| Grenadier was founded in 1975 by Andrew Chernack and Ray Rubin. It's first line of miniatures was the American Revolution Line released for the Bi-Centennial.
By the end of 1976, Grenadier's line of 25mm miniatures consisted of the Ancients line, Starsoldiers, John Carter Warlord Of Mars (discontinued), American Civil War, and Wizzards & Warriors.
In 1978, the first boxed sets for Wizzards & Warriors appeared, as well as the boxed sets, Space Squadrons and Western Gunfighter.
In 1979 and in conjunction with TSR's game of the same name, Grenadier released the official Gamma World miniatures.
In 1980, Grenadier released the official AD&D miniatures. These were produced throughout the next three years.
In 1982, Grenadier released several 25mm Pewter miniatures boxed sets under the title, Pinnacle Products, including the Adventure Collection sets for The Dark Crystal and four sets for the Paint And Collect Series - Fantasy Lords, Fantasy Monsters, Dinosaurs, and G.I. Assault Team.
The first of the long line of Dragon Lords miniatures were released in 1983 - many figures being the same as those released in the AD&D and Wizzards & Warriors sets. Grenadier's line of Call Of Cthulhu miniatures also appeared in 1983, along with John Dennett's Fantasy Lords, two boxed sets in the Secret Agents line, and the first three of four boxed sets for Traveller.
1984 saw the release of the Dragon Of The Month Club, Warbots, and boxed sets and blisters for Champions.
In 1985 Grenadier released the official miniatures for I.C.E.'s Midde-earth (The Lord Of The Rings) RPG, as well as a 15mm line for Twilight 2000.
Through 1986 and 1987, Grenadier released the Monster Manuscript series, a new box set appearing in alphabetical order each month.
In 1988 Grenadier manufactured an excellent and complete line of miniatures for West End Games' role-playing system, Star Wars. This miniatures series was based upon the characters and creatures of the first three George Lucas films, and consisted of everything from the main characters, rebel troops, and droids to villains, storm troopers, and vehicles.
1989 saw the release of the first Shadowrun miniatures to coincide with FASA's RPG.
In the 1980s, Grenadier also released miniatures for Masters Of The Universe, Car Wars (Auto Duel), O.G.R.E., and Paranoia.
In the 1990s to compete with Citadel miniatures and to cut down on distrubution costs, Grenadier Models U.K. became the prominent producer of new designs and releases for the company.
1990 saw the release of the Bladestorm and Colossal Lords line.
In 1991, a line of miniatures for L. Talsorian Games' Cyberpunk were released, along with a continued and long line of miniatures for the Fantasy Warriors line, intended to supplement the Nick Lund skirmish combat system released the same year.
1992 saw the release of Grenadier's 15mm line, Warlords, primarily manufactured for miniatures battles; Sandra Garrity's Fantasy Legends and Julie Guthrie's Fantasy Personalities. Grenadier also presented a fantastic line of miniatures from Fantasy Forge for the 25mm skirmish combat system, Kryomek.
In 1993 a series of boxed sets called Lost Lands - running parallel with the Fantasy Warriors line - were released. Also at this time was the release of a line of 6mm miniatures for Grenadier's table-top game, Dragon Lords, as well as a line of miniatures, i.e. Future Warriors, for Nick Lund's skirmish combat system, Kill Zone.
1994 saw the release of the Classic Dragons Of The Month Club.
The last new miniatures produced by Grenadier were 1995's K Force line - an extension of the Future Warriors line.
Representatives of Grenadier announced at GenCon in August of 1996 that Grenadier Models, Inc. had gone out of business.
Amongst collectors of miniatures and old-time gamers who were along for the exciting ride of role-playing games and war games in their heydays of the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, Grenadier was the most popular, recognisable, and accommodating miniatures company around. Without a doubt, Grenadier Models in its twenty years of business manufactured more miniatures, more exclusive lines, and more types of miniatures than any other gaming miniatures company in history. Grenadier's unsurpassed quality is rivaled only by its unsurpassed longevity.
|
