Grenadier Models Inc.

Grenadier Models Inc. was a Springfield, Pennsylvania miniature manufacturer that operated from 1975 until it closed in 1996. It developed from a small basement enterprise into one of the larger companies in the expanding hobby-gaming market, producing lead and metal figures, vehicles, game accessories, paints, boxed collections, and related publications. Its products covered historical subjects, fantasy, science fiction, horror, post-apocalyptic settings, and licensed entertainment properties. The company was founded by Andrew Chernak and Ray Rubin, who had previously worked together at Canterbury Pewter Ltd., a gift-market sculpting business established in 1972. Chernak served as president and head sculptor, while Rubin was vice president and head artist. Their earlier experience in historical miniatures helped shape Grenadier's initial catalog, which began with 25mm American Revolution figures released in anticipation of the 1976 United States Bicentennial. The company took its name from the first miniature it produced, a grenadier. Grenadier initially concentrated on historical soldiers, but it quickly expanded into fantasy and science fiction as those segments grew faster than traditional historical modeling. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, its catalog included Starsoldiers, Space Squadrons, Wizzards & Warriors, dungeon figures, monsters, Western gunfighters, Gamma World subjects, furniture, spaceships, and other gaming accessories. The company increasingly sold complete boxed sets rather than only individual figures, making miniature gaming more accessible to hobbyists. A particularly important phase began when Grenadier entered a short but commercially significant relationship with TSR, Inc. The company marketed itself in 1981 and 1982 as the producer of miniatures for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and TSR's Gamma World role-playing game. Its catalog included blister packs, small and large boxed sets, painting products, and figures for the Snit's Revenge board game. Grenadier also published the Grenadier Bulletin, which combined product promotion with games, fiction, comics, puzzles, and hobby material. Grenadier and TSR ended their relationship in late 1982 after disagreement over Grenadier's intention to make figures for other game companies. Grenadier retained rights to many of its own earlier sculptures and reissued selected designs in lines such as Dragon Lords, Fantasy Lords, and Action Art. The separation enabled the company to work with a broad group of publishers and game systems, including Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu, Game Designers' Workshop's Traveller and Twilight 2000, FASA properties, Mayfair Games, Hero Games, Pacesetter, West End Games, and others. Grenadier also marketed paints and miniature sets through mainstream retail channels, including products associated with The Dark Crystal and Masters of the Universe. The company's best-known collector programs included the Dragon-of-the-Month series, which ran through twelve monthly releases from 1984 into 1985, and the subsequent Giant's Club series. These products combined collectible fantasy figures with maps, bases, and a continuing presentation that encouraged repeat purchases. Grenadier also ran the Wizard's Gold Contest in 1982 and 1983, placing gold-plated castings and prize certificates in selected boxes. International operations became increasingly important. Grenadier Models UK Ltd. was formed in 1984 with its European distribution partner, and its British operation later moved from Birkenhead to northern Wales with assistance from the Welsh Development Agency. By 1991 the British office had become a major center for design and development. It supported European and Australian customers through operations in Wales and Auckland, New Zealand, while British sculptors and designers such as Mark Copplestone, Bob Naismith, and Nick Lund became central to the company's later product identity. Grenadier's later catalog emphasized proprietary game systems and broad fantasy ranges. Nick Lund's Fantasy Warriors, released as a boxed fantasy battle game with more than one hundred plastic figures, became a central product. Other late ranges included Future Warriors, Lost Lands, Warlords, Fantasy Legends, Cyberpunk, large signature collections, artillery, battlefield accessories, and Dragon Lords the Game. The company also worked with notable sculptors including Janine Bennett, Julie Guthrie, Michael Daley, Sandra Garrity, William Watt, Ian Symonds, and others. Grenadier closed its operations in 1996. Its original corporate business ceased, but many Grenadier designs continued to be manufactured or distributed by companies in the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States. The brand remains important to collectors and miniature-gaming historians because of its early role in commercial fantasy miniatures, its licensed role-playing-game ranges, its influential sculptors, and its effort to connect miniature collecting with painting, retail distribution, newsletters, and complete tabletop games.

