Modelling work on the 15mm Soviets continues apace; in addition to the Kunitsa APC and Laska tankette already previewed, we have the following models ready for printing:
We’re working hard on turning these collections of bits and bytes into resin and metal reality – as expected, not everything has worked first time and we’ve had to get one or two bits reprinted because they needed tweaking (or, in a couple of cases, I managed to destroy them while making moulds …). But we’ll get there.
So it’s now just two days to go. I’m getting panicky about finishing the Pegasus Bridge game (the last 2-3 buildings aren’t even due to arrive until today !!) while Phil and I are (as always) both worried that we don’t have enough stock of this, that or the other. So no change from any other Salute. But in 48 hours time we’ll be finishing off the setup of the stand, the game will be sitting proudly just down the aisle and we’ll be awaiting the opening of the doors and the onrushing horde.
We do have a pretty decent list of new releases, especially if you’re a 6mm or 15mm SF gamer looking for terrain ! You can see a list of the confirmed releases on the website, and even at this late stage there are likely to be more additions (Aeronef gamers should certainly keep an eye out before Saturday, and we might well spring one more 15mm surprise if all goes to plan).
Ages ago (well, six months-ish) we announced we were going to revamp the 15mm range – essentially scrapping pretty much all of the existing models, replacing them with new 3D sculpts and at the same time making all of the models slightly larger (since we seem to be on the smaller side of 15mm manufacturers).
For one reason or another, this process has taken longer than expected – both technical issues and real-life pressures have taken their toll. We’re hoping to have some initial castings of the rather magnificient M-83 Curtiss Heavy Hover Tank available to purchase at Salute in a few days, assuming nothing else goes wrong (the first mould was damaged when the master model was removed), so we will finally have released the first model in our grand plan.
Next up will be some Neo-Soviets – these are the most popular of our 6mm ranges so it made sense to start here. We have the 3D prints of the first two models already, the Laska tankette and Kunitsa APC, while 3D model of the Bizon tank is about 50% complete.
Once Salute is out of the way, we’ll take a well-earned breather and then crack on with production of these models.
We’re providing a few of our new 15mm buildings to the South London Warlords for them to feature in one of the their games at this years Salute. The first castings have just been finished so they will be off to the Post Office this lunchtime.
These are so new that even Tony hasn’t had a chance to see the first castings yet!
Its also been a while since we’ve added to our range of Great War Belgians. So here is a first look at a little group of three chaps having a shot at the invading Germans.
All three will be available with headgear to represent either Line Infantry, Carabiniers or Grenadiers.
I’m hoping to get them out for Salute on April 21st, however since they’re currently in New Zealand waiting to go to the post office that may not happen.
Two weeks for them to travel round the world, have a master mould made and then three production moulds. Its going to very tight.
The British Nef fleet hasn’t had too much love of recent times. In fact its been several years since the Engadine dig cruiser was released. So with Salute coming (very quickly) we’ve decided to add a few new models to the British range. After all the British should have the biggest and best fleet shouldn’t they.
So I locked myself away in Brigade towers for a couple of days armed with plastic card, knives, glue and large supply of Diet Coke with the aim to knock out half a dozen new models.
First up is a large bomber based on the Handley Page Heyford from the 1930′s. The Heyford is one of my two favourite British bombers along with the Short Stirling so was an obvious choice for inspiration. However this being Nef it’s a little bigger than the real Heyford having six engines rather than two (and more guns).
There are still a few bits to finish off (the crew need to be added) but it should be out for Salute.
We have six in ours ! They’ve been lurking there for, well, ages, having been previewed in our old Design Studio page long ago. The six are a drummer and standard bearer, plus a leader and three more armed with spears.
They will be available at Salute 2012.
Anyone who’s been following the progress of our Pegasus Bridge game will realise that I’ve had a rather frustrating time getting hold of a model of the bridge itself. The 3D computer model has been submitted to and rejected by Shapeways on three or four occasions, but the Shapeways team have been very helpful in pointing out ways we could fix it, and at last we came up with a set of solutions. A copy of the model finally arrived at Brigade Towers yesterday, and to say I was pleased would be the understatement of the century. Just take a look …
The model is already on the painting table, ready for installation on our gameboards in the next week or two. There are also a bunch of other new items ready for our Shapeways store, but I’ll save those for later this week – I thought Pegasus deserved an entry all of its own.
If you want your own, the model is available for sale now in our Shapeways store. If anyone wants to pick one up at Salute, e-mail us by the end of this week (March 31st) and we’ll ensure one is waiting for you.
As in previous years, we’ve (finally) added a previews page for new releases at this year’s Salute show to our website.
Most of what goes on there will get mirrored here on the blog (we started yesterday with the Land Ironclads forts) but the website page will have full details of pricing etc.
It’s all pretty exciting leading up to Salute this year, mainly because we’re a bit disorganised so even we have no idea what will be appearing !!
More previews today, this time of three fortifications for Land Ironclads or Aeronef. These models have already been moulded and we’re casting tins for a production mould – we’re aiming to release these at Salute in April.
First up is a British tower fortification, based on the designs of the WW2 Maunsell Forts, some of which are still in place off the coasts of East Anglia and Kent. The 3.7″ AA guns on the real thing have been replaced by a pair of our standard British Aeronef turrets for more firepower ! Although designed as a sea fort, the design would look perfectly at home on land as well.
The next one is a heavy artillery fort, with four turrets (this example is fitted with French/Austrian turrets), for maximum destructive capabilty. If the Maginot line had looked like this, Hitler wouldn’t have stood a chance …
Last up, and based on what I think is an image from a between-the-wars toy building set (which I can’t now find), is a strongpoint with a single turret and plenty of firing slits for emplaced infantry.
