Bilbao armoured car, for instance. Our first serious orders have forced us to such  

[Lluís of Minairons]

. . .

[former user]

Allright then, would a double approach fit? like in the book market?

I'm just curious

[Lluís of Minairons]

Honestly, I don't believe this to be that innovative approach, but a common practice among metal and resin casters instead.

A perhaps closer approach might be the one I'm just about to essay soon, based on rapid tooling techniques. Can't tell you much about it yet, 'cause I'm still awaiting response and a quote from an institute depending of the Polytechnic University of Barcelona.

[former user]

OK, I was just curious

Our Town public library just got a 3D printer to be used for the material costs

[Lluís of Minairons]

Model nearly complete!!!!







Check our project's 4th update for a few images else.