Grenadier Models began in 1975 as a small business founded by Andrew Chernak and Ray Rubin. The founders had previously collaborated at Canterbury Pewter Ltd. and brought experience in sculpting historical miniatures. Grenadier's first release was a group of 25mm American Revolution figures timed for the United States Bicentennial market, and the business took its name from a grenadier figure. During its first years, Grenadier sold historical soldiers, American Civil War figures, Old West subjects, and other conventional wargaming miniatures. It also experimented with fantasy and science-fiction ranges, including Starsoldiers, Space Squadrons, Wizzards & Warriors, furniture, dungeon subjects, monsters, and post-apocalyptic figures. By the end of the 1970s, the growth of fantasy and science-fiction gaming was changing the company's product mix. Grenadier responded with boxed sets that grouped figures for dungeon adventures, space battles, Western games, Gamma World-style settings, and other forms of adventure gaming. The company's relationship with TSR was its most visible early commercial partnership. In 1981 and 1982 Grenadier described itself as the producer of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons miniatures and also supported TSR's Gamma World game. It sold blister packs, small and large boxed sets, painting products, and figures connected with Snit's Revenge. The Grenadier Bulletin supported the business with product information and broader hobby content, including games, stories, comics, and puzzles. Grenadier and TSR separated in late 1982 when Grenadier planned to produce figures for other publishers. Grenadier subsequently reused or reissued designs it regarded as its own in the Dragon Lords, Fantasy Lords, and Action Art ranges, although some designs were changed when similarities to material associated with TSR created continuing rights and branding concerns. The company then expanded its licensing and publishing relationships. It produced or announced ranges associated with Call of Cthulhu, Traveller, Twilight 2000, Champions, Chill, D.C. Heroes, Paranoia, Star Wars, Shadowrun, and other game properties. Some announced or planned partnerships did not ultimately result in Grenadier-produced figures. The 1980s also saw Grenadier move beyond specialist hobby distribution. Through Pinnacle Products, an affiliated subsidiary, the company marketed paints and figures to mainstream retail customers. Products included The Dark Crystal Adventure Collection, Paint and Collect sets, Masters of the Universe-related paint-and-play products, and miniatures for games such as Ogre and Car Wars. Grenadier's marketing emphasized collecting and painting as well as gameplay. Collector-focused programs helped establish the company's identity. The Dragon-of-the-Month series supplied twelve monthly dragon sets from 1984 to 1985, with jeweled bases and map sections that formed a larger setting. Completing the series created eligibility for an additional dragon figure. The following Giant's Club program applied a similar collectible logic to large fantasy humanoids. Grenadier also used prize promotions, including the Wizard's Gold Contest, and marked its tenth anniversary by distributing commemorative Paladin figures in selected boxes. Grenadier formed Grenadier Models UK Ltd. in 1984 with its British distributor. The British operation learned to cast the company's products locally, later moved to northern Wales with support from the Welsh Development Agency, and developed into an important European design and manufacturing center. By the early 1990s, the company had branches or support operations in Wales and Auckland, New Zealand. British and European sculptors became increasingly influential, particularly as the company pursued larger-scale fantasy and science-fiction models. In 1987 Julie Guthrie became associated with a signature range, and later products also featured work by Mark Copplestone, Bob Naismith, Nick Lund, Janine Bennett, Sandra Garrity, William Watt, Michael Daley, Ian Symonds, and other sculptors. Fantasy Warriors, designed by Nick Lund and released as a boxed fantasy battle game with a large plastic-figure component, became a major late-period product. Grenadier also developed Future Warriors, Lost Lands, Warlords, Fantasy Legends, Cyberpunk, Dragon Lords the Game, artillery, battlefield accessories, and extensive signature collections. The company experienced a creative revival around 1992, when Chernak and Rubin resumed more direct creative responsibilities and Kim Eastland returned after working at TSR. This revival was brief, however, and the company closed in 1996. Grenadier no longer operated as an independent manufacturer afterward, but many of its miniatures continued in production through other companies in the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States. Its legacy is preserved through surviving catalogs, bulletins, painted collections, gaming communities, and the continuing availability of descendants of its classic sculpts.

• 1996

  Company closes

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Grenadier Models closed its operations. Many of its designs later remained available through other manufacturers.

• 1993

  Fantasy Warriors becomes a centerpiece

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Fantasy Warriors and related ranges became central to Grenadier's catalog, alongside Future Warriors, Lost Lands, Warlords, and other proprietary products.

• 1992

  Creative revitalization

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  The founders resumed creative responsibilities and Kim Eastland returned to the company during a period of attempted revitalization.

• 1991

  British office becomes a design center

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Grenadier's British operation in Wales became increasingly important to product design and development, with British sculptors taking a leading role.

• 1989

  Shadowrun miniatures introduced

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Grenadier released an early miniature range for FASA's Shadowrun role-playing game.

• 1988

  Star Wars miniature range

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Grenadier released a Star Wars miniature series based on characters and subjects from the first three films.

• 1987

  Julie Guthrie signature range begins

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Julie Guthrie joined Grenadier's creative roster and sculpted the company's first signature miniature range.

• 1984

  Grenadier Models UK is formed

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  The company established a British operation with its European distributor, creating a foundation for local casting and later design work.

• 1984

  Dragon-of-the-Month launches

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Grenadier released the first of twelve monthly dragon sets, a collectible program that became one of its best-known offerings.

• 1982

  TSR relationship ends

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Grenadier and TSR ended their business relationship after a disagreement concerning Grenadier's plans to supply other game companies.

• 1981

  TSR-era role-playing miniatures begin

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Grenadier began promoting itself as a producer of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and Gamma World miniatures and launched the Grenadier Bulletin.

• 1976

  First American Revolution miniatures

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  The company released its first 25mm American Revolution figures in preparation for the United States Bicentennial market.

• 1975

  Grenadier Models is founded

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Chernak and Rubin founded Grenadier Models as a miniature manufacturer in the United States.

• 1972

  Founders establish Canterbury Pewter

  [1]Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org

  Andrew Chernak and Ray Rubin established Canterbury Pewter Ltd., a predecessor business that provided experience in sculpting and producing gift-market pewter items.

Grenadier positioned itself as a broad, accessible miniature-gaming company serving collectors, role-playing gamers, wargamers, and hobby painters. Its strategy combined proprietary fantasy and science-fiction ranges, licensed game and entertainment properties, boxed starter products, collectible subscription-style series, paints, and traditional retail distribution.

• licensed role-playing-game miniatures · 1981

  Advanced Dungeons & Dragons miniatures

  Grenadier's AD&D lines included individual blister packs, smaller boxed assortments, larger boxed collections, and painting-oriented products. They covered monsters, adventurers, fantasy characters, and related subjects. The range was central to Grenadier's early-1980s commercial profile before the company's relationship with TSR ended.

• collectible fantasy miniatures · 1984

  Dragon-of-the-Month

  This twelve-part series presented a different fantasy dragon each month, generally with a decorative base and a section of a larger map. The format encouraged collectors to obtain the complete series and offered an additional dragon opportunity for eligible collectors.

• collectible fantasy miniatures · 1985

  Giant's Club

  Giant's Club followed the success of the dragon program with large humanoid fantasy figures. The series included subjects such as a fire giant and was designed as a continuing collectible line for fantasy gamers and miniature enthusiasts.

• fantasy battle game · 1991

  Fantasy Warriors

  Fantasy Warriors was a proprietary fantasy battle game associated with designer Nick Lund. Its boxed release included 102 plastic figures sculpted primarily by Mark Copplestone, with later additions by other artists. The game and its supporting newsletter represented Grenadier's effort to build a self-contained gaming ecosystem.

• paint and miniature sets · 1983

  Paint and Collect Series

  The Paint and Collect Series combined miniatures with paints and was designed to introduce hobbyists to assembling and painting figures. Subjects included dinosaurs, fantasy lords, fantasy monsters, and a G.I. assault team, reflecting Grenadier's attempt to reach customers beyond specialist miniature stores.

• science-fiction miniatures · 1976

  Starsoldiers and Space Squadrons

  These early science-fiction lines included futuristic soldiers and spacecraft. They established science fiction as a major part of Grenadier's catalog alongside historical and fantasy subjects and later led to additional vehicle, robot, and space-themed products.

• fantasy miniatures · 1982

  Dragon Lords

  Dragon Lords was one of the ranges Grenadier used to reissue selected fantasy designs after its separation from TSR. It allowed the company to continue selling familiar fantasy subjects while developing a more independent product identity.

• fantasy miniatures · 1982

  Fantasy Lords

  Fantasy Lords gathered boxed and blister-pack fantasy figures, including designs carried forward from earlier Grenadier work. The range helped Grenadier maintain continuity with its established fantasy catalog after the TSR partnership ended.

• hobby publication · 1981

  Grenadier Bulletin

  The Grenadier Bulletin was a promotional and hobby publication issued in several series. In addition to catalog and product material, it included games, comics, fiction, puzzles, and other content intended to build engagement around Grenadier's miniature ranges.

• 1985Tenth-anniversary Paladin promotion

  United States

  Grenadier marked its tenth anniversary by adding commemorative Paladin figures to selected Fantasy Lords Dungeon Raiders boxes.

  Outcome. The promotion reinforced Grenadier's use of limited and commemorative figures to reward collectors.

  Source
• 1984Dragon-of-the-Month

  United States · United Kingdom · Europe

  Grenadier marketed twelve monthly dragon releases with map pieces and decorative bases, turning miniature purchases into an ongoing collecting program.

  Outcome. The program proved popular and was followed by a second dragon series and the Giant's Club range.

  Source
• 1982Wizard's Gold Contest

  United States

  Grenadier placed gold-plated miniature castings and prize certificates in selected boxes. The 1982 promotion included a gold prize connected to both the purchaser and the participating retailer.

  Outcome. The promotion was repeated in 1983 with different prize certificates and became a notable collector-oriented marketing feature.

  Source

• 1984

  Establishment of a British operating companyStrategy

  Background

  Growing European demand made local casting and distribution attractive, while the British market offered access to designers and sculptors working in larger-scale fantasy and science-fiction miniatures.

  Action taken

  Grenadier formed Grenadier Models UK Ltd. with its British distribution partner and later developed operations in Wales and New Zealand.

  Aftermath

  By 1991 the British office had become a major design and development center for the wider company.

  Source

• 1982

  End of the TSR relationship and move toward multi-publisher productionStrategy

  Background

  Grenadier's relationship with TSR ended after disagreement over Grenadier's plans to produce miniatures for other game companies.

  Action taken

  Grenadier pursued a broader licensing and proprietary-product strategy and reissued selected internally originated designs in independent fantasy ranges.

  Aftermath

  The company expanded its work with other role-playing and game publishers, while some reused designs were modified because of continuing concerns about similarities to TSR-associated imagery.

  Source

1. 1Grenadier Models Inc.en.wikipedia.org